What are your favorite tropes? and which ones would you avoid writing?

[AliceMoonvale]

I'll admit, I personally, really like stories where someone ends up in an alternative world or dimension, even a different time period, fictional or not. It’s fun seeing how confused characters are at first, then slowly figure things out over time. That and being saved at the last minute. It might be overused in some places, but I tend to have fun with it in writing sometimes.

Tropes I avoid since I don't like them much is anti-heroes, ones who mainly want fame or power. If they were dragged into it or they're been influenced by a need for revenge, then maybe. Also the 'picked by fate' thing to save the world. I could never get into it. Same with turning rivals into love interests., only because it feels weird to me.

Curious as to what others think!

 

[AnEmberOfSundown]

I avoid any trope that takes itself too seriously or is used as short hand for character backstory/trauma. But I handle them in different ways.

Too self-serious: brooding grimdork anti heroes with secret royal bloodlines and cursed weapons carrying the soul of an ancient dragon etc etc etc… I like to screw with the trope. I’ll straight up lampshade it just to take the piss out of it.

Trauma porn/break-the-cutie: generally just avoid it. I loathe SA as a woman’s tragic backstory because it’s almost always used as set dressing and not respectfully engaged or examined.

EDIT: I should note that my protag does experience trauma, but her recovery is the engine of the story-not the shock value, nor is it based on SA.

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Love that secretly the protagonist was super special the entire time no matter what. It's great to remind the peons that it is fate, not diligence that makes the man.

 

[Eldoria]

I avoid the trope of the MC always winning, always getting everything she/he wants. MC can win, lose, get hurt, (death is 'possible' but it will only happen at the end of the story - although I haven't planned that far).

Even if MC wins, she/he must pay a certain price, whether trauma, injury, loss, or even disability. The MC can cry, get sadness: frustrated, angry, depressed, or even destroyed.

Even so, I want MC to always rise even if she/he has to crawl from zero. I want a small light that lights up in a dark world. I want a human MC who inspires, not a perfect MC who is invincible and always true.

 

[Anonjohn20]

Hate time travel; no matter how well it's done, there are usually some plot holes that you just have to accept.