3 min read

A complete guide to book tropes – including a list of 20+ tropes you can use

Writing software you'll actually love

Outlining tools

Advanced goal setting

Project templates

Collaboration

Try First Draft Pro

Compare plans

Dive into another topic

Plotting

Become a master plot puppeteer

Writing Tips

Hone the stabby-blade of your craft

Characters & POV

Apparently it's "bad" to control real people

Worldbuilding

Bring out your inner megalomaniac

Tropes are recurring themes or literary devices. They can be very effective, and some readers specifically look for books based on the tropes they like to read. But, there's always a risk that they can become stereotypical or overused. So: What are tropes, when do they shine, and how can you use them most effectively?

What is a book trope?

A trope is a recurring theme, plot device, character, or setting that appears across various works. These underlying frameworks give stories a familiar resonance.

Here are some examples:

Character Trope: The ‘Reluctant Hero’ who hesitates to take on heroism's responsibilities but rises to the occasion.
Plot Trope: The ‘Quest’ where characters must go on a journey to achieve a goal, often encountering challenges along the way, as seen in The Lord of the Rings.
Setting Trope: A ‘Dystopian Future’ where society is marked by oppression, surveillance, and loss of individual freedoms, as portrayed in 1984.
Theme Trope: ‘Good vs Evil,’ where characters represent the moral struggle between virtuous and wicked forces, such as in Harry Potter.

Why use tropes in writing?

Tropes allow writers to connect with readers through shared literary experiences.

They can:

Create familiarity: Recognisable patterns make the reader comfortable.
Enhance engagement: Using well-known tropes can draw readers into the story.
Provide structure: Tropes can serve as foundational elements to build a plot or character development.

By recognising and understanding tropes, writers can also subvert them for a unique twist.

Where are tropes effective?

Genre fiction: Certain genres have specific tropes that define them, such as the detective in a mystery novel or star-crossed lovers in a romance.
Character development: Tropes like ‘The Hero’s Journey’ can be instrumental in shaping characters.
Plot construction: Tropes can guide the plot, providing milestones and progression.

Where are tropes not effective?

Overuse: Relying too heavily on tropes may lead to predictable and stale storytelling.
Misfit with the story: Forcing a trope into a story where it doesn’t fit can disrupt the flow and coherence.

Tips for working with tropes

Common pitfalls

Clichés: Without a fresh approach, tropes can become clichéd.
Stereotypes: Some tropes might perpetuate stereotypes, which can be harmful or limiting.
Inconsistency: Using a trope that doesn’t align with the story’s tone or theme can create inconsistency.

Use a fresh perspective

Try writing a scene using a specific trope, then rewrite it from a different perspective or give it a unique twist. Taking a common trope and approaching it from a new angle will also help you avoid clichés and keep your writing fresh and engaging.

Combine different tropes

You can create something pretty unique by combining different tropes in your own way. This is a great way to innovate on a stale trope.

Be selective

Not every trope needs to be used in every story, and some work better together than others. Choose tropes based on what fits with your plot, and don’t be afraid to cut a trope if it doesn’t serve your story.

Study examples of tropes

Studying how other authors have used tropes can be helpful for two reasons: you learn how to execute the trope well, and you also learn what's been done to death already (so you can avoid repeating it).

Here are some novels to consider (each trope listed below also includes a section on trope examples):

'The Hero's Journey' in The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins' transformation from a reluctant hobbit to a brave hero follows this well-known character development trope.
'Star-Crossed Lovers' in Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare's famous play showcases this romantic trope where love is doomed by fate.
'The Chosen One' in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Harry's destined role to confront Voldemort is a prime example of this popular trope.
'The Dystopian Future' in Brave New World: Aldous Huxley's novel explores a future where societal control has reached an extreme, reflecting this common setting trope.

Identify the tropes used in these works and consider how they add to the story. Analyse how the authors have either embraced or subverted the tropes, and reflect on what makes them effective.