93 Book Tropes That Writers Need To Know About
As a writer, one of the biggest challenges you'll face is creating a story that is both engaging and unique. While there are countless ways to accomplish this, understanding the common tropes and conventions of your genre is a crucial first step. Whether you're writing a fantasy epic, a steamy romance, or a suspenseful thriller, knowing the book tropes that are often used can help you to craft a story that is both familiar and fresh.
In this article, we'll be exploring 93 of the most common book tropes that every writer needs to know, with a particular focus on sci-fi tropes, fantasy tropes, and romance tropes. By understanding these tropes and how to use them effectively, you'll be able to create stories that resonate with readers and stand out in a crowded market.
What is a Book Trope?
A book trope is a commonly used plot device, character type, or literary technique that has become recognizable and familiar to readers. Tropes can be used in a variety of genres and media, from novels and movies to television shows and video games. They are often used as a way to create familiarity and connection with readers, who may find comfort in recognizing familiar patterns and elements in the stories they consume. However, tropes can also be criticized for being overused or predictable, and some writers strive to subvert or deconstruct tropes in order to create more unique and original stories.
Are Book Tropes Good or Bad?
Tropes in and of themselves are not inherently good or bad; they are simply common storytelling devices that can be used effectively or ineffectively depending on how they are employed. When used skillfully, tropes can help to create a sense of familiarity and comfort for readers, as well as provide a framework for understanding the story being told. Tropes can also be used to subvert expectations or to create a commentary on the genre or medium in which they are being used.
However, when tropes are used without thought or originality, they can become predictable or stale, leading to stories that feel uninteresting or formulaic. Additionally, the overuse of certain tropes can lead to negative stereotypes or harmful representations of certain groups, such as women or people of colour.
Ultimately, it's up to the writer to use tropes in a way that is fresh, interesting, and respectful to their audience. By putting their own unique spin on familiar elements, writers can create stories that feel both engaging and original, while still using tropes as a tool to help guide their storytelling.
31 Fantasy Book Tropes
The chosen one: A protagonist who is destined to save the world or defeat the ultimate villain.
The orphaned protagonist: A protagonist who is alone in the world or separated from their family.
The wise old wizard/mentor: A wise and powerful figure who guides the protagonist and helps them on their journey.
The quest to save the world: A journey or mission to save the world from an evil force or imminent danger.
The medieval setting: A setting inspired by medieval Europe with knights, castles, and monarchies.
The magical MacGuffin: A powerful object or artefact that drives the plot and is often sought after by multiple parties.
The evil dark lord/villain: An ultimate evil or villain that the protagonist must defeat to save the world.
The hidden magical world: A secret world of magic and fantasy that is hidden from the human world.
The prophecy: A prediction or foretelling of events that will come true and often drives the plot.
The magical artefact/weapon: A magical object or weapon that is often a key component in the story's conflict.
The dragon/monster hunt: A story that involves hunting or defeating mythical creatures like dragons or monsters.
The magic school/academy: A school or academy for magic users to learn and hone their skills.
The princess in distress: A trope where a princess is in trouble and needs saving by the protagonist.
The sidekick or comic relief character: A supporting character who provides comic relief and often accompanies the protagonist on their journey.
The warrior race: A race of characters who are skilled in combat or war.
The noble hero with a tragic past: A hero with a tragic past or hidden pain who strives to do good and make up for their past mistakes.
The magical race/species: A race or species with magical abilities or unique characteristics.
The hero's journey: A trope that follows the hero's journey and personal growth as they face challenges and obstacles.
The magical creature companion: A magical creature who accompanies the protagonist and assists them in their journey.
The battle between good and evil: A conflict between forces of good and evil that drives the plot.
The magical abilities that manifest suddenly: A trope where a character's magical abilities suddenly manifest or awaken.
The mysterious ancient ruins/civilization: A mysterious, ancient civilization or ruins that hold secrets and powerful artefacts.
The chosen one's destiny: A trope that follows the protagonist's destiny or fate, often tied to their status as the chosen one.
The unlikely group of heroes: A group of unlikely heroes who band together to save the world.
The dark magic corrupting the protagonist: A trope where dark magic or an evil force corrupts the protagonist or a character close to them.
The forbidden romance: A romance between characters who are forbidden from being together.
The magic mirror/portal to another world: A magical mirror or portal that leads to another world or dimension.
The magical creatures in hiding from humans: A trope where magical creatures hide from humans to avoid persecution or harm.
The magical creatures with human-like societies: A trope where magical creatures have societies and cultures that mirror human society.
The reincarnation of a powerful figure: A character who is a reincarnation of a powerful or important figure from the past.
The magic system with strict rules and limitations: A magic system with strict rules and limitations that govern how magic can be used in the story.
If you like fantasy you’ll love our article 31 Best Fantasy Books You Need To Read Today
31 Romance Book Tropes
The meet-cute: A cute, chance encounter between the protagonists that set off the story's romantic plot.
The billionaire playboy falling in love: A wealthy and charming protagonist who falls in love and learns to abandon their playboy ways.
The fake relationship/marriage of convenience: A plot where the protagonists pretend to be in a relationship or get married to fulfil some other purpose.
The love triangle: A plot where one protagonist has to choose between two love interests.
The bad boy with a heart of gold: A protagonist who seems like a rebel or troublemaker but has a softer, caring side.
The virgin heroine: A protagonist who is inexperienced in love and sex.
The alpha male hero: A strong, dominant male protagonist who often takes charge and protects their love interest.
The damsel in distress: A female protagonist who needs rescuing from danger or trouble.
The love/hate relationship: A relationship between protagonists where they have a love/hate dynamic, often with lots of arguments and tension.
The best friends to lovers: A plot where two best friends realize their feelings for each other and begin a romantic relationship.
The sudden makeover or transformation of the protagonist: A transformation of the protagonist's appearance or behaviour that makes them more attractive to the love interest.
The makeover of the love interest: A transformation of the love interest's appearance or behaviour that makes them more attractive to the protagonist.
The secret baby: A plot where a protagonist discovers they have a child they didn't know about.
The amnesia plot: A protagonist who loses their memory and has to rediscover themselves and their relationships, including their love interest.
The mistaken identity plot: A plot where the protagonist mistakes someone for their love interest or vice versa.
The revenge plot: A plot where a protagonist seeks revenge on someone who wronged them, often involving a love interest.
The forbidden love: A romance between characters who are forbidden from being together, often due to social status or family ties.
The whirlwind romance: A fast-paced, intense romance that develops quickly.
The love at first sight: A plot where the protagonist falls in love with someone immediately upon meeting them.
The love that overcomes social status or class differences: A romance between characters from different social classes or backgrounds who must overcome obstacles to be together.
The older man/younger woman or vice versa: A romance between characters with a significant age difference.
The love that overcomes a tragic past or loss: A romance between characters who have experienced loss or tragedy and must learn to move on together.
The love that helps the protagonist find their true self: A romance that helps the protagonist learn more about themselves and their desires.
The second chance at love: A romance between characters who had a past relationship and are given a chance to rekindle their love.
The opposites attract: A romance between characters who have very different personalities or interests.
The love interest who is already in a relationship: A love interest who is already with someone else but develops feelings for the protagonist.
The billionaire who sweeps the protagonist off their feet: A wealthy and powerful protagonist who helps the protagonist live a luxurious lifestyle.
The small-town romance: A romance that takes place in a small town, often involving close-knit communities and tight social circles.
The work romance: A romance between co-workers or colleagues.
The marriage in crisis: A plot where a married couple faces challenges and must work to save their relationship.
The holiday romance: When love strikes on a holiday getaway and the characters have to figure out whether it can become part of their every day, or should they just abandon it as a fling?
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31 Sci-Fi Book Tropes
The alien invasion: A plot where aliens invade Earth and humanity must fight back to save the planet.
The lone hero saves the world: A plot where a single protagonist must save the world from a looming threat.
The mad scientist: A scientist who has gone rogue or becomes obsessed with their own work to the detriment of others.
The dystopian future: A future society that is characterized by oppression, suffering, or chaos.
The time travel paradox: A plot where time travel leads to a paradoxical situation or a disruption of the timeline.
The killer robot or AI: A plot where robots or artificial intelligence turn against humanity.
The chosen one: A protagonist who is chosen by fate or prophecy to save the world.
The teleportation mishap: A plot where teleportation goes wrong, leading to unexpected consequences.
The intergalactic war: A plot where different alien civilizations are at war with each other.
The space western: A genre blend between Western and sci-fi elements.
The lost civilization: A plot where a civilization that was thought to be extinct or lost is discovered.
The post-apocalyptic world: A world that has been devastated by a catastrophic event, such as a nuclear war or a pandemic.
The evil government or corporation: A plot where a government or corporation has a sinister agenda or is responsible for a catastrophic event.
The hero's journey: A plot where the protagonist goes on a journey of self-discovery and becomes a hero.
The advanced ancient civilization: A plot where an ancient civilization was more advanced than previously thought.
The clones or doppelgangers: A plot where clones or doppelgangers are created, leading to identity and morality issues.
The rogue planet or moon: A plot where a planet or moon is discovered to be rogue or moving in an unexpected way.
The superweapon or doomsday device: A plot where a powerful weapon or device threatens the destruction of the world.
The cyborg or transhuman protagonist: A protagonist who is part-human, part-machine, or has been augmented in some way.
The teleportation or matter transportation device: A plot where teleportation or matter transportation technology is developed.
The virtual reality or alternate world: A plot where a character enters a virtual reality or alternate world.
The genetic engineering or mutation: A plot where genetic engineering or mutation leads to unexpected consequences.
The artificial life or synthetic being: A plot where artificial life or synthetic beings are created.
The sentient spaceship or AI companion: A plot where a spaceship or AI becomes sentient and develops a relationship with the protagonist.
The cosmic horror or Lovecraftian element: A plot where a Lovecraftian or cosmic horror element is introduced.
The hive mind or collective consciousness: A plot where a group of individuals has a shared consciousness or mind.
The time loop or repetition: A plot where a character is stuck in a time loop or repeating the same events over and over.
The space exploration or discovery: A plot where a character discovers something new in space, such as a planet or civilization.
The nanotechnology or self-replicating machines: A plot where nanotechnology or self-replicating machines are used or created.
The alien artefact or mystery: A plot where an alien artefact or mystery is discovered or explored.
The hard science or technical jargon: A plot where scientific or technical concepts are explained in great detail.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi check out our article 13 Classic Science Fiction Short Stories You Need To Read.
Using Book Tropes: Final Words
Understanding the common book tropes of your chosen genre can be a powerful tool for any writer. While it's important to be aware of these tropes, it's also important to use them wisely and creatively. Whether you're writing a fantasy novel or a romance story, knowing how to employ and subvert book tropes can make all the difference in creating a truly unique and compelling story.
By avoiding overused or predictable book tropes, and adding your own original spin to familiar themes and elements, you can create stories that will captivate readers and stand the test of time.