When I started to learn about novel writing through classes, podcasts, and videos – occasionally I would hear a term used where I was unsure of its meaning. Most of the time the speakers used it so casually, so matter of factly, that I thought I might be the only person in the world who was confused about its proper meaning.

So I started to make a list and look up these words and their definitions. Each word had a meaning which was simply stated in one or two sentences. But then, I found whole essays written about what a word meant in the literary world. It appears that some of these words are not as simple in use, as their definitions might imply.

I’ve always thought that anyone could use a complex word to succinctly represent something. But it took a highly intelligent person to describe that word, that term, in simple English. So below, I will share a few of the words that I came across which were strangers to me not all that long ago, which now are slowly becoming favourites of mine. Many of these may be old hat to you, yet nevertheless you’ll have to admit that they are good terms for writers to keep in mind as we transfer thoughts and ideas into our written stories.

TROPE:
A significant or recurrent theme familiar to the reader. A ‘foreign’ taxi driver or a ‘criminal’ wearing a leather jacket, with tattoos, and smoking a cigarette, are both tropes. Clichés are old, unwanted, and overused tropes (It’s raining cats and dogs outside). Tropes are necessary for stories to be efficient, to move along and make sense quickly. (more…)