What Are Common Tropes In My Genre, And How Can I Make Them Fresh?

Understanding Genre Tropes

Understanding the themes in your genre is crucial, for meeting reader expectations while also injecting originality into your storytelling. These themes, known as tropes can be recurring motifs or clichés. When handled with finesse they can serve as tools; however mishandling them may result in a story that feels unoriginal or predictable.

Examples of Tropes Across Genres

Fantasy: The chosen one, magical schools, ancient prophecies, mythical creatures, the battle between good and evil, quests for mystical artifacts, and medieval settings.
Science Fiction: Space exploration, artificial intelligence, dystopian societies, time travel adventures and futuristic technologies.
Romance: Love triangles, star crossed lovers defying fate, friends turning into lovers over time, enemies finding love against all odds and the grand gesture of love.
Mystery/Thriller: The locked room mysteries that baffle detectives, unreliable narrators who blur the lines between truth and deception, red herrings leading investigators astray, hard boiled detectives pursuing justice against all odds, shocking plot twists that leave readers stunned.
Horror: Houses that hold secrets within their walls, resilient "final girls" who survive against terrifying odds, eerie children with an otherworldly presence, ancient curses haunting unsuspecting victims, seemingly unstoppable killers striking fear into everyone's hearts.

Strategies to Infuse Freshness into Tropes

Challenge Expectations: Subvert expectations by taking a familiar trope and giving it a twist.
Blend Tropes: Combine tropes to create something innovative.
Character Complexity: Develop characters with layers that defy categorization through tropes.
Emphasize World Building: Construct a distinctive setting that defies genre conventions.
Explore Uncharted Themes: Address themes rarely explored within your genres boundaries.
Reimagine the Conflict: Challenge the sources of conflict found in your genre.
Experiment with Structure: Shake things up by using a narrative structure.
Emphasize Voice: A unique narrative voice can breathe life into the most common story elements.

Resources for Diving into Genre Tropes

"The Tough Guide to Fantasyland" by Diana Wynne Jones
Stephen King’s "On Writing; A Memoir of the Craft"
Ursula K. Le Guin’s "Steering the Craft; A Twenty-First Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story"
TVTropes.org

Consider enrolling in writing workshops or classes that specifically focus on genre fiction. These can provide feedback and opportunities for discussions on how to handle tropes in creative ways.

By utilizing these resources and incorporating the strategies mentioned earlier, you'll be well equipped to infuse your genre with ideas resulting in a novel that feels both familiar and delightfully original.

1 Other Answers To: "What Are Common Tropes In My Genre, And How Can I Make Them Fresh?"

When it comes to writing a novel in a genre

it's important to keep in mind the patterns and themes that are often seen. These patterns, known as tropes can help convey ideas or elements that fans of the genre enjoy. However if they're used without originality they can make the story feel predictable and formulaic. As an author your goal should be to honor the expectations of the genre while bringing a perspective to it. Here's how you can recognize these tropes and give them a life to captivate your readers;

Identifying Familiar Tropes;

To bring innovation into your writing it's crucial to have a clear understanding of what is typical, within your chosen genre. Take time to read widely across classic works while analyzing their recurring elements. Pay attention to;

Young Adult (YA) fiction popular themes include coming of age stories, first love experiences and conflicts between individuals and society.
Crime fiction you'll often find worn characters like the detective, atmospheric noir settings and intriguing double cross scenarios.
Fiction readers are frequently drawn to stories involving rags, to riches journeys tales set in times of war and notable historical figures brought to life as characters.

Innovating Within Boundaries;

Once you've identified the themes and patterns in your genre it's essential to consider how you can approach them in an innovative way;

Challenge the Norm; Take a known theme or pattern. Twist it in an unexpected manner. For example imagine if the protagonist, in a heros journey is fully aware of the narrative conventions and actively tries to defy them.
Explore Character Depth; of portraying a villain delve into their motivations and make them relatable or even sympathetic. Similarly allow your heroes to have flaws and vulnerabilities that defy the stereotypes associated with their roles.
Merge Genres; Combine elements from genres to create blends. What happens when you fuse elements with science fiction or blend romance with horror? Such cross genre narratives breathe life into tropes.
Highlight Supporting Characters; Give voice and significance to characters who are often overlooked in stories, such, as the tavern keeper who frequently encounters fantasy heroes or the assistant of a scientist in a thriller. Explore their perspectives and experiences.
Cultural Relevance; Make tropes more relevant, by examining them through the lens of issues or placing them in traditional cultures or time periods.
Enhance Settings; Develop a setting that's as dynamic and intricate as a character ensuring it plays a role in the story rather than serving as mere background. This can also involve utilizing space in genres like space opera or steampunk.
Experiment with Format; Present your story through a format – for instance using entries, a series of letters or employing second person narration.
Challenge the Notion of Resolution; Not every story needs to conclude with a resolution. Sometimes defying expectations about the ending can infuse energy into a trope.
Incorporate Humor and Irony; Employ self awareness to approach tropes with humor or an ironic twist. This works effectively when characters within the story acknowledge or playfully manipulate genre expectations.
Include Diverse Perspectives; Infuse your story with characters, from diverse backgrounds orientations and abilities that are not commonly represented in the genre.