Tropes - or no tropes?

 Many of those who read romance are big on tropes. Which means writers are too. I've never been that big on them, or at least, not while writing the book. Afterwards you can see them - Summer in San Remo was enemies to lovers and second chance romance, but it didn't start out that way in my head. It was Cass and Jake, who had history - and it grew from there. 

As tropes are such a thing at the moment I've been wondering about a few for the WIP. But right now I actually can't think of any!!!

Writing romantic suspense maybe puts it a bit outside the categories, or creates some of its own? I know my hero has a protective streak, and he will not believe that he is the right man for the heroine - until we both prove him wrong. And my heroine? She's independent and competent, but her confidence has been badly shaken, so she is suffering a bit from imposter syndrome - and writers know all about that. 

And then there is the Dark Academia that I keep banging on about. Now that will have some tropes. Buildings, gothic style, I have a few of them lined up. Obsession - plenty of that from the villain of the piece. I've not got him/her picked out properly yet, but I know they will emerge from the fog when the time is right. There is the academic stuff - now that is my thing.  I'm having fun creating a subject for Nel's PhD thesis that is going to get lots of people into lots of trouble. Atmosphere - goes with the buildings, but there will have to be old books, and probably candles, and an autumnal feel, and plenty of art and history - which is certainly a thing. Remind me to tell you about the research into the painter, Caravaggio. It's not for this book, but I have plans. But in all these I cannot see me shoehorning in a forced proximity or grumpy/sunshine senario, unless it happens naturally. 

As far as this WIP goes, I have a beginning. I have a writers' workshop coming up soon when I will be trying out that beginning on some fellow authors. All friends, but that does not mean that there will not be opinions expressed. I've not done one for a while, so I am nervous. But it will be a good exercise to see if what I have so far has legs. Fingers crossed. 

A day out!

 This time of the year I don't get out much - weather and lack of light, but I did manage a day trip to Gloucester a few weeks ago with a friend and as I had never seen the magnificent cathedral, that was on the list of things to do. Along with a little light retail therapy, lunch and lots of gossip.  

The cathedral was fabulous, as they usually are. Completely amazing how such huge and highly decorated constructions were achieved so many hundreds of years ago and we seem to struggle putting up even small and ugly buildings. They were, of course, sacred places intended for worship, and I'm sure that would have made all the difference. But I digress. 

We patronised the cafe and wandered the cloisters, which really are beautiful. Harry Potter fans would recognise them, as they feature in several places in the films. That was a little research, as cloisters are a bit of a dark academia thing, so I am hoping to get them into the WIP at some point. Although they won't be in Gloucester, but Somewhere Else, courtesy of my imagination. The WIP is still in progress, you will be glad to know. I've put the opening pages into a crit workshop with a group of friends in a few weeks time, so am now chewing my nails about what everyone will think of it. And I'm digressing again.  

We prowled the cathedral proper and visited the tomb of Edward II, who was murdered in a very nasty way, if you listen to Christopher Marlowe. He is said to have died at Berkley Castle, possibly by murder, unspecified. A forced abdication in favour of his son,  Edward III. There is also a theory that he was not murdered at all, and  managed to escape captivity to live on for a number of years. Which begs the question of who is in the rather impressive tomb. It was all a very long time ago. 

It was a lovely day out. and well worth the train ride - although, as you know, I like trains. 

My new fascination

You've heard me talking about it already - Dark Academia. I want to write one, so I'm having a try. As I do not intend to give up my preferred genre of romantic suspense, it is going to be my version - maybe a sort of hybrid? We'll have to see what comes out.

I've read a few  over the years. Memorable ones? Donna Tart's Secret History, M L Rio's  If We Were Villains and Katy Hays' The Cloisters. Personally I'd also add KJ Charles' Death in the Spires to that list, although it is actually promoted as an historical  mystery. And Gilly MacMillan's The Burning Library also has overtones. And although no one has ever mentioned it, as far as I am aware, and I have to admit I've never watched it, lots that I've heard about the TV series The Traitors goes with the vibe. Castles, tartan, betrayal ...

As well as reading I've researched tropes and ingredients. 

Of course it starts with the pursuit of knowledge - that can be art or literature.  The protagonists have to be pretty expert at what they do and usually that's as part of a small and exclusive group.  The setting is gothic and we know I've wanted to try my hand at one of those ever since doing an evening class on gothic novels with Cardiff University's Lifelong Learning Department. The atmosphere is autumnal - not my favourite time of the year, but you can't beat it for atmosphere, There are cloisters, libraries, obsessions, secret societies, secrets, power. Plenty of scope in that soup for me to have some fun. Also apparently the right kinds of clothes are a thing - tweed, plaid, tailoring, blazers and loafers, leather bags, (Google it and you get all sorts of suggestions for a capsule wardrobe.)

One of the element that I do have a bit of an issue with is the assertion that the protagonists are morally grey. That does not go along with my romantic leanings. Those around them may be ambiguous, or even down right nasty, but my hero and heroine have to stay true to my genre. And there will have to be a happy ending. Although not for everyone. Body count is already rising.. 

Not sure what I'm going to get at the end of this, but I'm looking forward to the journey.