How do you write uncommon tropes or plot twists?

It can be difficult to come up with new and innovative plots. There is a reason that tropes exist, and it’s precisely because they’re so commonplace. That doesn’t mean that uncommon tropes don’t exist — there are certainly tropes that are more popular than others — but it does mean that it can be a bit trickier to subvert reader expectations. 

We often see the same tropes and plot twists in media. And I will say from the outset that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Readers enjoy seeing how a fresh take on a common theme might unfold, so don’t feel for a second that everything you write has to break the mould. 

That said, if you really want to look at new and interesting ways to subvert reader expectations, explore using some of the more uncommon tropes, and approach plot twists in new and interesting ways, then here are some tips based on the parameters of your story:

Subverting the sacrifice trope

One of the most common tropes, especially in genre fiction, is the sacrifice trope. The protagonist will have been prepared for sacrifice through their upbringing, their responsibility, or even their job. The trope will usually include a moment where the character questions the need for their sacrifice, but it usually ends in a follow-through or someone close to them accepting the sacrifice in their stead. A subversion of this trope would be that they simply refuse to follow through. In the plot, this could look something like:

• The character realises their death would actually cause more harm than good
• The sacrifice is revealed to be a manipulation by antagonists to remove a powerful threat
• The character finds a way to split the sacrifice among multiple people, diluting its impact
• The prophesied sacrifice turns out to be metaphorical rather than literal
• The character’s refusal to sacrifice themselves actually solves the problem in an unexpected way

Subverting the chosen one trope

The chosen one trope has almost become a cliché at this point, but it’s still incredibly popular. Each writer approaches it differently, even if it follows the same basic formula, but there are still unconventional and interesting ways that you can subvert it. Examples might include:

• The character chosen to save the world actively despises the responsibility and openly tries to sabotage their destiny
• If there’s a prophecy, it might refer to multiple people rather than a single hero
• The chosen one actively rejects their destiny and chooses a different path
• The antagonist turns out to be the real chosen one
• The expectations of the chosen one were misinterpreted, leading to unexpected consequences
• A seemingly ordinary character accomplishes what the chosen one couldn’t
• The chosen one fails, forcing others to step up and save the day
• The protagonist fades into the background, and their role is replaced by a character who initially seemed unimportant

The symbiotic antagonist

Instead of the traditional hero-villain dynamic, the symbiotic antagonist is one of the more uncommon tropes. It’s essentially about the villain’s success being crucial for the protagonist’s survival or happiness, creating a complex relationship between them and their place in the world. Some interesting ways you could use it could be:

• A villain whose dark magic unknowingly maintains the world’s balance
• An enemy whose defeat would trigger a worse catastrophe
• A rival whose opposition actually strengthens the protagonist
• An adversary whose evil actions prevent greater evils from emerging
• A nemesis who serves as a necessary counterweight to the hero’s powers
• The hero has to protect the antagonist in order to protect themselves and their loved ones

Innovative plot twists

While tropes can easily be subverted, coming up with plot twists that readers will believe and be really invested in can be a little more difficult, especially if you’re planning on writing a lot of them. What I will say from the outset is that you don’t want to overdo it. Readers can easily get fatigued if a book is too twisty. A couple of well-placed twists with impact are better than multiple twists for the sake of it, so keep that in mind before diving in. With that caveat out of the way, let’s take a look at some examples of plot twists that could work in your scenario:

Reality shifts

• The entire story is revealed to be a book being written by a secondary character
• Characters discover they’re in a story but realise changing it would make things worse
• The world isn’t ending – it’s beginning, and the characters are accidentally preventing its birth
• Time isn’t moving forward or backward but sideways into parallel dimensions

Power and magic

• Magic is revealed to be a parasitic entity that actually harms its users
• Characters learn their powers come from stealing others’ abilities without realising it
• The source of all magic is revealed to be a cosmic mistake that needs to be maintained
• Using magic actually changes past events in unpredictable ways

Writing techniques to keep things unexpected

So, how do you put all of this into practice? There’s the rub! It’s all well and good sharing what might work, but it’s no good if you don’t know how to do it, so let’s look at some writing techniques for using uncommon tropes and setting up plot twists:

Set up the surprise

• Plant contradictions that seem like plot holes but are actually clues
• Create reasonable explanations for strange events that turn out to be completely wrong
• Use character beliefs and biases to hide the truth in plain sight
• Build multiple possible interpretations into key scenes

Executing the twist

• Reveal information that makes earlier scenes impossible rather than just unlikely
• Show that characters’ core beliefs about themselves are wrong but for unexpected reasons
• Make the twist reveal that the story’s framing is different than it first appeared
• If using multiple twists, make sure that each changes the meaning of previous twists

Final tips

• Ensure your twists serve the story rather than just shocking readers
• Build proper foundations for your twists throughout the narrative
• Consider how subverting tropes affects your character development
• Don’t be afraid to combine multiple unconventional elements if they work together
• Remember that even unconventional twists need to make sense within your story’s logic

The most effective uncommon tropes and plot twists are those that not only surprise readers but also enhance the themes and emotional impact of your story.