What’s Your Trope? Even better than: What’s Your Sign?
Dear Nicholas, A curious new kind of personality labeling has evolved out of the world of books and book reviewing. I only just learned about it as I’ve been getting the word out about my own new novel. The trait is your preference in tropes in stories you read. What is a trope anyway? And what’s yours?
The traditional definition is an over-used plot device or phrase. The new way of using the word–new to me at least–is as a label for the kinds of stories you or I seek out and like. I’d never consciously identified a pattern in my own choices.
Also new. It’s no longer a negative term. It’s simply a handy label.
Here are some of the popular story tropes. You can use these online to find books that fit these very specific descriptions.
#enemiestolovers
#arrangedmarriagesthatworkout
#incompetentpolice 
#unexpected baby
#amnesia
#nosyreporter
#bestfriendsbrother
#intelligentpsychopath
And so on. There are hundreds more.
Here I am being cool and talking tropes on TikTok video, online hangout of young people.
I discovered that to draw attention to the upcoming (May 1) publication of my novel I need to use tropes. My Life On Earth And Elsewhere is a fantasy story about a teenage girl with an astral boyfriend.(“mesmerizing…magical …compulsively readable,” say advance reviews,) So what kinds of tropes are effective for drawing people to info on this book? What works is #shyguy #loveinotherrealms #tenderhearted #beautifulalien. And a weird one that’s very popular: #therapydupe. I’m guessing this suggests that my novel is somehow emotionally therapeutic.
I never would have guessed that a substantial number of readers are looking, consciously or unconsciously, for stories about shy guys in other realms.
When I told my friend Jan about this trope business, she started thinking of her own preferred tropes.
She immediately identified hers as #womenspiesinworldwartwo.
I realized that one of mine in books is urbanintellectualsincomplicatedrelationships. In my choice of TV and movies, I favor #attractivetroubleddetectivefindinglovewhilehuntingmurdererincoastalsetting.
What does that say about either of us? I’m not sure. But to me it’s just as interesting as “What’s your sign?” or that INFJ Myers Briggs stuff.
Peggy
Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: astral boyfriend, complicatedrelationships, fantasy story, find books, My Life On Earth And Elsewhere, one in other realms, plot device, preferred tropes, shyguy, specific descriptions, tropes in stories, troubled detective, what is a trope, what's your sign
Comments
I S T J – raising my hand
Yes, but what’s your trope, Bob? Or one of them. I do think most of us have more than one. Sometimes I get tired of troubled detectives.
Or even more interesting! This is a new thing for me – never heard of it before – but then I don’t read as much as I used to – pre-cell phone/laptop era.
Was entirely new to me, too, kenju. (Do keep in mind you can read books on phone and laptop.)
Friend Robert Braxton has just sent me a link to a quiz for identifying which character trope I am. Which of the stock characters in stories that I most exemplify. I took the test and I’m The Skeptic In A Ghost Story. This is not a good test. In real life, I seek ghosts. I long to meet one. But here’s the link. https://www.sparknotes.com/blog/which-character-trope-are-you/ I hope it’s not a scam.
This trope idea is fun. But I know it will morph into something I no longer understand so can no longer play. My trope is definitely “cute meet happily ever after.” I’m not complicated!
Sounds as if you have a good trope firmly installed, Anon. And I think there will always be a good supply of stories like this.
tropes seem a useful shortcut. bob
Yes, and you told me yours many years ago: battle between large forces of good and evil with good prevailing.
yeah, that’s me