Tropes: The Good, The Bad or The Ugly...

Let's start with the definition:

From Dictionary.com

3

a. a recurring theme or motif, as in literature or art: the heroic trope.

the trope of motherhood;

the heroic trope.

b. a convention or device that establishes a predictable or stereotypical representation of a character, setting, or scenario in a creative work: The author relies on our knowledge of the Haunted House trope to set the scene.

From her introduction in the movie, the character is nothing but a Damsel in Distress trope.

The author relies on our knowledge of the Haunted House trope to set the scene.

This barely scratches the surface of tropes and how they are used in novels.

Let's ask Gemini AI to expand on the definition that helps us understand the good that can be obtained from properly used tropes:

Understanding Literary Tropes: Why Familiarity Sells

(Gemini AI 26DE2025)

If you've ever read a review that uses the word "trope" in a negative light, you've witnessed a common critical misunderstanding. In literature, film, and media, a trope is simply a universally recognized motif, device, or plot element.

Think of tropes not as clichés, but as the fundamental building blocks of any genre.

Trope vs. Cliché: The Crucial Distinction

The negative feeling many people have towards "tropes" is usually directed at clichés.

• Trope (The Tool): A recurring convention. It's the expected element that signals to the reader what kind of story they are consuming. Example: The Private Investigator (PI) has a troubled past.

• Cliché (The Failure): An expression or idea that has been used so often it has lost its originality and emotional impact. Example: The PI with a troubled past spends the entire book staring into a whiskey glass and delivering flat monologues.

A trope is a concept; a cliché is a lazy or unoriginal execution of that concept.

Why Tropes are Essential to Genre Fiction

In Urban Fantasy, Detective Noir, and Mystery, tropes aren't just allowed—they are the bedrock of the contract you make with the reader.

1. Genre Shorthand: Tropes instantly signal the tone and rules of the world. When a reader encounters the "Seer/PI who sees ghosts" trope, they immediately know they are entering a world of mystery, danger, and the supernatural. This saves the author hundreds of words of exposition.

2. Reader Expectations: Readers come to genre fiction for comfort and familiarity. They want to see the hard-boiled detective solve the case, they want the shadow organization to be defeated, and they want the chaotic but powerful magical elements. Tropes deliver on these genre expectations.

3. The Canvas for Originality: Tropes are the structure you subvert. True originality often comes not from avoiding tropes entirely, but from combining familiar elements in a unique way or giving them an unexpected twist.

The Secret to Using Tropes Effectively

The goal of a successful author is not to avoid tropes, but to execute them brilliantly or subvert them skillfully.

Technique

Description

Example from Ghost Train

Play It Straight, but Excellently

Take a classic trope and execute it with unique character depth, compelling prose, and high stakes.

The Shadow Organization (Red Herring Society): A murder-for-hire group masquerading as an innocent book club. The concept is a classic trope, but the execution (Sir Ian, the psychotic sniper Sheila) makes it terrifyingly real.

The New Combination

Mix two seemingly disparate tropes to create something fresh.

The Reluctant Ghost Partner: Decklin has two ghost partners (Trinity, the cynical 19th-century ghost, and Clarice, the 1950s biker chick ghost). This love/hate triangle is a new combination of the standard "mentor ghost" trope.

The Subversion/Twist

Introduce the trope, and then flip its expected outcome or function.

The PI's Sight is a Curse... and a Bargaining Chip: The "PI who sees ghosts" is blinded by his mentor Silas in the climax, turning his power into a dependency on Clarice and Trinity. The hero's defining power is removed as the cost of his victory.

Conclusion

When a reader or critic dismisses a book for using "tropes," they are missing the point: Tropes are the language of genre. Your success lies in speaking that language fluently while telling a story—like Ghost Train: The Red Herring Society—that uses familiar elements to deliver unpredictable twists, unique characters, and a captivating journey.