There are countless writing tropes. To avoid them all is nearly impossible. And that’s okay. Because if you use them right, you can make your story more fascinating. Of course, use them wrong, and you’ll ruin your story by making too predictable.
To ensure your story doesn’t fall prey to overused or outdated tropes, you should be aware of the common writing tropes to avoid. Here are seven character and plot tropes your story may be better off without.
The Chosen One
The chosen one is perhaps the most popular writing trope of all time. Usually in their teens to early 20s, this character doesn’t realize that they have a gift that can save the world. The fate of humanity usually lies in the hands of the chosen one. If you use this one, play with people’s expectations. Force the chosen one to need other people, because this is a writing trope you should avoid.
The Love Triangle
Although overused, this plot trope is not going away anytime soon in romance genres. If you really need to use a love triangle trope, find a way to make it unique instead of following a predictable pattern. Or why not consider a love square?
The Brawn with No Brain
This character trope revolves around the idea characters must be one-dimensional. Have someone in your book that’s fit and strong? Can’t be intelligent too, right? In most adventure and action stories, the brawn with no brain is a minor character that commonly gets outsmarted by the main character. Flip this trope on its head by having a strong and smart character.
The “It Was All a Dream”
If you want to write an exciting ending for your readers, put this on your list of writing tropes to avoid. The first time it was used, it was likely thrilling. Now it feels cheap and insulting. Your readers will be disappointed to read your entire story, only to find out that everything was a dream. Be more creative with your ending, and don’t settle for the easy way out. It’s predictable and boring.
The Ever-Loyal Sidekick
The sidekick is the protagonist’s ever-loyal companion and faithful follower. This character usually has no story of their own aside from their relationship with the main character. If you’re going to add a sidekick to your cast of characters, make sure they serve a meaningful purpose in your story.
The “Evil Plan” Monologue
Bad guys in real life don’t spoil their plans through a monologue. But for some reason, they’ve done just that in countless books. Be wary of this plot trope. Think of other ways to ruin or explain the bad guy’s evil plan instead. After all, you’re a creative, thoughtful writer. Make your bad guys smarter, then outsmart them.
The Femme Fatale
This character trope is perhaps the modern version of sorceresses and witches. The femme fatale is an attractive, mysterious woman who uses seduction to destroy her enemies. It has worked in the past, but it’s a tired writing trope that you should avoid. Have women succeed in your story without the help of their physical attractiveness.
Unleash Your Writing Creativity
As a writer, it’s your goal to find a creative way of storytelling. Challenge yourself to go beyond the familiar, overused tropes and make something unique out of them.
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