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How to put twists on popular tropes from each genre

Tropes are common patterns, themes, or devices used in storytelling. They can be found in every genre, from romance to horror, and they can help readers to quickly identify the type of story they are reading. However, tropes can also become clichés, predictable, or boring if they are used too often or without any variation. That’s why it’s important for writers to put twists on popular tropes, to surprise, challenge, or subvert the expectations of their readers. In this blog post, we will explore some examples of how writers can put twists on popular tropes from each genre.


                   Romance


Romance is a genre that is full of tropes, such as the love triangle, the fake relationship, the enemies-to-lovers, the forbidden love, the meet-cute, and so on. These tropes can be fun and satisfying, but they can also be overused and predictable. Here are some ways to put twists on romance tropes:


Love triangle: Instead of having the protagonist choose between two love interests, have them choose neither, or both, or someone else entirely. Or, have the love interests fall in love with each other instead of the protagonist.


Fake relationship: Instead of having the fake relationship turn into a real one, have the fake relationship end badly, or reveal that one of the partners was lying or manipulating the other for ulterior motives. Or, have the fake relationship be exposed by someone who knows the truth.


Enemies-to-lovers: Instead of having the enemies overcome their differences and fall in love, have them remain enemies, or become friends, or realize that they are not compatible. Or, have the enemies be secretly in love from the start, but pretend to hate each other for some reason.


                           Horror


Horror is a genre that relies on tropes to create fear, suspense, and tension, such as the jump scare, the final girl, the haunted house, the monster, the slasher, and so on. These tropes can be effective and thrilling, but they can also be predictable and clichéd. Here are some ways to put twists on horror tropes:


Jump scare: Instead of having the jump scare be caused by something scary, have it be caused by something harmless, funny, or ironic. Or, have the jump scare be a fake-out, and have the real scare happen later, when the audience is not expecting it.


Final girl: Instead of having the final girl be the sole survivor of the horror, have her die, or be the villain, or be the cause of the horror. Or, have the final girl be a boy, or a group of people, or an animal.


Haunted house: Instead of having the haunted house be haunted by ghosts, demons, or other supernatural entities, have it be haunted by something else, such as aliens, robots, or humans. Or, have the haunted house be not haunted at all, but a trap, a hoax, or a misunderstanding.


                             Fantasy


Fantasy is a genre that is full of tropes, such as the chosen one, the quest, the magic system, the medieval setting, the dragons, and so on. These tropes can be imaginative and captivating, but they can also be overused and boring. Here are some ways to put twists on fantasy tropes:


Chosen one: Instead of having the chosen one be the hero of the story, have them be the villain, or the sidekick, or the victim. Or, have the chosen one be not chosen at all, but self-proclaimed, or mistaken, or manipulated.


Quest: Instead of having the quest be a noble and epic adventure, have it be a mundane and tedious chore, or a dangerous and futile endeavor, or a hilarious and absurd misadventure. Or, have the quest be not a quest at all, but a coincidence, or a prank, or a scam.


Magic system: Instead of having the magic system be based on elements, runes, spells, or other common sources, have it be based on something else, such as emotions, music, dreams, or jokes. Or, have the magic system be not a system at all, but a mystery, or a lie, or a curse.

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