How to use tropes in romance novels
S.R. Beaston
Crafty with words, wit, and wisdom, just add caffeine to make it more interesting.
When it comes to telling stories, who doesn’t love a good romance? You see it everywhere in shows, movies, books, and songs. Unless the only content you consume is One Piece, romance plots and subplots are hard to avoid. (We’re not counting Luffy’s love for meat.)
At the very least, romance is the background noise of a bigger story that you can choose to ignore. At most, it’s an integral and lively part of the plot. If done right, it fits seamlessly either way.
So what makes a romance plot or subplot good? What makes them blend well into the background of a bigger story? What makes them come alive in standalone romance genres?
Tropes.
Good or bad, these themes are a vital part of moving the narrative forward. They are the situation you put your characters in to overcome or help along their journey.
Some are expected, some are selling points, some are overused or poorly executed. I can’t count the amount of fantasy games that start with a shipwreck from an unknown power while your character miraculously washes ashore by the grace of plot armor.
Tropes in romance are much more forgiving.
What is a Romance Trope?
Simply put, it’s a situation or plot device that helps the narrative of a romance story. It caters to the love story you are trying to tell. What makes the situation or plot device a trope is that it is widely used in the genre and recognizable for readers.
For example, "enemies to lovers" is a popular romance trope. It’s the idea that the characters start off hating each other, causing tension and questions for the reader:
• Why do the characters hate each other?
• Who’s side are we supposed to be on?
• What horrible scenario will they find themselves in that will ultimately help them overcome their hate?
Since we generally know the end goal of a romance novel, it’s not the ending we’re excited about. It’s how they get there. That’s where tropes come in.
Should you Include Tropes in a Romance Novel?
Short answer: Yes, you should definitely include tropes in your romance novel.
It’s easy to assume tropes have a negative connotation to them. When talking about TV shows, tropes are sometimes used in discussion when it’s overused or badly done.
However, when asking a group of media enthusiasts (avid show bingers, fellow writers, etc) "are tropes a bad thing", there was a resounding answer of "no".
I mentioned enemies to lovers as a popular one because it’s one of the most recognizable. It’s very versatile, and one of the most sold themes throughout other genres.
Romance tropes are often broad enough that the same formula can be applied in multiple books and still be a completely different story. The couple get together and have a happily ever after, but how?
Let’s look at some good examples.
Good Romance Tropes
A good romance trope is, in my opinion, any trope in the genre that helps execute the story well. Even if a trope sounds sketchy, it’s all in how it’s executed.
It’s hard to classify what is ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ when tropes, specifically in romance, are subjective tastes. Here’s a list of popular, or ‘good’ tropes.
• The Meet-Cute
• Forced Proximity
• Holiday romance
• Single parent
• Friends to lovers
• Love triangle
These may look similar to ‘The Romance Subgenre’, so let's think of them as layers.
At the top, you have your genre. When you dig down, "open it up", you see subgenres. You see plots and subplots. If you dig deeper, you see tropes, the little devices that help move the plot along.
The success or failure of your chosen tropes may tip the scales of what makes a good or bad trope. Just like the ‘good’ tropes, bad ones are not inherently bad, but here are ones that you may want to avoid in general.
Controversial Romance Tropes
Here are a few examples of romance tropes that some readers will be sketched out by:
• Abusive lover
• Forced marriage
• Mafia romance
• Insta-love
• Love triangle
Did I put love triangle on both lists? Yes.
The interesting thing about tropes and writing in general is that nearly anything can be good if done well and with purpose. When researching and talking with readers and fellow writers, there was a muddy divide in what romance tropes they loved and hated, and a few tropes were on both sides.
Articles are adamant that the love triangle causes a visceral reaction to the reader, hating anything to do with the implications of such a trope, while another praises a good love triangle for the complexities of love and human nature.
After all, Twilight was huge for a reason, and it wasn’t because of Meyers’ deep understanding of vampiric lore.
Love them or hate them, popular or controversial, romance tropes are a huge deal for the genre. They are used in hype and marketing, and when executed well, a valued part of any romance plot.
Like magic systems in a fantasy setting, romance tropes have a huge blank canvas to work with, unrestricted by genre structure. You just have to know how to paint the story to make any romance trope the next big deal.
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