Comments on: Fantasy tropes, memes and clichés

By: wsgeorge

wsgeorge — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:44:56 +0000

I find that the best way to avoid tropes or to use them originally is to "grow your tale". Well, this only works for those who aren't looking to write just one story and get away with it, but those who want to create myths (mythopoeia) – which is what I do.

I start with a story germ that is particularly cliched, then I cut it down and add stuff. I let the tale grow "organically", as it develops in my mind.

This process takes years, and can create a truly original "back-story" for your work. I've been working on mine for over 6 years now.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:51:06 +0000

I'm suprised -very suprised- that nobody has mentioned TV Tropes (tvtropes.org) yet.

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:59:33 +0000

I've been trying to get the first book of Week's trilogy – but all they seem to have is book 2 in this country at the matter. I will catch up with it somewhere, sometime.

The other point you have to be aware of is that if you drift too far into the strange, your book might not sell. Because people actually LIKE the tropes…although they love new takes on old tropes even better.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:36:56 +0000

XD Awesome point.

I love fantasy–but I usually try to find something that is unconventional and new. Try the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks–it's the best fantasy I've ever read.

But anyway.

Tropes. D8 SCARY.

I write fantasy~ I'm currently in an arts high school where I study writing, and I have to say that thanks to my teachers, I didn't fulfill even one of those fantasy tropes. In fact, most of my characters and plot points went against them.

HOWEVER. I do enjoy some of the trope-like elements of fantasy; meaning, in other words, that I think sticking to tradition at certain points in fantasy is also a good idea. Personally, I've tried to combine some of the old with some new ideas with my own, and where I personally think the genre should/is going. Much like Brent Weeks (I hope…?)

Your point, to me, is a very valid one. While I don't think you should strive to 'break' fantasy tropes, I do think you should know what they are and try to be different, or to modify them in some way.

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:53:00 +0000

Bless the fact that everyone is different…

By: Satima Flavell

Satima Flavell — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:27:00 +0000

I really only like historical fantasy, high fantasy and humour. Urban fantasy leaves me cold unless it includes Zombies or Vampires, in which case I actively dislike it. I also dislike alternative history. Yes, Ru,I think there has to be something famililar about our reading or we will be disappointed, creatures of habit that we are! And perhaps I’m a great C of H than anyone:-)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:24:00 +0000

I think that a successful fantasy story starts with well thought out and plausible world building.
If you add in good characters, plotting, storytelling and writing then tropes do not matter to me.

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:43:00 +0000

So long as its a good story, well written, I am not even really aware of the tropes – in fact I had to look up the word. On the other hand, some authors can over use them as you know. I have often wondered why so many fantasy books are set in situations with knights on horseback and everyone wielding swords or bows and arrows. There are some “modern” fantasies out there and they are fun.

By: Satima Flavell

Satima Flavell — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:20:00 +0000

Great point, Glenda. I love the tropes of fantasy and am a bit suspicious of books that are obviously trying to avoid them. Like, man, if you don't dig the tropes, why are you writing fantasy?

OTOH, I love it when a writer manages to turn a new trick on the tropes, as all your books to date have done. (Karen Miller and her alter ego, K.E. Mills, have the same knack, as does my current heart throb Joe Abercrombie.) Even so, I don't mind the staple fare, either. Give me a castle and nice virgin princess and maybe a dragon or a Wicked Witch and provided the characters are well developed and the plot not too predictable, I will still love it.

By: hrugaar

hrugaar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:20:00 +0000

I suppose most events in life are tropes or clichés. That history seems to repeat itself in cycles is a cliché about clichés. 🙂 But the people involved (though no doubt made up of many universals and clichés themselves) will be unique; and that can make all the difference, and shift the pattern dramatically.

To me it begs the question … were we wholly deprived of familiar patterns of events (the tropes, the clichés) would it be much harder for us to identify with the story, would we find it less accessible?