This week at the Round Table, Alida, Robert and Kathryn discuss the oft used and oft misunderstood trope. What is a trope really? How do we use them? Why and how are so many people confused about tropes?
This episode previously aired as #039.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What we talked about:
The actual definition of the word trope. (0:28)
Examples of a trope and how to use them. (3:50)
Tropes are not genre conventions. (6:20)
Tropes as motifs. (9:15)
How did tropes get a bad name? (12:48)
How to use tropes artistically as a writer. (13:28)
How do tropes and genre conventions work together? (14:50)
The issue of heavy-handedness. (17:27)
Alida’s wrap up of tropes! (20:28)
LINKS
TVTropes.org
Star Trek
Galaxy Quest
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About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com