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In this episode of 'Way-Word Writers,' hosts Heather Cashman, Stephanie Bearce, and Nicki Jacobsmeyer welcome USA Today best-selling author Jennifer E. Hilt to discuss her work 'The Trope Thesaurus.' Jennifer shares her insights into why tropes are essential building blocks in storytelling, how they can be effectively utilized and developed, and addresses common misconceptions about them. She explains how her background in linguistics and literature helped her identify common storytelling blocks during the pandemic and led her to write the 'Trope Thesaurus.' The hosts and Jennifer delve into how tropes are structured, the importance of genre expectations, and how tropes can be adapted or subverted to create unique and compelling stories. Jennifer also gives examples, like 'The Witcher' and 'Severance,' that illustrate the effective use of tropes. The episode closes with Jennifer discussing her favorite tropes and how tropes can be identified and utilized across different genres, encouraging writers to view them as powerful storytelling tools.

00:00 Welcome to Way-Word Writers
00:31 Introducing Jennifer E. Hilt and The Trope Thesaurus
01:31 The Origin of The Trope Thesaurus
03:47 Understanding Tropes in Storytelling
08:16 The Structure and Use of The Trope Thesaurus
11:54 Balancing Familiar Tropes with Originality
12:16 Genre Expectations and Character Complexity
19:22 Practical Tips for Writers
22:47 Upcoming Fantasy Sci-Fi Release
23:19 Exploring the Horror Genre
23:59 Romance and Sci-Fi Subgenres
24:19 Understanding Tropes in Storytelling
26:52 Favorite Mystery Series
28:21 Evergreen and Emerging Tropes
37:15 Subverting Tropes in Different Genres
41:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts