(The sound of a pen scratching. LOGO.)
Hellooo everybody! A while back, I broke down the 10
super popular tropes I absolutely hate, and now I'm flipping the script! Sorta. I'm listing the 10
tropes and cliches that people drag through the mud, but I don't really mind them. You
don't have to agree with me. In fact, you probably won't, but these tropes just don't make me rage.
For some of ‘em, I think the contention is kinda silly. They're not THAT bad.
And there are other tropes on this list that I really like, and even love. And I'm not sorry
about it! You just hate half these tropes 'cause the Internet told you to! Before I get started,
I want to give all my love to Skillshare, who has generously sponsored today's video! Skillshare
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on Wednesdays. I give writing advice. I also talk about tropes I love and tropes I hate. Or, in this
case, hated tropes that I love, or like, or just think are not that bad. It's great! We have fun!
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check it out! Do yourself a favor, it's awesome! Now I'm breaking down the 10 tropes that everyone
hates, but I personally don't have a problem with. A quick disclaimer: just because I enjoy
some of these tropes doesn't mean I'm encouraging you to use them. Some of these tropes are cliches
and it's generally NOT a good idea to include cliches in your writing. I'm just explaining
why they don't particularly bother me. Number One (1): The orphaned MC. This one had to be
listed first for a reason, because it's awesome! People hate on the orphaned MC trope. They say
it's not realistic, which is just the dumbest shit I've ever heard. Do you think orphans don't
exist? That parents just never die? I've also heard that it's used a lot and yeah, it is,
because it's perfect! For starters, it makes the main character instantly sympathetic. Being an
orphan is fuckin' hard! Second, it gets the parents out of the picture. Parents screw
up plot lines. They're always setting curfews, checking in on their kids,
visiting for the holidays. They're always gettin' mixed up in shit! But you don't gotta deal with
that if they're dead! I will stand by the orphan MC forever and always. It is a great trope,
and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. Number Two (2): The mean girl. This isn't a trope I love,
per se, but a lot of people hate the mean girl trope and I don't really agree with the flack.
Sometimes people say it's damaging, that it pits women against one another, and I can agree with
that if ALL the women in a book are written this way. However, if you got a mix of nice
girls and mean girls, I don't see the harm. If anything, it's just realistic. Mean people exist.
Some of them are girls. That's how the world works. I've also heard that this trope is
anti-feminist, which I completely disagree with. Feminism doesn't mean that all women are perfect,
wonderful angels who fart out love and rainbows. You can believe in gender equality and still
recognize that some women are assholes. I don't think the mean girl trope encourages women to be
mean to one another. If anything, it's relatable and relieving to know that you're not the only
one who has experienced bullying or harassment. If boys can be dickheads, girls can, too, and
every gender in between. Number Three (3): Soulmates. People shit on this trope because it can
be cheesy, over the top, and of course, cliche. I used to shit on this trope, too, but now I say,
"Give soulmates a chance!" I agree that soul mates can be extra cringe, especially if the
writer is going with a toxic ownership angle or if they're utilizing instalove. But the concept of
soulmates is so broad and open to interpretation that you could do really creative things with it.
I've seen some soulmate concepts that were so fun and unique I wished I had thought of them! Plus,
it's romantic. We all want to feel like we are destined for love and happiness. All I'm saying
is I wouldn't be against writing soulmates in the future. I think it's fun and cute. Sue me. Number
Four (4): Plot armor. Why you want everyone to die so badly? There are situations where a character
being spared is unrealistic. You gotta make it make sense given the stakes and the circumstances.
What I don't understand is the widespread hatred when the main cast survives, period. Why do you
want so desperately for everyone to die? Why is that the only source of realism for you?
And I'm saying this as a bitch who murders the shit out of her characters. I have no problem
kicking 'em off! But I also have no problem reading books where the characters live. If
I like 'em, I kinda want them to stick around. I think you guys may have read
or watched a little too much Game of Thrones and you've forgotten that some people may not be gutted, or beheaded,
or blown to bits. Survival does happen sometimes, I promise. Number Five (5): The mirror cliche.
The mirror cliche is when a protagonist stands in front of a mirror toward the beginning of the book
in order for the reader to get their physical description. It is definitely overdone and
should probably be avoided. However, outside of it being an overdone cliche, which it absolutely IS,
the flack this trope gets doesn't really make sense to me. The first criticism I see is,
"People don't actually do this. They don't study their reflection!" What the fuck do you think
is the point of looking in a mirror? I study my reflection all the time. The features that I like,
the features that I don't like. That's the whole point of looking in a mirror! The second criticism
is, "It's unrealistic. No one would describe their appearance to a random audience!" They also
wouldn't describe their step-by-step movements through every occurrence throughout their life,
but that's what you're writing throughout your ENTIRE story, because that's how narrative works.
The physical description isn't them literally saying, "Hey guys! Here's what I look like!" It's
a narrative tool. Like I said, this technique should be avoided because it has been done to
death, but don't tell me it doesn't make sense, 'cause it does! Number Six (6): The damsel in
distress. Hear me out! The damsel in distress usually sucks, because nine times out of ten the
damsel is incompetent, which is fucking annoying. However, if you removed this element–if the damsel
is a capable, smart, strong-willed woman who just happens to be in a shitty situation,
then I have no problem with a hero swooping in and saving the day. It's romantic, and swoon-worthy,
and inspiring! And who says the damsel has to be a woman? I think a lot of people regardless of
gender like the idea of someone they love being there for them in their greatest time of need.
Isn't that something that everyone kinda wants? As long as our damsel has her shit together,
I'm fine with a heroic rescue. It gives me all the feels. Number Seven (7): Dream sequences.
It's typically considered a cliche to open your book with a dream. Especially if dreams are not
a recurring theme throughout the book and that's the only dream readers are gonna get,
right at the beginning. This would be considered a fake out. It doesn't make sense, because you're
opening your book with something that's not plot-centric. However, some people hate dream
sequences in any form and in any situation, and I'm not here for that shit! I've heard people say
that dreams aren't relevant because they 'don't matter,' they're 'just dreams.' Dreams have been
analyzed throughout history philosophically, religiously, and scientifically. They matter!
A LOT!
Some people believe dreams have meaning, that the images and symbols are subconscious
messages. And even if you don't believe this, dreams can reveal a lot about what you're going
through mentally and emotionally. In general, be careful of stepping into cliche territory,
but when done right, I love books that feature dream sequences because I find them fascinating.
Number Eight (8): Pretty people. I'm the first person to say that unless you're writing erotica,
your characters shouldn't be 11s out of 10s. But I'm sorry, I like reading about pretty people!
They don't have to be perfect or flawless to be hot. "But Jenna, it's just not realistic
to write pretty people! You should be writing 'real' characters." Hold up. Pretty people aren't
real? Then what ARE they? I agree with the push for body diversification in fiction. However,
I don't know if you know this... Pretty people can be disabled. Pretty people can have stomach
rolls. Pretty people can have vitiligo. There is beauty in so many different types of people,
and I don't think you need to paint your cast as homely in order to be realistic. If anything,
celebrating the beauty in their uniqueness is a LOT more appealing. Number Nine (9): Resurrection.
I understand that the overuse of resurrection in a story will eliminate the stakes and start
to look like a scapegoat. I absolutely DO NOT recommend that you use resurrection willy-nilly.
HOWEVER, as a reader, if I love a character and you kill them... I don't care how you do it. I
don't care if it fits the plot, or it's random as fuck, or doesn't make any sense at all. I will
love, and adore, and appreciate you if you resurrect them! I just want them alive! I don't care why
or how! This is one of those tropes that comes down to reader mentality and writer mentality.
As a writer, I am VERY reluctant to resurrect a character. But as a READER, I'm all for it! I
just wanna read my faves. However you gotta make it happen, I support you! And Number Ten (10):
"She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding." I'm gonna start by saying that this
is a cliche. It has been overdone to death. It is terrible. It is cheesy, and you should
absolutely never write it! Do you hear me? NEVER. I don't like it because it's a cliche,
especially in young adult and in fanfiction. Every time you read it, you're just like, "Ugh." Grab a YA
book and flip to any page and you will probably find this exact line with no deviation. However,
I'm going to say something so controversial, yet so brave. I've heard people say this
line sucks because, "It's not possible! You can't not realize you're holding a breath!"
That's a lie! This is a sign of anxiety. It's not universal, but many people who suffer from
anxiety–especially if they carry it in their chest–will unknowingly hold their breath.
Again, I am not encouraging you to write this line because it is laughable how often it's been used.
Don't do it, for the love of God! I'm just saying that it is an ACTUAL thing that ACTUALLY happens.
Sincerely, an ACTUAL person with ACTUAL anxiety. So that's all I got for you today! Again,
thank you so much to Skillshare for sponsoring today's video! I cannot stress enough how much I
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