Blog
Writing Themes vs Tropes Vs Plots
Exploring and defining elements of the fiction-writing process.
There are any number of challenges you face when it comes to writing fiction. The first, of course, is what to write. I often have a bunch of different, half-formed concepts swirling around my brain. One advantage to writing as a pantser is how easy it is to grab a thread and run with it.
Of course, writing by the seat of your pants, weaving said thread into something coherent, can be a challenge. I wrote the first 4 books of my Void Incursion sci-fi series in this way.
As a planner, you still take a thread and run with it, but with more intent. Planning can include a vague outline, a detailed backstory, possibly a chapter-by-chapter outline, and some planners even create dialogue. Planning doesn’t lessen my creative process; it just makes the stories I write more cohesive and better plotted.
When it comes to writing, themes, tropes, and plots are all important elements to consider. They can all be laced together and tend to coexist. But what are they?
Themes
Themes can be incredibly simple. They tend to get confused with plot.
A theme is a central idea in a given story that is less defined than the plot but moves your characters and action forward. Themes tend to be broad and open to interpretation.
For example, themes include a youth coming into their own, justice, revenge, sacrifice, power and corruption, good versus evil, and the like. When your character seeks to right a wrong or reconcile their childhood with their adulthood, these are themes.
Themes tend to get overly analyzed. In my experience, people will look for themes where they might not have been intended by the author. Because they’re intangible ideas and tend to be vague, themes can be up to the interpretation of the reader.
As a writer, though, having a theme in mind helps to move the plot, spur character growth, and give depth to the overall story.
Writing tropes
Tropes have many meanings, depending on the medium in question. But what is a trope?
Overall, a trope is a recurring (as in often used) character archetype, plot device, or element associated with a theme. The love triangle in romance, faster-than-light travel in sci-fi, a betrayal and plot twist, are all tropes.
Tropes can get twisted, turned around, and stood on their heads. But they tend to be familiar notions that make readers feel more invested in a story. Why? Because that familiarity that comes with a trope makes the reader feel more connected.
One reason TV shows that defy expectations fail is that they ignore or shun tropes. While that can work and draw an audience, it can also backfire and make people disinterested.
Having the expectation that a trope can build is a choice you get to make for your writing.
Plots
When I wrote as a planner, I often worked almost exclusively with my themes and tropes. Though I never finished the series (yet), the first two books of my Steampunk Vapor Rogues series were done before I realized what my overarching plot was.
Plot is the driving force of a story. For example, because “W” happened, now we must deal with “X” as a result of it. If we seek to get things to “Y”, we must work through “Z,” or all will be lost.
Plot is the cause and effect that drives the story. How did I write 2 books without having an overarching plot? I was driving a story along with “W,” “X,” and “Z” above, but didn’t know what “Y” would be. I had characters, situations, the necessary exposition, rising action, climaxes, and falling action. But there was no resolution because I wasn’t sure what the ending was.
Crazy? Not necessarily. The issue is that I meander a lot in that story, and the lack of a coherent plot might have contributed to it being incomplete.
Still, having a plot drives the story and gives the reader all the thoughts and feelings they seek in the escape that comes from a good work of fiction. Plot is direction that guides the reader to experience your idea; in part, how you desire them to experience it, in part as only they can.
Plots can be subverted and take a lot of interesting detours along the way. They can also be open to interpretation.
Writing themes, tropes, and plots shouldn’t be forced
When it comes to working out themes, tropes, and plots, it can be easy to feel a need to push something. Sometimes you might feel as if there’s necessity to a certain theme, exploring a trope, and plotting specificity.
Often, there’s more than one theme in a given story. Coming of age can get tied to good versus evil and justice, for example.
Tropes can be messed with, too. I use more than one form of faster-than-light travel in my Void Incursion series, another in my Forgotten Fodder series, and still another in my Savagespace series. How you apply a trope, as a writer, is up to you.
Most importantly, writing themes, tropes, and plots shouldn’t be forced. Forcing elements into a story can be telling. A savvy reader will know they’re being manipulated when you force a theme, trope, or plot down their throat.
Here’s what I think is an interesting fact about me. As a writer with 20 books self-published in the world, I’m really bad at identifying parts of speech, theme versus trope versus plot, and all the other fiddly bits college professors and High School English teachers tend to focus on. Yet my stories have all the necessary elements – even if I suck at pointing them out and identifying them.
Writing is an art. If it brings you joy, go for it. Amateur or pro, while it’s good to know a theme vs a trope vs a plot, that knowledge is not what makes a writer a writer. But it can help you to find deeper meaning in your work and create a more engaging, interesting, and maybe inspirational story.
Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you every week, please consider this:
You must be logged in to post a comment.