Popular Fiction Writers Group - Romance Tropes

At the Popular Fiction Writers Group this week, we discussed popular romance tropes. What makes these tropes popular? Where do they fit in to today's society? And how can we improve these tropes and make them unique?

While the conversation was indeed interesting, below are a list of my favourite tropes and why I like them. Please remember, these are only my opinions and based on what I enjoy reading.

1. Alpha Hero

The alpha hero is a very common trope in romance, and is in fact a requirement in some category lines, such as Sexy and now Dare. While I used to sit on the fence about the alpha hero, believing I preferred the beta type of guy, I've recently discovered that the alpha hero isn't all that bad. But alpha doesn't mean dominant, overbearing, always needs to be right. The hero in your story can simply be a man who's well respected to be an alpha. Usually he'll have control over something, which means alpha heroes are often bosses, owners, or billionaires. But the most important aspect of the alpha hero is that he needs to have a big, caring heart for the heroine. No one dare hurt her. No one dare upset her. Else they have him to answer to. The alpha hero is a protector, a man who loves, and a man who at least appears to have control over his life (such as job, house, fortune, etc). But as it is romance, the heroine of the story is likely to make him rethink these things, or realise that if anything, there is one thing missing from his apparent perfect life. Her.

Why do I enjoy writing alpha heroes? Well, I never really thought about whether my heroes were alpha or beta. I simply created characters and stories. But looking back on the men I've written, some of my favourites are definitely the alpha types who soon realise the aren't as strong as they appeared when the woman they love isn't in their grasp. These men a vulnerable and would basically die to protect my heroines.

Best Friend's Sibling

Probably my absolute favourite! There's nothing better than a hero resisting the woman of his dreams because he knows his best mate would skin him alive for even touching the little sister. I love this trope not only for the added conflict in the friendship, but also because it usually gives the characters history. They may have known each other for a while, even as far back into childhood. They may have played together as children. They may know things about each other one may not discover about the person they're dating so early. 

Why do I enjoy writing about best friend's sibling? First of all, it is easy for characters to meet and get to know each other. Second, it's fun. But mostly, I love making a character become part of a family they're already close to, and making two best mates finally become siblings.

Friends to Lovers

This one is quite tricky. You either love friends to lovers, or you hate it. Usually, I'm generally for it. I can't think of anything lovelier than falling in love with your best friend ... sometimes. Other times, it could make things very awkward, which is generally a conflict explored in this romance trope. Will the romance ruin the friendship, or is it worth risking for love?

Why do I enjoy writing friends to lovers? I've done this plenty of times and it was perhaps the first trope I really wrote about. I just love the closeness in the relationship. These characters usually know more about each other than two people who've just met. And often, they're fighting it. The attraction is so deep, intense, and they want nothing more, but no matter what, they're usually worried about destroying the friendship. 

Reunion

One word to make this trope great: history. If it's a reunion, there has to be history. Which means conflict. Or secrets. What split them apart? Was it simple or complicated? And why are they now back together? While reunion can be simple, it can also be very complicated, and generally a fun trope to explore.

Why do I enjoy writing reunion? Generally, I do like having history between my characters. With people who have just met, you need to fill in a lot of getting to know each other and backstory. With reunion, it's already there. And tension and conflict can already be established.

Woman or Man in Peril

Obviously, this is a great trope to establish external conflict and for romantic suspense, perhaps my favourite subgenre. It's fun to read about someone almost get killed, as we know with romance that they obviously don't die. But the character's pulse is racing, they're looking behind their shoulder ... or they don't know they're in peril and our pulse as the reader is racing. Either way, putting characters in danger is always fun. 

Why do I like writing woman or man in peril? I've done both, in all of my romantic suspense manuscripts of course. And even if they're not romantic suspense, throwing a character into a life or death situation is a great way to heighten tension and send pulses soaring of their loved ones.

Other Tropes I Enjoy or Would Consider Writing

Amnesia - an interesting trope and one I've yet to explore, but I like the idea of how amnesia, not being able to recall the event, might actually protect the character. But when they remember, someone will surely be coming for them.
Enemies to Lovers - I've done this too, and it's fun to realise that the person you thought you didn't like, someone you haven't got along with, is actually someone who could completely steal your heart. But it's a trope that also needs to be handled with care to be believable.
​Royalty - in fact, it's a major project of mine at the moment. This trope adds glamour, class warfare and, in my case, conflict.
Virgin - not really a 'trope' to me. My characters may or may not be a virgin, just depends on what I feel their history would be.

Author

Rachel Armstrong is an aspiring author of romantic fiction. She is the facilitator of the Popular Fiction Writers Group at the Townsville Writers and Publishers Centre.