5 Writing Tropes That Are Overused

A trope is a plot device frequently used in literature or art. Some common examples are the damsel in distress, a female character who relies on men to save her, and the chosen one, in which the protagonist is the only character who can save the world.

Since certain tropes are so repetitive, I feel annoyed whenever I come across them in works of media. The impact and suspense can fall short when the trope is too predictable. Here are five examples of tropes I believe are not entertaining when used too often.

1. Miscommunication

False accusations, misinterpretations, and the struggle to communicate thoughts adequately contribute to the miscommunication trope. Watching characters wrestle with a basic problem that is easy to solve can be infuriating. I want to yell at the characters and writers for wasting my time. For example, in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the parents of Juliet misinterpret her reasons for not wanting to marry Paris. The Nurse’s confusing explanations lead Juliet to believe that Romeo has died when he was actually banished. In the end, the characters' failure to communicate leads to the unnecessary deaths of the star-crossed lovers. While miscommunication is fine, the audience may feel bored or annoyed when the drawn-out conflict lasts longer than necessary. We do not need to watch twenty episodes of petty drama when the conflict can be resolved in significantly less time.

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2. Love Triangle

Team Edward or Team Jacob? Should Katniss be with Peeta or Gale? Young adult novels are guilty of using the love triangle trope with one girl struggling to pick between two guys vying for her affection. The main character often considers herself unattractive and undesirable while exhibiting typical female beauty standards. Her romantic options are usually a good friend from her childhood and the mysterious new guy she just met. While this trope is not necessarily bad, it can be very predictable. Seeing men act out of jealousy and possessiveness for the sake of a woman's attention makes my eyes roll.

3. Time Skip Ending with Relationships

Time skips occur when a story jumps forward by multiple months, years, or decades. The most popular example of this is the ending of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, which has an epilogue scene set 19 years later. The main cast is married with children and sending off the next generation of students at Hogwarts. Time skips are already a generally disliked trope, but adding relationships to the mix is even more complicated. Long-lasting relationships with high school teenagers are unrealistic, especially for a first relationship. A solid conclusion does not have to be specific about what characters are doing in the future. Sometimes, leaving this up to the imagination of your readers is a better method.

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4. Amnesia

The amnesia trope occurs when some or all memories, facts, information, or experiences are forgotten by a character. This trope is lazy since the forgotten memories often relate to significant events or advancements, bringing the character’s development back to zero. Regaining memories will cause conflict and struggle with the character's sense of identity or morality. The media’s portrayal of amnesia is very different from reality, since it only rarely affects personality or identity. When damage is substantial, the memory is often not recovered. In comparison, fictional amnesia is almost always reversible. This trope is easy to do poorly and can be disappointing for audiences.

5. Redemption Equals Death

In most stories, we can expect the heroes to triumph over every obstacle and defeat the villain. When a story sets up a villain character with redeemable qualities, this character often dies right after redemption. The trope feels unfair, and I hate to see this cynical narrative pushed further by the trope. Characters with tragic backstories may indicate that villainy was not a choice. Emotionally manipulated characters deserve a second chance, and I love seeing redeemed characters regain control over life. Embarking on a new path as a changed person will allow the character to grow and find happiness. An immediate death leaves the story empty, and the audience can feel disheartened that the character is gone.

Killing off characters for dramatic effect is ineffective when the death has no significance to the plot. Before dying, villains should at least put up a fight, apologize, or say an impactful line. A good example of this is Darth Vader’s death in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. He asks to see his son Luke’s face with his own eyes and says, “You were right about me. Tell your sister you were right.” His final words give closure to his character as he reassures Luke that he is right about still having good in him. Characters should at least mourn or reflect on the villain's death after redemption.

Avoiding These Tropes in Your Writing

Have you noticed that these tropes are used very often? While creating an original story is challenging, I think writers should use these tropes less. You should use the miscommunication trope at a minimum. Instead of love triangles, you could write platonic relationships between male and female characters. Write a self-indulgent epilogue for yourself instead of including a time skip. A more interesting portrayal of amnesia could be conditional as the person can recall memories connected to specific emotions. I would love more stories where the reformed villain works with the good guys. It is much more interesting to see the awkward and strained relationship between the villain and the heroes, which can lead to amusing interactions.