Five Tropes You Find In My Writing
with examples!
Hello, friends! Welcome back to the Kindness Cafe!
If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I’ve been working on my middle grade book since I was thirteen. While I like making new fantasy worlds and characters, sometimes I lean back on tropes: cliched motifs that many writers use.
There are lots of fantasy tropes in books and movies (and in MY book), like a medieval-adjacent setting, a mentor to guide the young hero, epic storylines with tons of characters, and many, many others. Read or watch any fantasy book or movie and you’ll certainly find some of these tropes!
Sometimes, writers get tired of using tropes down to the letter of the law, so they twist the trope – these are called inverted tropes. What might happen if, instead of using the famous trope enemies to lovers, the writer flips it? Then the story would be about lovers to enemies.
My favorite thing about tropes is that you can change them however you want to fit your story the best. I don’t typically go into my projects thinking “how can I fit this trope in?” They usually just come to me as I write.
So this week, I thought it would be fun to share five tropes that you can find in my writing! Let’s get started.
#1: The Chosen One
A character who is destined to save the world from an evil force, either by choice or fate
Examples: Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, the Pevensie siblings in the Chronicles of Narnia
My main character, The Prince, chooses to go on a quest and become the Chosen One at the beginning of the series, shortly after his 12th birthday.
Read more about The Prince in his character profile.
#2: The Quest
A person or group of people travel through a fantasy land to confront the villain or do a deed (usually at the end of the trip).
Examples: The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings), Thorin and Company (The Hobbit), and Minli from Where The Mountain Meets The Moon
The Prince and his friends embark on a quest at the beginning of the series, heading through different settings and dealing with lots of dangers.
#3: Happy golden retriever meets standoffish black cat (also known as sunshine vs. grumpy)
Two characters who are complete opposites are romantically or platonically linked to each other. Usually one is very happy, bright, and cheerful, and the other one is more reserved, withdrawn, and careful.
Examples: The Hunger Games, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Percy Jackson
Two of the side characters in my novel are sunshine & grumpy. They both complement the other with their traits, but ultimately they work better together as romantic partners.
#4: The Reluctant Hero
A character who is destined to save the world – but who isn’t sure if they want to accept their fate or not.
Examples: The Heroes of Olympus, Sophie Foster, Bilbo Baggins
In my book, the cousin character is reluctant to join the quest at first, nervous about leaving her family and the repercussions that she might face if she leaves everything she knows behind.
#5: Found Family
A group of people that are initially very different from each other band together over their shared experiences.
Examples: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Squad (Harry Potter), the Cuthberts in Anne of Green Gables.
In my book, the group of characters embarking on the quest bond over shared experiences, finally becoming a tight group of friends!
What are some of your favorite tropes? If you’re a writer, what tropes are in your current work in progress? Let me know in the comment section below! Thanks for reading, and keep on being kind! 💖
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