The PROs and CONs of using tropes ⬇️

On the one hand, tropes can be a fantastic tool for writers.

🟢 They can provide a kind of shorthand for readers, allowing you to quickly establish character traits, set a scene, or create a mood.

🟢 Tropes are familiar to readers and can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity. Readers can relate to characters and situations that are common in tropes, making it easier for them to connect with the story.

🟢 They can also provide a starting point for creativity. By using a familiar trope as a foundation, a writer can then build upon it and subvert expectations, making the story feel fresh and unique.

But on the other hand, tropes can also be a crutch.

🔴 If you rely too heavily on them, your work can start to feel derivative or uninspired.

🔴 Tropes can make a story feel predictable. If a reader can easily predict what will happen based on a trope, it can make the story feel less engaging.

🔴 Some tropes can reinforce harmful stereotypes or be offensive to certain groups of people. It's important for writers to be aware of this and avoid using tropes that perpetuate harmful stereotypes or offend readers.

So how do you strike a balance? 🤔 Well, first of all, it's important to remember that tropes are not inherently good or bad. It's all about how you use them!

If you're using a trope because it genuinely serves your story or your characters, great! 💡 But if you're just throwing in a trope because you think it's what people expect, or because you don't want to take the time to come up with something more original, that's when you might want to rethink your approach 😬

Ultimately, the key 🗝 to using tropes effectively is to make them your own. Put your own spin on them, subvert expectations, or use them in unexpected ways! 🤩

What's your least favorite trope?

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