I also realized, much to my dismay, I'm guilty of using tropes. Horrors! I'd just never thought of it in that way before. I like to believe I produce something new and unique in my writing. My historical romance, An Uncertain Destiny, is a good example. I was asked by publishers, what books are similar to mine. I couldn't think of any. This book is set during the witchcraft trials in Salem, not a popular time period. The hero and heroine are separated for a portion of the book--Harlequin didn't like that one bit! Eventually the publishers all passed, and I self-pubbed the book. 12 five star reviews have convinced me I wasn't wrong in thinking the book has merit! Anyway, one of the reviewers mentioned the girl-posing-as-a-cabin-boy trope was very well done. OMG, I used a trope!
I guess we all use common themes in our writing--even when we don't intend to. So, how do you feel when you read a book with a well-worn theme? Yawn-worthy or familiar and comforting? What are some of your favorites?
And now to slip in one of this month's themes: Fall Overboard. In An Uncertain Destiny, the captain falls over the side of the ship in a storm, is rescued by the crew and left for the heroine (yes the one who had been posing as a cabin boy) to nurse back to health. Here's a short excerpt:
Nicholas lay perfectly still. He hadn’t twitched or mumbled
once, nor had he regained any color. Picking up his hand, she squeezed his
fingers.
“You can’t die. I won’t let you. The Mother Goddess kept you
safe. She didn’t let you fall into the dark.” Gently she stroked the nasty
looking bruise on his cheekbone below the cut then bent to kiss it.
“I know you belong to another. But knowing hasn’t stopped me
from caring.” She pressed her hands together and drew in a harsh breath. “The
Goddess knows I’ve tried.”
Did his lashes
flutter?
She touched his cheek again with her lips, feeling the
scratch of stubble, breathing in the tang of salt on his skin and the metallic
scent of blood.
When
he didn’t stir, she sighed. “Wake up, Nicholas. I need you to come back to me.”
Tears welled in her eyes and ran unchecked down her face. “I can’t lose you
too. Even if you’ll never truly be mine.”
If you're intrigued, you can pick up a copy on Amazon. Or, check out my other books on my website. Have a great day!
20 comments:
Having read AUD, I can vouch for its excellence. Nice tie in to our theme with the fall overboard scene. Nicely done.
I tend to like the marriage of convenience trope. My editor at Random House recently called me with a list of what's hot right now--and how does she know--but they were all overused tropes. The secret baby, reunion stories and so on. No more paranormal for at least 20 years...ack...no wonder writers are self pubbing!
I enjoy tropes in romance fiction. They're like comfort food, the macaroni and cheese of fiction. I haven't used many in my writing (at least not that I'm aware of), but I don't avoid books that include them. The challenge in using a trope is to give your reader something warm and familiar, while at the same time fresh and new. Isn't that exactly what editors always say they want? LOL What a tall order!
Thanks, Margo!
Vonnie, isn't it funny how these things run in cycles of popularity. Or maybe it's just the publishers deciding for us what they WANT to be popular and focusing on putting out those types of stories. Makes a person wonder if we're being bent to their will!
They are comforting, Alison, but it is VERY hard to make them fresh. How many ways can a person use the same old theme? I agree--an extremely tall order!
It also occurred to me my WIP, which is just about finished, doesn't have one trope anywhere in sight. I can't think of ANY books like it. Oh oh. Publishers are gonna HATE it!
I like marriage of convenience. I remember reading Georgette Heyer's books and thinking them so romantic.
That's two votes for marriage of convenience. I'm seeing a trend! Hmmm, something for everyone to think about when planning their next book.
I use them and I like them--some better than others. Like a few others have said, I love marriage of convenience, and I don't mind at all how many of them I've read. :-)
I try to avoid tropes, but reviewers almost always seem to connect my stories with one. But I take comfort in that no one has ever said they were a "retelling" of another story - at least I managed to change things up enough! Great post.
Liz, I guess the pubs are on to something. They know what people like and aren't afraid to stick with it in their requests!
Patricia, I'm like you. I try to avoid them, but they sneak in regardless!
I wouldn't worry much about tropes. After all, how many story types are there? I learned in college that all stories can be distilled down to 3. Man vs Man; Man vs Nature; Man vs Himself. In romance, we could substitute woman for man, of course. Write the story of your heart. 'Nuff said.
Ah, but it's how you twist those basic premises, Diane, that create a familiar story--or a unique one!
I had to look up the definition of "trope" the first time I heard it too, Jannine. (Why do we need a separate word?? Whatever.) I like the marriage of convenience one myself. But then I like Regency romance, and it's a common theme in that subgenre. I'm always worried about following a trend, but I guess trends develop for a reason!
I loved AUD--yes--the cabin boy/girl and the man overboard, but the way you handle the Witch Trials is unique and compelling. Sorry to hear no more paranormal for 20 years as that is what I write. Oh well. Nice post!
Many of us write the 'virgin' trope, I think...about the woman who for one reason or another hasn't connected with the right guy. She might be 32, but she's missed that 'boat.' You'll laugh at this, everybody...some of my friends who have been widowed (for 4-10 years), consider themselves virgins (again)!
Leah, you're right. A trend or cliche has to have a lot of backing to become one. Guess I shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the possibility of using tropes to my advantage!
Susan, I can't imagine publishers can predict trends 20 years out. If they were that good, they'd be out of the business and making a fortune in the stock market! Glad you liked my handling of the witchcraft trials. I spent a lot of time researching those babies to give mine an authentic ring!
Rolynn, so funny about your "virgin" friends. Finding the right man the second time around in real life is probably even harder than in fiction!
Hi Jannine, sorry I'm late, especially for such an interesting post. I think most books are 'tropes' when you whittle them down. The details and characters and the telling are different, but there are only a few basic plots, as Diane mentioned. I guess they become cliches because they are well loved (as someone else mentioned. See, I'm just recycling comments ;)) I also love marriage of convenience, if done correctly. It's a little difficult in contemporary, I think. I also like Secret Baby and prodigal son/bad boy in town returns. (is that one?)I haven't read AUD, but I KNOW I'm missing out. I really must find the time soon! That sucks about paranormal, but I have a feeling that's not necessarily an accurate prediction. Perhaps for that house, but not overall. Yes, thank God for Self publishing!
I like the bad boy returns one, too, Ally. That's probably my favorite, and I used it in one of my high school reunion stories. Yep, I have zero faith that anyone can predict trends. All it takes is one breakout book to create a trend no one ever imagined!
Someone in my critique group told me flat out that "rock stars don't sell." Someone on the opposite end of the table, a very wise woman, I think, said, "Until they do." Now my ONLY books that sell are my rock star books. My most successful, ABANDON ALL HOPE, is a reunion story. We've often wondered what it is about that book that made it sell so well (wishing we could recreate that magic). Maybe it was because it contained that reunion trope. I love second chance stories, because I believe we all deserve one.
I love reunion stories, MJ. Road To Serendipity has three of them in it. Not selling. (Sigh.) Glad yours is. It's so hard to know what triggers the magic when it happens. I'm just grateful when I get a touch of it!
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