Beyond the Expected: Exploring Reverse Tropes in Writing

Yesterday, as I was mulling over some writing prompts, I discovered the concept of reverse tropes. They offer a treasure trove of possibilities for writers looking to inject some originality into their narratives.

In essence, a reverse writing trope is a clever twist on the traditional literary trope. It’s all about flipping the script and turning expectations on their head. Imagine a hero who’s actually a villain, or a tale where the roles of men and women are reversed. It’s a brilliant way to shake things up and give your story an unexpected edge.

Readers – what do you think of what I’ve come up with below?

1. Inverted Sun: A world where the sun sets in the east and rises in the west.
2. Dual Nature: A story where the hero is actually the villain, and vice versa.
3. Sibling Rivalry: A romance where the couple can’t stand each other at first, only to discover they’re long-lost siblings.
4. Self-Reflection: A detective who can’t solve any mysteries, until they’re forced to solve their own personal enigma.
5. Magic’s Curse: A fantasy where magic is considered a curse, and the protagonist must choose between power and humanity.
6. Forced Happiness: A dystopian society where everyone is happy, but happiness is mandated by law.
7. Alien Comedy: A comedy where nothing funny ever happens, until an alien crash-lands in the protagonist’s backyard.
8. Backwards Tragedy: A tragedy that ends with a happy ending, but only if you read it backwards.
9. Treasure’s True Value: An adventure where the treasure is worthless, except to those who understand its true value.
10. Laughable Horror: A horror story that’s actually a comedy, with jump scares that are more laughable than scary.
11. Prehistoric Sci-Fi: A science fiction tale set in a prehistoric world, where dinosaurs have evolved into intelligent beings.
12. Fictional History: A historical fiction set in a completely fictional universe, with characters who are aware they’re in a story.
13. Red Herring Mystery: A mystery where the clues lead nowhere, until the detective realizes they’re all red herrings.
14. Spy Love: A romance that’s actually a spy thriller, with secret messages hidden in love letters.
15. Last Dragon Egg: A fantasy where dragons are extinct, but one last dragon egg is discovered by an unlikely hero.
16. Simulation Action: An action movie with no action scenes, until the final act reveals it was all a simulation.
17. Underground Guns: A western where guns are outlawed, but there’s an underground market for them.
18. Sudden Singing: A musical with no singing or dancing, until the characters break into song during a pivotal moment.
19. Legendary Mundane: An epic poem about a mundane life, but it’s so beautifully written it becomes legendary.
20. Detective Autobiography: A detective story with no crime to solve, until the detective realizes they’re investigating themselves.
21. Obsessive Romance Horror: A romance that’s actually a horror story, with love turning into obsession and fear.
22. Villainous Elves: A fantasy where elves are the villains, planning to take over the world using ancient magic.
23. Backyard Wonders: An adventure with no journey or exploration, until the protagonist discovers their own backyard is full of wonders.
24. Nature’s Reclaim: A science fiction story without any technology, set in a world where nature has reclaimed civilization.
25. Future History Mystery: A historical fiction set in the future, where historians are trying to understand our present-day society.
26. Autobiographical Clues: A mystery that’s actually an autobiography, with clues hidden in the author’s life story.
27. Drama Comedy Mix-Up: A comedy that’s actually a drama, with tragic events unfolding amidst humorous situations.
28. Epic Small Event: An epic tale about a small, insignificant event that has unforeseen consequences for the entire world.
29. Ordinary Spy Thriller: A spy thriller with no spies or espionage, until an ordinary person gets caught up in international intrigue.
30. Mind-Racing Action Movie: An action movie about someone who never moves, but their mind is racing at light speed.

These tropes offer a playground for writers to experiment with narrative structure and character development in unexpected ways. They invite us to challenge our preconceptions and explore new dimensions of storytelling.

So which of these tropes sparks your creativity? Which one would you like to delve into and turn on its head? And if you have any additional twists or ideas to contribute, I’m all ears! Let’s craft some stories that defy convention and captivate our readers’ imaginations!