Love them or hate them, the demand for tropes isn't going away, but should we embrace them as writers? Let's sort your enemies-to-lovers from your meet-cutes to help you decide.
I am a genre writer--tropes? Not sure about tropes except that I tend to write books that are all over the place genre-wise...I don't narrow down what I write...that isn't how life is...
I love a trope and if I see a book has one that I love then I do veer towards it, however I kind of only do that within the romance genre. Outside of that I will just read anything and so I do still find myself surprised by books which I like. In terms of writing them, I tend to have one big trope as the basis of every story and then I drop other ones in along the way as necessary because I find that to be part of the fun when writing romance (and also, you can pull so much from sticking two people in one room, especially tension and I love it)
This is so interesting, Sophie! I’ve only ever realised that I’ve used a tripe accidentally but I’m much more conscious of it now. It feels like tropes are more contemporary but one look as Mills and Boon from the 70s onwards and it’s FULL of excellent tropes. I’d agree that romance is the most accepting of tropes - I love a grumpy/sunshine pairing!
I totally agree here about veering towards tropes with the romance genre only! It feels so safe and cosy choosing a book you know you'll have fun with.
At first it seems like tropes could be restricting to writers but I'm starting to think it might be more freeing!
Yes, if you know what you’re getting into when you write them, I think it can be quite liberating to think... hey, I know what I like, and my readers do too! No overthinking needed!
If we’re talking romance then I find them freeing when I’m writing them. The trope is the umbrella but you can play around so much. And as long as your enemies to lovers ends like Much Ado About Nothing and not Romeo and Juliet, you’re golden!
I am a genre writer--tropes? Not sure about tropes except that I tend to write books that are all over the place genre-wise...I don't narrow down what I write...that isn't how life is...
I love a trope and if I see a book has one that I love then I do veer towards it, however I kind of only do that within the romance genre. Outside of that I will just read anything and so I do still find myself surprised by books which I like. In terms of writing them, I tend to have one big trope as the basis of every story and then I drop other ones in along the way as necessary because I find that to be part of the fun when writing romance (and also, you can pull so much from sticking two people in one room, especially tension and I love it)
This is so interesting, Sophie! I’ve only ever realised that I’ve used a tripe accidentally but I’m much more conscious of it now. It feels like tropes are more contemporary but one look as Mills and Boon from the 70s onwards and it’s FULL of excellent tropes. I’d agree that romance is the most accepting of tropes - I love a grumpy/sunshine pairing!
I totally agree here about veering towards tropes with the romance genre only! It feels so safe and cosy choosing a book you know you'll have fun with.
At first it seems like tropes could be restricting to writers but I'm starting to think it might be more freeing!
Yes, if you know what you’re getting into when you write them, I think it can be quite liberating to think... hey, I know what I like, and my readers do too! No overthinking needed!
If we’re talking romance then I find them freeing when I’m writing them. The trope is the umbrella but you can play around so much. And as long as your enemies to lovers ends like Much Ado About Nothing and not Romeo and Juliet, you’re golden!