If you like to read or write yourself, you have probably come across the term "Buchtropes". But what exactly is behind them, why are they so important, and how can you use them for yourself? In this blog post, I explain Buchtropes to you in a simple and understandable way and show you how they enrich the reading and writing of stories.
What are Buchtropes?
Buchtropes are recurring motifs, themes or plot elements in books and stories. You can think of them as proven building blocks with which authors make their stories exciting, comprehensible and entertaining. Tropes are neither good nor bad – they are tools that add structure and depth to stories.
Why are Buchtropes important?
- Create familiarity: Readers quickly recognize tropes and feel comfortable and understood as a result.
- Meeting expectations: Tropes set expectations – for example, that the villain will be defeated in the end.
- Promote creativity: New combinations or variations of familiar tropes create original and exciting stories.
- Facilitate storytelling: For authors, tropes serve as helpful orientation when plotting and writing.
The most popular Buchtropes at a glance
Romance Tropes – Romantic Narrative Patterns Simply Explained
- Age Gap (age difference): Two people with a large age difference fall in love and overcome social prejudices and their own doubts.
- Amnesia (memory loss): A character loses her memory and must rediscover her love or remember shared memories.
- Best Friend's Brother/Sister & Brother's/Sister's Best Friend: Romance between the sibling of the best friend and vice versa.
- Millionaire / Billionaire Romance: Wealth meets “true” love, often with social differences as an element of tension.
- Bodyguard Romance: Love story between protector and protected, characterized by closeness and a power imbalance.
- Boss / Office / Workplace Romance: Love in the workplace between superiors and employees or colleagues.
- Cinnamon Roll Hero: A caring, lovable character – the quintessential “good guy.”
- Enemies to Lovers: What started as a rivalry slowly develops into a romantic relationship.
- Fake Dating / Marriage / Relationship: A fake relationship gradually becomes real through forced closeness.
- Fated Mates: Characters connected by fate or higher powers, often in romantic fantasy.
- Fateful Encounter: A chance meeting that changes lives forever.
- Friends to Lovers: Friendship develops into love.
- Golden Retrievers: A warm-hearted, positive character who attracts others with his openness.
- Grumpy meets Sunshine: A grumpy character meets a cheerful person – opposites attract.
- He falls first: The male protagonist falls in love first and intensely.
- Holiday Romance: Love is born during a vacation in exotic places.
- Insta Love / Love at First Sight: Immediate, intense infatuation, often accompanied by forbidden relationships.
- Long-Distance Love: Two people fight for their love despite great distance.
- Marriage of Convenience: A marriage of convenience that develops into true love.
- One Night Stand turns into Love: A chance encounter develops into a deep relationship.
- Secret Relationship: Two people live their love in secret.
- Slow Burn: Feelings develop slowly, which increases tension and emotional depth.
Young & New Adult Tropes – Popular Patterns among Young Adults
- Bad Boy/Bad Girl and Innocent Character: Rebellious character conquers the heart of an innocent person.
- Fake Dating / Relationship: Fake relationship becomes real, often in college or university environment.
- Forced Proximity: Characters spend a lot of time together due to external circumstances, which creates romantic tension.
- Opposites Attract: Opposite characters fall in love despite or because of their differences.
- Only One Bed: Two people have to share a bed and therefore become closer.
- Love Triangle: A character is torn between two love interests.
- Second Chance Romance: People from the past get a new chance at love.
- Roommates to Lovers: Roommates become lovers.
- Sports Romance: Love between athletes or fans with a sporting background.
- College Romance: Romantic stories set in a college or campus setting.
Dark Romance Tropes – Dark and intense love stories
- Bully Romance: Toxic relationship between bully and victim that turns into love or passion.
- Dark Academia: Dark stories set at elite universities with secrets and intrigue.
- Forbidden Love / Taboo Romance: Love against social or family rules, like Romeo and Juliet.
- Gay for You: Originally heterosexual character develops feelings for same-sex partner.
- Kidnapping Romance: Complex relationship between kidnapper and victim.
- Mafia Romance: Romance in a criminal environment, often related to the mafia.
- Reverse Harem: Female protagonist is courted by several men.
- Stalker Romance: Obsessive pursuit leads to intense but unhealthy relationships.
- Why choose?: The main character deliberately has several romantic relationships at the same time.
Fantasy Tropes – Magical and Fantastic Narrative Patterns
- The Hero's Journey: Classic path of a hero with trials and change.
- The Chosen one: Character with a predetermined mission.
- The Mentor: Experienced character accompanies the hero.
- Powerful Artifacts: Magical items with great power.
- Medieval-Adjacent Settling: World with knights, castles and magic.
- Good vs. Evil: Classic high stakes fight.
- Heir to the throne: Character is the rightful heir to the throne.
- Reluctant hero: Hero without desire for adventure, who still has to act.
- Hidden Identity: Hidden true identity creates tension.
- Found Family: Friends become the new family.
- Unlikely Allies: When the hero is forced to trust an enemy to save the day.
- Rescued by the Cavalry: Sometimes this is actually an army riding over the hill. Other times it's an ally who shows up at just the right time.
- The Training Sequence: Here the reluctant hero learns how to fight, use magic, or use his new knowledge.
- Magical Creatures: Fantastic creatures such as dragons, elves and dwarves populate the fantasy worlds.
- The Evil One: A larger-than-life villain who often possesses immense supernatural powers. Often a wizard, witch, or magician.
- Morally Grey: Characters whose actions and decisions cannot be clearly classified as morally good or evil, as they display both ethically questionable and heroic actions, which makes them complex and unpredictable.
- Side Quests: During the main adventure, the characters are distracted or split up to complete smaller tasks necessary to achieve the main goal.
- The Damsel in Distress: Not as popular today, but still occasionally used where a character needs to be rescued.
- Strong Female Main Character: A female protagonist characterized by strength, independence, and assertiveness, both emotionally and physically.
- Paying the Price: Victory doesn't come easily for the protagonist. There's always a price to pay.
- Retelling: A retelling of a well-known story that reinterprets classic fairy tales, myths, or legends or tells them in a modern or different setting.
Thriller Tropes
- Ticking Clock: Race against time increases tension.
- Troubled Protagonist: Flawed main character with a troubled past.
- The Unreliable Narrator: Narrator deceives readers.
- The Twist Ending: Surprising ending with false clues.
- The Insurmountable Odds: Hero fights against seemingly hopeless situation.
- High Stakes: The lives of the protagonist and others are at stake.
- Exotic Locales: Worldwide chase locations.
- The cliffhanger: Exciting chapter endings that arouse curiosity.
- Missing Children Or Spouses: Emotional motive.
- Gaslighting: Manipulation and ignorance in psychological thrillers.
- Stalkers: Obsessive, threatening figure.
- The Trap: False accusation of the protagonist.
- Crime in the Family: Crimes committed by the hero.
Mystery Tropes
- The Unlikable Victim: Victims with many motives.
- The Red Herring: Wrong track.
- Close Quarters: Suspects in a confined space.
- The alibi: A solid alibi emerges.
- Outsmarting the Criminal: Clever transfer plan.
- The Trophy: Murderer keeps telltale evidence.
- The Protagonist is a Suspect: Detective becomes a suspect himself.
- Righting Past Wrongs: Held corrects previous mistakes.
- The Dramatic Reveal: Important information at an exciting point.
- A Detective with a Haunted Past: Incriminating past haunts investigators.
- Consulting a Criminal: Captured criminal provides clues.
- Amnesia: Memory loss complicates case.
- Twist Ending: Unexpected ending.
Historic Tropes
- Was: Often set in World War II.
- Set in Colonial America: Actions in colonial times.
- Combining Real and Fictional Events: Historical facts with fictional stories.
- Including Historical Figures as Characters: Famous figures as characters.
- Religious Themes: Conflicts and motives.
- Social and Political Turmoil: Times of crisis.
- Dual Timeline: Past and present.
- Traveling Long Distances: Moving or traveling in earlier centuries.
- What Life Was Like: Everyday life in historical times.
Science-Fiction Tropes
- Artificial Intelligence: Helper or threat.
- Dystopia: Oppressive regimes, destroyed worlds.
- Time Travel: Traveling through time.
- Space Travel: Adventures in space.
- Aliens: Friends or enemies.
- Alternate Dimensions/Universes: Other worlds or realities.
- Nanotechnology: Tiny robots with special abilities.
- Implants: Physical technical changes.
- Power and Technology: Technology for good or evil purposes.
- End of Human Race: Almost complete extinction.
- Ticking Clock: Disaster is approaching.
- Downloading People: Store consciousness digitally.
- Body Switching: Characters swap bodies.
- Army of Clones: Many clones play a role.
- Destroying the Universe: Villain wants to destroy everything.
- Dangers of Cryo Sleep: Trouble sleeping long hours.
Children's book Tropes
- Talking Animals: Animals as main characters can communicate.
- The Power of Friendship: Friends help and strengthen each other.
- Appreciating Our Differences: Diversity and acceptance.
- The Defective Animal: Injured or special animal needs care.
- Dealing With Adversity: Failure and perseverance.
- Learning a New Skill: Important learning for travel.
- Learning About Family: Meet new siblings.
- Learning to Share: Important lesson.
- Loyalty: Loyalty to friends and family.
- Dedication: Commitment to goals.
- Dealing With Anger: Dealing with strong emotions.
- Going to School: Adventures in everyday school life.
- The Power of Imagination: Solve problems with imagination.
- The Power of Teamwork: Achieve more together.
- Compassion: Helping and understanding others.
- Courage: Accept challenges.
- Bravery: Act despite fear.
- Honesty: Value of sincerity.
- Growing Up: From child to adult.
- Dealing With Loss: Dealing with losses.
Horror Tropes
- Cursed Items: Cursed objects
- Monsters: Various scary creatures.
- Aliens: kidnappings or invasions.
- Glowing Eyes: Eerie eyes in the dark.
- Paralyzed With Fear: Inability to move due to fear.
- The Antichrist: Evil figure with great mischief.
- Cults and Religious Extremists: Demon summoning.
- Backing into Darkness: Retreating in danger.
- Traumatic Past: Burdensome past.
- Severed Limbs: Found body parts.
- Losing the Ability to Run: Stumbling at the crucial moment.
- Easily Definable Characters: Typical characters.
- Karmic Retribution: Swift punishment for evil deeds.
- Deal With the Devil: Trade with dark forces.
- Creepy Settings: Abandoned houses, cemeteries.
- Unhappy Ending: Unhappy ending in which the hero often dies.
How can you use Buchtropes for yourself?
- As a reader: Recognize tropes to better understand and enjoy stories more deeply. Knowing your favorite and avoidable tropes will make it easier to find books that suit your reading tastes.
- As author: Use tropes consciously to make your stories exciting and relatable.
- Be creative: Recombine tropes or break expectations to create original works.
Conclusion: Buchtropes are not clichés, but valuable tools
Buchtropes structure and enrich stories. They are the building blocks of unforgettable stories. Knowing and understanding Tropes will not only help you write better books, but also help you enjoy your favorite stories on a new, deeper level.