hacking the hackneyed

Writers’ forum users were lamenting the overused “chosen one, because prophecy, but character refuses” trope. I weighed in.

It IS overused-- but only because it’s the very first part of “The Hero’s Journey” archetype. There are good reasons why we see this pattern again and again, so don't beat yourself up that you used it. It’s like saying “OMG I drew a circle. A fuckin’ circle!! Isn’t that an overused shape?”

If that bugs you, just think about the parts of it. Break it down. See if you can innovate.

One: character is “chosen”. Why is this? Well, because you can’t write about everyone in the world— your main character has to be singled out somehow. But can you come up with a fresh way to have her “chosen”? And why a prophecy, exactly? What does a prophecy do that some other type of choosing doesn’t— talk about the past? add gravitas? set up stakes? can you come up with an alternate way to do the same job?

Two: character wants nothing to do with it. Why not? Often it’s because we want the reader to get on board with rooting for the character. If they immediately sprang into action it could make the character look foolhardy, gullible or arrogant (but does it have to? can you find a way for it not to?). There are other reasons she might “refuse the call”— plot pacing, having other characters try to talk her into it, whatever. Look at the job this has to do, and see if you can freshen it up.

These are your opportunities as a writer. The more overused the trope, the more leverage you have on it to give it a big twist.