What do reluctant heroes, femme fatales, nerds, snobs, and rebels have in common? They’re all character types that are frequently found in many kinds of stories.
The upside of these tropes is that they’re familiar to readers, who will recognize them and immediately know the role they’re meant to play. The downside? They’ve been used so many times that they can easily become clichéd and predictable. But with The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus, they no longer have to be.
Use this resource to familiarize yourself with the commonalities for a certain kind of character while also exploring ways to elevate them and make them memorable, more interesting, and perfectly suited for the story you want to tell.
Recommended Reading:
What is a Character Type and Trope Thesaurus?
What’s the Difference between Archetypes and Tropes?
Type and Trope Entries (Samples)
Ready to change the writing game?
There are more tropes to explore, which is why an updated and expanded version of this collection can be found at One Stop For Writers. The Character Type and Trope Thesaurus is part of the largest Show-Don’t-Tell THESAURUS Database available anywhere.

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