Like any other fiction genre, romance has its tried-and-true archetypes (character models) and tropes (plot devices). They’re like jars of marbles: you can reach in and grab whichever ones you want and mix and match them to make a story. But while the base model may be the same, the details added to bring depth to the characters and the plot are what truly make each archetype and trope come to life.
Popular Archetypes in Romance
Archetypes are character models, or patterns that characters fall into within a variety of categories. Below is a sample list of just some of the most popular romance archetypes to give you an idea and get you started. These can be mixed and matched as you please within a single character (e.g., the billionaire charmer or the loner cop) or as a romantic match (e.g., the bad boy and the cinnamon roll).
Rich & Famous
The out-of-your-league or wild-dreams types.
- billionaire (CEO, old money)
- musician (rock star, singer)
- actor/actress
- royalty (prince, princess)
Magical
Anything goes when magic is involved.
- witch/wizard
- god/diety
- magician
- elementalist
- oracle
- alien
- fairies
- mermaids
- unicorns
Broody, Mysterious, & Dangerous
These types often pull away from any sort of real relationship and will get you into trouble or at least break your heart.
- bad boy (rebel, rogue)
- mercenary/bounty hunter
- loner
- tortured hero
- spy
- charmer (playboy, rake)
- villain
Highlander
An entire archetype is dedicated to the strong masculine protector/defenders from the Scottish Highlands (look it up if you don’t believe me!).
Hero
The all-around good guy you can always rely upon to come through.
- law enforcement (detective, cop)
- military (captain, officer, soldier)
- superhero
- warrior
Nonthreatening
The one often overlooked by others.
- smart guy (nerd/geek, mentor, sage)
- goody two-shoes
- domestic help
- single parent
- cinnamon roll (sweet and innocent)
- best friend
Although archetypes are character models, be cautious you don’t turn your characters into stereotypes by oversimplifying them. Some things your editor might examine is how close your character is to existing archetypes, the character’s emotional wounds, and whether you provided enough detail and description to make them feel real. To humanize your archetypes, add nuances, vulnerabilities, and details. Make them come to life by getting to know them the way you would a friend. What made your character the way they are? What was their childhood like? What is their dream for the future? What is their current career? What’s their biggest secret? You get the idea.
Popular Tropes in Romance
Tropes are plot devices that are used frequently and are recognizable to the reader. Like archetypes, you can pick one or mix and match to your heart’s content. You can even ask your readers to occasionally suspend their disbelief “for romantic reasons,” just make sure you don’t overuse this one or it will feel cheesy. Whichever tropes you choose, they will help you build and identify your core narrative. Below is a sample list of just some of the possible tropes to choose from.
The Meet-Cute
Characters meet in a funny, cute, or serendipitous manner.
The Love Triangle
The protagonist must choose between two people. The key to this trope is to keep the reader guessing until the grand reveal toward the end.
Trouble in Paradise
Two people are already in love/a couple, but they fall into some sort of trouble that threatens to tear them apart. They must find their way back to each other.
The Secret Billionaire
Someone who is famous, rich, or royal seeks to live and be treated like everyone else. While pretending to be someone else, they meet their love interest, who eventually discovers the truth.
Waking Up Married
Two characters wake up after a drunken night or come down off their crazy heat-of-the-moment decision to marry a stranger. This could easily tie in to the forced proximity or fake relationship tropes.
Enemies to Lovers
Instead of love at first sight, it’s hate at first sight. The two characters start off as rivals of some sort, but eventually discover they are more alike than they initially realized or that something was severely misunderstood.
Friends to Lovers
Two friends realize their feelings are deeper than friendship, but worry about ruining the friendship if they reveal them.
Second-Chance Romance
A broken-up couple tries again or long-separated friends reunite years later and realize their love for each other. Or an individual is hurt so badly, they swear off love entirely, only to fall for someone special. The motto with this trope is that it’s never too late for love.
Belated Love Epiphany
Nearly too late, one character realizes their feelings for another. They are often at risk of losing them forever by this time and must take action immediately.
Secret Baby
During a fling or a past relationship, a baby results. The man has no idea about the baby until the woman reveals the truth to him or he discovers it on his own somehow.
The Fake Relationship
Two people pretend to be in love for a specific purpose, but during the ruse, they actually fall in love.
Forced Proximity
Two characters are stuck sharing a small space such as a hotel room with a single bed, a car for a road trip, or the office during a storm.
Forbidden Love
Two people know from the start they are meant to be together and they are desperately in love, but something or someone keeps them apart in an us-against-the-world manner.
The Bad Boy
A troubled/traumatized character has become cold and distant until “the one” enters the picture and slowly thaws their frozen heart. The key to this trope is to ensure their flaws are redeemable in nature.
Office Romance
Two people who work together fall for each other and must decide whether their job or potential relationship is more important. They might also need to decide if they should keep their relationship a secret at work. This could easily tie in to the forbidden love trope.
Some factors your editor will examine are what themes you have investigated with this trope, how it challenges each of your main characters to grow, and how this particular trope heightens the tension or conflict in your story. They might consider whether there are other tropes that could better serve your purpose and drive the story forward or whether your chosen trope contributes to or increases the emotional/physical intimacy between the characters.
More About Romance
Want to learn even more about the romance genre? Check out these other Tips for Writers articles in the Writing Romance series:
- Introduction to the Romance Genre
- Four Major Beats
- Heat Levels
- Archetypes & Tropes
- Popular Subgenres
- How to Write a Romance
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