Tropes, those common conventions, those little bits of narrative that are common enough that people recognize them to the point they can be shorthand for some people, they are everywhere. And while it seems the trend is to subvert them, I’ve been taking some time to reflect on my stories to see what I use commonly and if I’m okay with that.
After all, what else am I doing these days?
Reluctant Hero and Refusal of the Call
Examples: Looking Glass Saga, White Noise, City Without Heroes
I’m good with this one. I like the idea of someone doing things not because they want to, but because they have to or because circumstances dictate it. I’ll be writing outside of this one eventually, but for now I’m having a lot of fun with it.
Plot Irrelevant Villain
Examples: Looking Glass Saga, Tales from the Twisted Eden Sector, White Noise
I write mostly about self discovery, so my antagonists are largely not a key factor in the story. They drive the plot along, sure, but the actual conflict usually comes from the characters trying to figure themselves out more than trying to defeat the big bad.
Chekov’s Gun
Examples: Looking Glass Saga, Tales from the Twisted Eden Sector, White Noise, City Without Heroes
I’m always a little sad when people don’t notice my foreshadowing, but I do love laying in hints in small bits early in the story to be uncovered in their full context later. Just you try and rip this trope away from me. This and red herrings, I will keep hold of this until I die.
Bittersweet Ending
Examples: Tales from the Twisted Eden Sector, City Without Heroes
I don’t like bows, what can I say? I like to think I end things on a hopeful note, where characters are ready to move on, but not on a firmly happy note. There’s always fallout that has to still be dealt with, but the characters are now prepared to deal with it. So I’m good with this one too.