Tropes are the things we find familiar, the events we see repeated in many books and films.

Specific sequence or moment the audience is used to seeing in a movie or reading in a book. Over time these moments have become an integral part of their genres. In many cases, the audience may be disappointed if they read a book that doesn’t contain the trope they expected.

Examples of Tropes:
* Thriller: Cliffhanger
* Spy: Martini Flavored or Stale Beer Flavored
* Romance: Aborted Declaration of Love
* Romance: Accidental Hand Hold
* Action: Chase Scene
* Action: Dress Rip
* Comedy: Adults Are Useless
* Comedy: All Balloons Have Helium
* Comedy: Everything that can go wrong will go wrong. But it works out in the end.

Tropes are helpful tools. If you are new to a genre, it’s beneficial to know what is tried and tested and what the audience may expect and may be disappointed if they don’t get it.