Photo by Valentin Antonucci: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-tossing-globe-1275393/
Where we write shapes what we write. And often, how we write. The space we inhabit—its rhythms, energies, and surroundings—can either nourish or disrupt our creative flow. As writers, we don’t just work from our minds or hearts. We work from the ground beneath our feet, the sky above our heads, and everything in between.
Let’s explore how the place you call home weaves itself into your writing practice.
Geography Shapes Your Mood
Are you near a wild forest, a roaring ocean, a sprawling desert, or tucked into a city that never sleeps?
Your natural environment leaves fingerprints on your inner life. A misty morning in the Pacific Northwest might call up introspection and melancholy prose, while bright, dry light in the Southwest could ignite a crisp, clear voice. The ever-changing sky, the scent of the air, the texture of the landscape—these all become part of your writing palette.
Pay attention to how your surroundings influence the emotional tone of your work.
Rhythm of Life: Fast or Slow?
The pace of the world outside your door often becomes the pace of your days.
In rural settings, time may stretch. There’s quiet between tasks, longer pauses, more room to meander. In cities, there’s movement, urgency, sound. This doesn’t make one better than the other—some writers thrive on stillness, others on the energy of bustle and chaos. What matters is whether your environment aligns with the kind of writer you are, or want to be.
Does the tempo of your city or town support your natural creative rhythm—or push against it?
Your Writing Space as a Mirror
Whether you have a room of your own or a corner of the kitchen table, your physical space affects your focus and sense of self as a writer.
Clutter may drain you. Beauty may feed you. Even something as simple as lighting a candle or playing soft music can shift your inner atmosphere and make space for words to emerge.
Ask yourself: what’s one small change I could make to my space that would help me show up more fully to the page?
Community and Creative Energy
Does your city or town have a vibrant writing community—or are you building your practice in solitude?
Living near bookstores, workshops, or other writers can feed your sense of belonging and inspiration. But not everyone has access to that. If you’re in a more isolated place, you might need to create your own writing coven—whether through online communities, virtual writing groups, or long-distance writing dates.
Writers need each other. If your current location doesn’t offer that easily, you’re not alone—but you may need to be more intentional in seeking connection.
Land, Energy, and Spirit
This might be the most subtle—and powerful—aspect of place.
Some lands are rich with creative energy. Others resist it. The energetic imprint of a place—its history, ancestors, spirits, or even trauma—can either open or block creative flow.
If the land you live on doesn’t feel like it’s supporting your writing, consider ways to enter into relationship with it. Walk it. Listen to it. Leave offerings. Ask permission. Speak your intentions. Writing is an act of co-creation—with your inner self, and with the world around you.
Routine Is Shaped by Place
Where you live impacts how you structure your days. A long commute might drain your energy. Living near a park might give you access to restorative walks. Harsh winters might make you hibernate—and write more. Or less.
Notice how the structure of your days is shaped by your location—and how you might gently reshape it to create more time, space, or stillness for writing.
Likewise, moving to a new home space—whether eagerly or reluctantly—can bring a whole new energy to your writing life. It can disrupt your routines… but also invite you to rebuild them more intentionally.
Writing the Place You Live
Where you live might end up inside your stories, too. Your place can become a character—a living, breathing presence on the page.
Even if you’re not setting your story locally, the texture of your environment often seeps into your metaphors, your pacing, your dialogue.
Let yourself be influenced. Let yourself notice.
Longing for Elsewhere
Sometimes, the place you live isn’t your creative home.
That’s okay.
You can still write. You can still thrive. Writing becomes the bridge between where you are and where your spirit wants to be. You can conjure other worlds, craft alternate lives, or simply create a sacred writing space that feels like your truest home—even if it’s just a small desk in the corner of an apartment that doesn’t quite fit.
Writing allows you to live many lives. Use it.
Conjure a Writing Practice, Wherever You Are
Even if you can’t change your address, you can change your relationship to place.
Create rituals. Build an altar. Carry a notebook outside. Write in bed. Light incense. Find a favorite tree. Your writing practice can become an act of grounding, of claiming space, of weaving your soul into the land you’re on—even if it’s just for now.
Where you live matters. But it doesn’t have to define you. You can write with your place, through your place, or in spite of your place.
The key is to notice. To listen. And to shape your writing life intentionally, rooted in the real magic of where you are.
Want help tuning your writing practice to your current environment? Drop a comment or come join me in the Alchemy of Writing Membership Group—where we explore the craft, ritual, and rhythm of the writing life together.
Tropes are everywhere in the world of storytelling. There’s no getting away from them, and honestly, you don’t necessarily want to because tropes are the foundational elements of storytelling.
So, how do you know which tropes to lean on and which tropes to reinvent to keep your stories fresh and inclusive?
It’s first helpful to understand what tropes are.
What are tropes?
Tropes serve as familiar themes or devices that resonate universally with audiences. While clichés can feel overused and predictable, tropes provide a framework upon which you can build innovative and engaging narratives with universal appeal.
Whether your readers know it or not, they expect tropes. Because tropes familiar. Because tropes let them know what kind of story they’re about to commit to.
It’s fair to say that some tropes are tired and overdone, though, and some need to straight up be done away with.
So, what does a writer do, then, when creating story?
Here are ten enduring tropes from literature, film, and TV, along with examples and ways to reinvent them to give your storytelling new sparkle and verve.
1. The Hero’s Journey
This archetypal narrative follows a protagonist who heads out on an adventure, faces and overcomes a central crisis, and returns transformed. Joseph Campbell is known for creating this structure.
Why readers like it The hero’s journey resonates with readers because it mirrors the human experience of growth and self-discovery.
Examples The Odyssey by Homer Star Wars by George Lucas The Lion King by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
How to reinvent Introduce unexpected twists, make the hero flawed or morally ambiguous, change the nature of the “call to adventure,” have a non-traditional “ordinary world,” or even reverse the journey with the hero starting in the extraordinary world and the purpose of the quest being to return to normalcy.
2. Enemies to Lovers
A staple in romance narratives, this trope involves characters who begin with animosity toward each other and by the end develop romantic feelings for each other. The transformation from hostility to love allows for deep character development and engaging tension.
Why readers like it Enemies to lovers reminds readers of deep emotional and psychological dynamics that make for compelling storytelling and that delivers powerful emotional release with attention to character growth and depth along the way. It also draws upon our culturally—and quite possibly, biologically—embedded belief that love conquers all.
Examples Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen You’ve Got Mail by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron Dirty Dancing by Eleanor Bergstein Veronica Mars by Rob Thomas The Proposal by Peter Chiarelli
How to reinvent Focus on creating complex reasons for their initial conflict, explore nuanced character development beyond simply “hating” each other, add unexpected twists to their dynamic, and incorporate paths to self-discovery or personal growth that drive their attraction by the end.
3. The Chosen One
The Chosen One trope centers on a protagonist destined to fulfill an important role or prophecy, often possessing unique abilities or qualities. This trope typically highlights themes like destiny, responsibility, and an individual’s impact on the world.
Why readers like it Readers love this trope because it resonates with the human desire for a sense of purpose and destiny, often overcoming challenges to fulfill a greater good. It can also be seen as a form of wish fulfillment, where an ordinary person is thrust into an extraordinary situation with special abilities, providing a sense of excitement and potential for personal growth.
Examples The Matrix by The Wachowskis (Lana and Lilly) The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna Infinity Son by Adam Silvera The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis The Bible
How to reinvent Subvert expectations by making the chosen one reluctant, flawed, or even ordinary, giving them a complex relationship with their destiny, exploring the burden of their “chosenness,” or have multiple “chosen ones” with different abilities or motivations, all while focusing on their personal growth and choices rather than the prophecy or quest itself.
4. The Mentor/Apprentice
The Mentor/Apprentice trope features a wise and experienced character who guides the protagonist, providing wisdom, training, or support. Mentors in this trope are crucial to the protagonist’s development, offering the knowledge and encouragement needed to face challenges.
Why readers like it Readers resonate with this trope because of its relatable, universal appeal—it’s found in every culture. The Chosen One trope provides a satisfying storytelling arc of the protagonist’s path to personal development, which is inspiring to witness.
Examples The Karate Kid by Robert Mark Kamen Dead Poets Society by Tom Schulman Mulan by Xu We (original – 1500) / Rita Hsiao et. al (1998)A Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
How to reinvent Explore elements like power dynamic shifts and unexpected mentor-mentee pairings. Give the protagonist more complex motivations, beyond skill acquisition. Subvert the usual by having the “apprentice” teach the “mentor” in certain areas.
5. The Underdog
Everybody loves to cheer for the underdog, the disadvantaged character who overcomes obstacles through sheer determination, integrity, and wit.
Why readers like it The Underdog trope appeals to audiences’ sense of justice and inspires hope.
Examples Rocky by Sylvester Stallone The Pursuit of Happiness by Chris Gardner Spotlight by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer The Shawshank Redemption by Frank Darabont (adapted from Stephen King’s novel) A League of Their Own by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel
How to reinvent it Consider complex motivations beyond simply overcoming odds. Add layers to the character’s “underdog” status—how/why did they become an underdog, and was it due to their own past actions? Challenge the typical narrative of “good vs evil” dichotomy. Incorporate unexpected strengths or weaknesses in the protagonist, and focus on the emotional journey of the character rather than the victory itself
6.The Lovable Jerk: Abusive Husband Couched in Humor
The Lovable Jerk trope appears frequently in sitcoms, featuring a husband’s selfish, thoughtless, or even abusive behavior portrayed as comedic. This trope draws criticism because the humor glosses over the harm the husband inflicts on his wife, and audiences are encouraged to laugh instead of explore the deeper implications of these kinds of relationship dynamics.
Why readers/viewers like it Probably not a popular claim, but it seems that mostly men like these types of stories (and I’m sure there are exceptions: men who do not like them and women who do), and usually men who are not aware of how these types of stories are harmful for everyone involved. The Lovable Jerk trope reinforces the unchecked privilege that men enjoy.
Examples The Simpsons by Matt Groening (creator) Family Guy by Seth McFarlane (creator) All in the Family by Norman Lear (developer) Married with Children by Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt (creators) King of Queens by Michael J. Weithorn and David Litt (creators)
How to reinvent Watch Kevin Can F*ck Himself on Netflix. This series turns the Lovable Jerk trope on its head by showing the real affect of his behavior on his wife, and how she grapples with the fallout of it.
Try exploring how a wife in this trope comes to terms with why she’s in the relationship, and if and how she will leave it. And if you’re in a giving mood, add layers of complexity to the husband’s motivations and behaviors, showcasing a softer side (if it’s there) through subtle actions. Explore the reasons behind his gruff exterior, while making efforts not to use his “jerk” behavior as an excuse to be malicious.
7. The Desperate Gamble: Drug Deal/Crime Gone Wrong
The Drug Deal/Crime Gone Wrong trope is a classic one that creates instant tension when a planned, straightforward exchange goes awry. Chaos ensues and often results in betrayal, violence, or unintended consequences. This trope thrives on the fragile connections with alliances in high-stakes situations and forces characters into moral dilemmas. Its success lies in unpredictability. When a deal crumbles, it sets off a domino effect that shapes the entire narrative.
Why readers/viewers like it This trope provides a sense of exhilaration and high-level anticipation, while giving readers and viewers a vicarious release for their own personal fantasies. This trope also forces readers and viewers to grapple with the moral complexities of right and wrong, especially when they’re in the position of rooting for the character on the wrong end of the law.
Examples Breaking Bad by Vince Gilligan et al. Good Girls by Jenna Bans (creator) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson No Country for Old Men by Cormack McCarthy Scarface by Oliver Stone
How to reinvent Focus on unconventional players (think housewife turned weed dealer, Nancy Botwin in the series, Weeds). Create unexpected alliances and outcomes for the protagonist.
8. The Elaborate Heist
A great heist story balances meticulous planning with unforeseen complications, forcing characters to adapt on the fly.
Why readers like it Readers/viewers love to root for underdog thieves who outwit the system (and sometimes each other). Likewise, when the thieves are seasoned, readers are drawn in by their intelligence and, oftentimes, charm.
Examples Ocean’s Eleven by Ted Griffin (based on the 1960 version) The Italian Job by Troy Kennedy Martin Heat by Michael Mann Mission Impossible by various (based on 1966 TV version by Bruce Geller) The Bank Job by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais
How to reinvent Add fresh layers by using unique settings, diverse team members and dynamics, or a twist in motives (e.g., robbing a villain).
9. The Barren Woman
While powerful, this trope can be highly problematic because it reduces and defines women solely by their desire and/or ability to bear children. Stories of this type explore important themes like grief, longing, and unfulfilled desires and also consider identity, worth, and societal pressure. These stories are emotionally charged and can, unfortunately, reinforce stereotypes of infertile women as bitter, broken, and/or irrational. This trope can also include women who have chosen not to have children and the struggles they endure because of their decision.
Why readers like it For some who are struggling with infertility and want a child, this story type can provide validation for their experience (if the story is told with compassion), present possible solutions, and/or help them come to terms with their reality.
Examples The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Heart Choice by Robin D. Owens The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson Tears of a Barren Woman by Shadrack Omary Hansel and Gretel by Wilhelm Grimm and Jacob Grim
How to reinvent Strive to create nuanced portrayals that explore how the infertile woman confronts societal expectations, builds alternative legacies, or finds empowerment outside traditional roles. Show the lives of women who have chosen not to have children as full, vibrant, and accomplished, and depict them with the ability to show compassion, rather than using the choice they’ve made as an act of defiance.
10. The Found Family
This trope emphasizes the creation of a family-like bond between people who are not biologically related, sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance.
Why readers like it This trope resonates because it celebrates the idea that love and connection can transcend bloodlines, offering hope to those who are alienated or estranged from their birth families.
Examples Guardians of the Galaxy by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman Firefly by Joss Whedon (creator) The Breakfast Club by John Hughes The Sandlot by David Mickey Evans and Robert Gunter A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
How to reinvent Explore unconventional dynamics or the ways found families challenge and redefine traditional family norms. Add complexity by connecting characters with diverse backgrounds and how they resolve internal struggles within the found family unit. Highlight the process of building trust by showing a “found family” that is initially antagonistic and gradually learns to rely on each other.
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Understanding tropes will allow you to craft stories that connect deeply with readers and viewers. The key is to infuse them with unique twists, while keeping them engaging and preventing them from becoming clichés.
Incorporating these timeless tropes thoughtfully, with creative innovation, can enhance storytelling and provide familiar touchstones that offer fresh and compelling narratives.
This short list is only a beginning to exploring the vast array of tropes.
What are some tropes you like and don’t like?
How have you seen overused or outdated tropes refreshed?
After working with college students for 20 years and more recently in the past few years with clients, I’ve seen, time and again, the resistance to—and more importantly, the fear of—writing.
This fear is often deeply embedded due to past experiences, some of which come from childhood. Sometimes the fear is of not feeling capable of taking on something so seemingly daunting as writing a novel due to the mass of information that needs to be understood, compiled, reconciled, and of course, written.
It recently occurred to me that, maybe, approaching novel writing with an epistolary approach—a story told in letters (and a variety of other mediums)—which can be, in theory, bitten off in smaller pieces.
Of course, we still need to achieve the overarching story arc and character arcs expected in novels, but thinking about writing a novel one letter at a time just might take the pressure off for some.
If this sounds appealing or intriguing to you, take a look at this list of 180 epistolary examples. Maybe check a few of them out, see how they’re done, and start one of your own.
Below the list, you’ll find one of my most recent YouTube videos about the epistolary novel.
(Note: Almost all of the titles listed below link to Amazon.com. This is in no way an endorsement of Amazon, nor is it a suggestion that you buy any of these titles from Amazon. It was simply the most convenient place find the titles and provide a synopsis so you can see which titles interest you. If, like me, you prefer to support local bookstores, you can always find titles that interest you here and buy them elsewhere. Also, this statement is in no way meant to be a critique of people who choose to buy from Amazon. To each, their own.)
“Go, sit upon the lofty hill, And turn your eyes around, Where waving woods and waters wild Do hymn an autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them— The summer flowers depart— Sit still— as all transform’d to stone, Except your musing heart.”
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning
What are you holding in your musing heart that wants to make its way onto the page? Fall is a great time to refocus and honor our impulse to write—herbal tea, spiced cider, or mulled wine by your side.
And it isn’t too soon to establish a plan so you can finally start that book that’s nestled down inside your heart at the beginning of 2024.
To help, here’s your first step in building a solid foundation for your first draft.
PLANNING
Grab the downloadable, fillable handouts mentioned in this video right here.
In working with people over the years, I’ve found that people LOVE prompts.
Prompts are great as a palate cleanser – a break from that big, long project that’s starting to feel like it’s never going to end. Giving your creative mind a shot of something new is a great way to reshuffle the mind and allow flow to happen.
Prompts are also great for those times when you feel your creative well has gone dry – even though this can never happen… you are an endless fount of ideas and creativity.
