The Trick of the Trope
Adding a unique spin to age-old classics
When I set out to write my first full-length novel, I wanted to takeoff like a jet engine - though I knew I wasn’t reinventing the wheel. A young adult superhero tale is hardly a fresh concept. A story of an underdog overcoming adversity thanks to his miraculous ability to fly is not breaking new ground. Heck, my novel isn’t exactly the first time anyone has told the story of a boy named Eric who could fly. Knowing all of this, I still aimed high.
It’s generally known that all the great ideas have already been done at least twice and remade even more times. Still, storytellers are never discovered from contributing their one-of-a-kind perspective, sprinkling new life to old ideas. In my book, Unsecret Identity: Eric Icarus - Book One, one of my primary goals was to set this story apart by dropping the characters into a futuristic setting. By having their home city come alive as if itself a character with its own rich history, the entire world of the novel takes on a fascinating, individual identity. From the intriguing backdrop full of robotic drones, bleeding-tech gadgetry, and other cybernetic wonders, the heroes of my adventure story can feel more immersive and authentic.
Okay, so I placed a high schooler with the mysterious, natural superpower of flying in a city full of technological and artificial wonders. It’s an interesting contrast - he’s the real deal in a realm dominated by AI and other machines. Here’s where it gets tricky: teenaged Eric, my high-flying main character, eventually becomes an unmasked superhero. Already, I have the high school drama just waiting to explode as he must navigate overnight popularity from revealing himself as the city’s newest protector. Do the other students at his school like Eric now simply because of his newfound fame, or does he have any genuine allies? Eric’s genius inventor father resents Eric’s choice to fight crime as a public champion of justice. Eric’s mom? Well, I’m sure you’re familiar with the dead parent bit when it comes to unlikely heroes. And did I mention there’s a bit of a love triangle between Eric and his classmates?
As authors, we ultimately make choices. We decide to follow certain formulas (to an extent) because, well, they work. Recognizable patterns often lead to entertaining stories. And there’s nothing wrong with modeling after success. Obviously, it is never okay to flat out plagiarize or fabricate your work. There’s a thin line between homages and ripoffs (or retreads), and few have pulled it off.
One tropey angle I avoided was having my story take place on Eric’s birthday. But you better believe there was an earlier draft of the manuscript that did indeed open on Eric turning fourteen.
After studying story structure, I find myself wanting callbacks and looking for act breaks. It’s comfortable and if presented in a way that is a unique voice, then the Rule of Cool will supersede any preconceived notions of what may or may not be considered trite. In other words, if I like the characters and the story, I won’t care how potentially on the nose or derivative certain things may be. The second story takes a turn for the worse, then I find myself deconstructing the entire story and that’s never something a writer wants from an audience, not like that.
When a story flows in a completely unexpected way, it is not inherently a negative thing. Many times it is a welcome surprise. When you start subverting expectations just for the sake of misdirection, then you are truly lost.
Here are some humble tips from a still-learning author on how to keep your novel fresh:
Setting: whether it’s a fantastical land or a down to earth tale, you can add in a multitude of original elements into your book. A distant planet, a long ago time, or an alternate universe can be a sandbox of imagination where you can set your own universal rules. If you use a real life place or time as the backdrop to your novel, then there is so much flare you can add depending on what region your story takes place in - a specific southern area’s whimsy, a bust city’s bluster, or a seafaring cruise all can have their own lingo, style, and outlook.
Also, I recommend adding authentic experiences from your own life but remember, you’re not writing an autobiography. Self-insertion of writers playing out some fantasy is typically obvious and is usually more weird than anything else. Just recall that this is happening through your character’s lens, so even though the scenario may be influenced by your past, it is ultimately the character who is loving it - so sayeth, me, Jon McBrine, self-appointed guru of writing.
Tropes or subversion, to be frank, as long as your story is entertaining and originally written by you in your voice, it will lead to great work. Always remember to follow the Rule of Cool.
Unsecret Identity: Eric Icarus - Book One is available now in the Amazon Kindle store.