Leaning into the Tropes
When I first started writing, I didn’t know about tropes much less know how to use them in my writing. Yet, I still managed to put a few tropes in my earlier stories even without understanding them.
Now, with my sixteenth novel coming out soon, I’ve learned to lean into the tropes. What is a trope? According to the dictionary, a trope is a recurring theme. I have been studying etymology and learning where the word originated has been a fun to understand the words more. Trope comes from the root words trepein~to turn, or tropos~turn, way, both are from ancient Greek.
There are numerous tropes, each genre has its favorites. From young adult fantasy we are familiar with “the chosen one,” as in Harry Potter, or “the ticking clock” in thrillers like 24, and one of my favorites, “the fake relationship” like While You Where Sleeping. Each trope has expectations, but the best stories take the familiar trope and turn it sideways.
In my new series, Flintlock and Steel Rock Romance series, we have an underdog band who makes it big, but after reaching the height of their profession, they are also suffering from the phoniness of fame. In the first book, Rockstar on the Run, Cypress Jones runs away from home, the loss of his mother and his own mistakes, only to realize it was home that grounded him. A few years of the limelight and he’s ready to return to his roots. But going home isn’t easy. His mother is gone, the girl he loved his marrying another, and his life is falling apart.
Cypress and Loretta agree to a fake relationship for the sake of their careers and to allow their daughter (secret baby) to get to know her father. But Cy is playing a long game and he’s hoping to turn their fake relationship into something real (a second chance romance).
In book two, My Unforgettable Rockstar, Grey Meadows is the forgettable member of the band, Flintlock and Steel. He’s best man in his cousin’s wedding, but what he wants most is a second chance with Morgan. Their whirlwind romance ended because of his stupidity, but he’s determined to win her back. This is a found family, forbidden romance and second chance romance amid a location wedding.
What are some of your favorite romance tropes? It’s exciting to explore the different tropes and try to interpret them in a different way.
