How do I write the trading places trope?

“how would i write a character who switched places with their unknown twin sibling without giving it away to readers and other characters? would i still use their name? how would i describe them if they aren’t themselves? would i have to reveal to readers and not other characters?“

For those not in the know, the trading places trope is one where a character assumes another’s identity. It’s a classic storytelling device that has been used in so many different types of media, from film to classic literature. It offers a fertile starting point for exploring identity, relationships, and the complexities of living someone else’s life.

The trading places trope typically involves two characters swapping lives, either voluntarily or through supernatural means. Classic examples include Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, where a prince and a commoner trade positions, and the film Freaky Friday, where a mother and daughter switch bodies. This narrative device often serves to help characters gain perspective on their own lives by walking a proverbial mile in someone else’s shoes.

How do you manage reader knowledge?

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make when writing a trading places story is whether to let your readers in on the secret. This choice will fundamentally shape how your plot plays out, affecting everything from narrative perspective to how you handle description and dialogue.

You have two main options for revealing the switch to readers:

1. Let readers in on the secret from the start, creating dramatic irony as readers watch characters interact with the wrong person. This allows you to build tension through near-misses and close calls and also gives you the opportunity to explore the character’s internal thoughts and struggles.
2. Keep readers in the dark, creating a surprise revelation for later in the story. This approach requires careful writing so the reveal doesn’t feel unearned. It means you’ll need to foreshadow with subtle clues that will make the reveal seem clear in retrospect.

Letting readers in on the secret

If you choose to let readers know about the switch, you can explore the internal struggles and anxieties of the character living someone else’s life. If this is the avenue you choose to explore, you can use their true name when using their PoV or narrative voice. You should, however, use their assumed name in dialogue when other characters are referencing them or if you are using their PoV as narration.

It also offers you the opportunity to describe their physical differences, as this is something that the imposter will be very aware of. They might have to hide certain physical traits, or might even be uncomfortable with unfamiliar routines, relationships, and spaces that are new to them.

You might show them struggling with daily tasks the original person found simple, or navigating complex relationships without revealing their true identity. For example, they might not know how to operate familiar technology, or they might react differently to longtime friends, raising suspicions. These subtle details can create fascinating moments of dramatic tension while maintaining the story’s believability.

Keeping readers in the dark

If you choose to keep the swap a secret from your readers, then it’s imperative that you use only the name of their assumed identity throughout, otherwise it gives the game away immediately. You can plant subtle hints through slightly changed behaviours and interactions, but these shouldn’t be too obvious.

If you want to keep things tucked away for a later reveal, you can focus on environmental details that feel a bit off to the character. They might not fell 100% comfortable in their environment but don’t share why. It also allows for confusion from other characters when they react to subtle changes. The trick is foreshadowing without revealing too much.

You can also describe physical sensations of discomfort or unfamiliarity, like how clothes don’t quite fit right or how their reflection in mirrors startles them momentarily. This approach requires careful balance. You need to provide enough hints to make the reveal satisfying while still maintaining the mystery.

How to build a sense of mystery

To build an effective sense of mystery around switched identities, focus on subtle behavioural changes that readers might initially dismiss, like unexplained reactions from secondary characters, like a friend’s momentary confusion or a pet’s altered response. You can also create situations where the imposter must navigate unfamiliar territory, perhaps stumbling over childhood memories or failing to recognise longtime acquaintances immediately. These small details plant seeds of doubt without revealing the switch too early.

To make this really effective, there must be a clear baseline for the original character and their behaviour. No matter which approach you take to the trading places trope, each character must have a clear sense of who they are (or were), as must the secondary characters. That doesn’t mean you necessarily need to tell this explicitly to the reader, but even if the character who is replaced never actually appears in the story, the characters who knew them must have a consistent idea of who they are/were for this trope to be effective.

Without a baseline, it’s impossible to show the small, subtle mistakes that an imposter might make. They might forget inside jokes or react unexpectedly in familiar situations. It’s also a way to create a good sense of character tension if the imposter begins to lose themselves in their adopted life. Near miss moments are also a great source of narrative tension, so setting up plot moments where this could happen is great for plot development.

Some quick tips for writing the trading place trope

• Control the perspective by choosing your PoV carefully. First person creates more intimacy but requires more skill to maintain mystery. Third-person limited allows more flexibility in revealing information. But multiple PoVs can show different sides of the deception.
• Balance your description by focusing on environmental details that would feel foreign to someone in a new space. Let your characters interact through the space and use muscle memory moment to highlight or foreshadow unfamiliarity.
• Maintain consistent character voices, like speech patterns for both the original and imposter characters. They should struggle mimicking the other’s mannerisms, and if it’s the approach you choose, you can also include internal thoughts about maintaining the deception.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Don’t rely on convenient memory gaps to explain knowledge issues.
• Avoid making the switch too perfect as some mistakes make it more believable.
• Don’t withhold too much information from readers if they’re meant to be in on the secret.
• Make sure the reveal has proper setup and payoff. There is nothing worse than a trading places reveal that feels unearned.
• Don’t forget to address the emotional impact on all characters involved.