The Role of Tropes in Storytelling
You’ve probably heard the term “trope” tossed around in writing circles or seen it scattered in your favorite writing blogs. But what is a trope, really? Simply put, a trope is a recurring theme or device in storytelling. This could be anything from the “damsel in distress” to the “chosen one,” familiar narrative shortcuts that tell the reader what to expect in a story.
Let’s not vilify tropes outright; they are not inherently bad. In fact, tropes exist for a reason—they’re storytelling tools that have been effective in the past. Think of them as the spices in your storytelling kitchen. A dash of “Enemies to Lovers” here, a sprinkle of “The Mentor” there. Just like spices, they can make your tale more digestible and satisfying. They’re shorthand that taps into universal experiences or emotions, allowing the audience to instantly grasp complex relational dynamics, emotional states, or narrative turns.
However, it’s also easy to see how tropes can be overused, abused, and turned into clichés, becoming obstacles to fresh storytelling. For instance, how many times have you read a story where the reluctant hero finally steps up, just in the nick of time, to save the day? It’s satisfying, sure, but it’s also predictable. And predictability is the kiss of death in creative writing.
Why Do Tropes Exist?
Tropes are the building blocks of storytelling. Going as far back as Aristotle’s ‘Poetics’, writers have been leaning on familiar setups, characters, and themes to convey their narratives. They’re particularly crucial in genre fiction. For instance, the “whodunnit” setup in mystery novels, or the concept of a “magical school” in fantasy literature, are tropes that orient the reader. It’s a form of storytelling language, understood across cultures and time periods. When you start writing a novel, understanding this language can be among your most valuable writing tips.
The Two-Edged Sword
While tropes can give your story a recognizable shape or form, they can also box you in. As the saying goes, “familiarity breeds contempt.” If your reader can predict your every plot twist and character arc, you’ve lost one of the most potent tools in your storytelling arsenal: surprise. The key to effective storytelling lies in striking a balance. Use the trope, but don’t let the trope use you. You can accomplish this by being mindful, deliberate, and fully aware of the implications and limitations of each trope you employ. Knowing your tropes can significantly improve your writing skills.
Awareness is Half the Battle
Awareness of the tropes you’re using or avoiding is the first crucial step in reimagining clichés. It’s like the old saying, “you have to know the rules to break them.” So before you set off to write that blockbuster screenplay or that unforgettable novel, do your homework. Read widely and critically. Take note of the recurring themes, devices, and setups that crop up in your reading. Keep a journal, make a list, use writing prompts to explore these tropes from different angles. The more familiar you are with the existing landscape, the easier it will be to chart your own unique course through it.
If you think this sounds like a lot of work, you’re right. But if you’re in the business of storytelling—whether it’s through screenwriting, novel writing, or any other medium—you’re also in the business of understanding human psychology. Tropes are so deeply embedded in our cultural psyche that they’re almost impossible to avoid. But they can be managed, manipulated, and—yes—reimagined. It takes a deep understanding of narrative structure, a critical eye, and a dash of daring to turn clichés on their heads. And the rewards are well worth the effort: a story that feels both familiar and refreshingly new, characters that resonate yet surprise, and a narrative that keeps your audience on their toes, eagerly flipping to the next page or waiting for the next scene.
How to Spot a Cliché: The Usual Suspects
Ah, clichés. They’re the storytelling equivalent of that one party guest who overstays their welcome. Sure, they were entertaining for the first hour, but now? You’d rather they just left. We’ve all rolled our eyes at the Manic Pixie Dream Girl who swoops in to make the brooding male lead’s life meaningful. Or sighed at the Chosen One who miraculously goes from zero to hero overnight. These are the clichés that have lost their luster through overuse, and let’s get into why they can be problematic.
The Overused Tropes That Haunt Us
Let’s call them the Usual Suspects, the clichés that seem to pop up in every genre, no matter the medium. Here’s a quick rundown:
- The Love Triangle: Often found in young adult fiction, the agonizing decision between two lovers has been explored to death. Remember Team Edward vs. Team Jacob in “Twilight”?
- The One-Dimensional Villain: Also known as the “mwahaha” villain, this character lacks depth, motivations, or anything that makes them interesting.
- The Sacrificial Lamb: You know that character who’s introduced just to die and further the main character’s arc? Yeah, it’s a total cliché.
- The Mentor Dies: The moment a wise mentor character enters the scene, it’s almost guaranteed that they won’t make it to the end credits. Obi-Wan Kenobi, anyone?
- Insta-Love: The characters lock eyes and BAM! They’re madly, deeply in love, despite barely knowing each other.
- The Makeover Scene: Because apparently, taking off a pair of glasses suddenly transforms someone into a supermodel.
Why Do These Clichés Persist?
So, why do these clichés continue to haunt our pages and screens? The answer lies in their initial effectiveness. These devices are classic for a reason: they resonate with readers and viewers. The Love Triangle adds drama and tension. The One-Dimensional Villain provides a clear antagonist to root against. The Sacrificial Lamb adds emotional weight to the story. But the issue isn’t their existence; it’s their overuse. When employed lazily, they become storytelling crutches that can seriously hinder narrative originality.
Remember, when writing a novel or screenplay, your audience is well-read and well-watched. They’ve seen these scenarios unfold countless times before. Consequently, overused tropes can lead to predictability, and predictability can spell death for audience engagement.
Writing Tips to Recognize Clichés
Identifying a cliché is the first step in avoiding it. Here are a couple of writing tips to help you do just that:
- Read Widely and Watch Widely: The more you read and watch, the easier it’ll be to spot an overused trope. You’ll start to notice patterns and think, “Hey, haven’t I seen this before?”
- Seek Feedback: Sometimes you’re too close to your work to see its faults. That’s when beta-readers, writing groups, or screenwriting consultants come in handy.
- Self-Review: Take a hard look at your characters and plot. Are they serving the story, or are they just there because it’s easy? If it’s the latter, you may be dealing with a cliché.
- Reverse or Subvert the Cliché: If you find a trope that’s essential to your story, think about how you can turn it on its head. This approach can add a fresh spin to a well-worn idea.
How They Can Hinder Storytelling
If clichés are the easy way out, then avoiding them demands more from you as a writer. Falling back on clichés stunts your growth, preventing you from exploring more compelling narrative paths. After all, why settle for the same old territory when you could chart new landscapes? Using clichés can make your work forgettable, while creatively engaging with these storytelling staples can make your story stand out.
Here’s the kicker: We’ve all been guilty of using clichés at one point or another. They’re like traps set up along the path of our storytelling journey. The trick isn’t to avoid them entirely but to use them in a way that serves your story, rather than detracts from it. The real magic happens when you can turn a well-known cliché into something new and exciting, making readers or viewers feel like they’re experiencing it for the first time.
The Art of Twisting the Tropes
Alright, so we’ve identified the usual suspects in cliché land. We know they’re there, lurking in the corners of our creativity, waiting for an opportune moment to sneak into our scripts or manuscripts. Now, let’s chat about the fun part: how to take those clichés and twist them into something fresh, original, and utterly captivating.
Strategies for Turning Clichés on Their Heads
- Contextual Switcheroo: Ever think of putting that Chosen One trope into a corporate setting where the “chosen one” is picked to lead a dying company back to its glory? Context can breathe new life into stale clichés.
- Gender or Role Reversal: Let’s take the classic Damsel in Distress. How about flipping it? Picture a tough female detective saving her male love interest for a change.
- Parody or Satire: Make it so over-the-top that it becomes a commentary on the cliché itself. Think “Scary Movie” or “Austin Powers” for some inspiration.
- Deep Dive: Instead of brushing off a cliché, delve deeper into it. Give the One-Dimensional Villain a backstory, motivations, and reasons for being evil.
- Unexpected Outcome: Remember how the Red Wedding shocked “Game of Thrones” fans? Well, shock value can work wonders to twist clichés. How about having the mentor survive but betray the hero?
Examples from Modern Works That Have Successfully Reimagined Clichés
- “Get Out”: This film is a racialized version of the “Body Snatchers” concept but twisted in a way that makes it a poignant social critique.
- “Gone Girl”: This book flipped the “missing wife” narrative into a complex psychological drama where the wife is not only alive but also manipulating the whole scenario.
- “Stranger Things”: Sure, the kids are up against supernatural forces, but the real twist is how each kid isn’t your stereotypical nerd, jock, or popular girl. They’re multi-layered and that defies the usual character archetypes.
- “Fleabag”: This series takes the “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” and gives her a complex inner life full of regret, loss, and humor.
- “Hamilton”: This musical tells a historical tale but uses modern music genres and a diverse cast to defy expectations. It’s the same story but told in a way that makes you think about it differently.
Tips to Implement This Approach into Your Creative Writing Journey
- Outlining: Plan out where you could place a trope and how you could twist it. Outlining gives you an aerial view, making it easier to spot clichés and opportunities for innovation.
- Writing Prompts: Use writing prompts that challenge you to include a cliché but twist it in some way. It’s a fun exercise that can yield surprising results.
- Read and Research: The more familiar you are with how clichés have been used (and overused), the easier it will be for you to turn them on their heads.
- Feedback Loop: Share your work with someone and ask specifically for feedback on how effectively you’ve managed to twist a cliché. Sometimes we’re too close to our own work to be objective.
- Revise: Remember, the first draft is just that—a draft. Don’t be afraid to get in there and rework those clichés until they’re something new and exciting.
Tropes and clichés are tools. They’re neither inherently good nor bad; it’s all about how you wield them. By being deliberate in your approach, you can actually make these tired old clichés work for you, not against you. Twisting a well-worn trope requires a little extra creative juice, but the payoff can be massive. It’s all about being aware, being intentional, and daring to take the path less traveled in your storytelling journey. So go ahead, take that cliché and make it your own. Your readers will thank you, and who knows? You might just redefine a trope for the next generation of storytellers.
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