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Quizzes > Books & Literature

Cliche Test: Is Your Story Full of Tropes?

Quick, free story test to spot tropes in your plot and characters. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Aysha SiddiqueUpdated Aug 24, 2025
2-5mins
Profiles
Paper art illustration for cliche test quiz on dark blue background

This cliche test helps you spot tired tropes in your plot, characters, and dialogue, then shows where to tweak scenes to keep your story fresh and original. Deep-dive into character pitfalls with the mary sue quiz, map your cast with the character archetype quiz, or explore hero patterns with the hero archetype quiz.

When you spot a familiar trope in your draft, what is your next move?
Replace it with a premise I have never seen before
Set it up on purpose so I can subvert it later
Polish it so it feels classic and comforting
Leave it as-is because it already works
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You are designing the setting for a new story. What excites you most?
An unlikely place that reshapes the rules of the tale
A familiar locale with a hidden layer that flips expectations
A classic setting that promises cozy, time-tested vibes
A default setting I have used before because it is quick
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Your protagonist begins to feel archetypal. How do you respond?
Invert their core assumption to open new territory
Lean into the archetype, then reveal a contradictory secret
Let the archetype stand but deepen it with familiar nuances
Keep them as-is; the archetype guides the plot neatly
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Your outline hits a beat readers will predict. What is your fix?
Replace the beat with a left-field objective that reorients the story
Keep the beat but route to it through a misdirect
Deliver the beat warmly with satisfying foreshadowing
Accept the predictability and move forward
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You receive a prompt: Write a heist. Your first instinct?
Make the target something no one has stolen before
Design a plan that appears standard but hinges on a twist
Use the classic crew roles for that nostalgic heist flavor
Use the first tropey plan that pops to mind
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Your antagonist needs dimension. You choose to
Give them an unexpected worldview that reframes the conflict
Let them play the villain until a revelatory reversal
Anchor them in a classic motive executed sincerely
Keep their motive simple and common to save time
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You are titling your story. What is your approach?
Coin a fresh phrase that hints at a new angle
Use a familiar-sounding title with an ironic double meaning
Choose a classic cadence that feels timeless
Pick a placeholder that states the premise plainly
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You are revising a meet-cute scene. What do you change first?
Replace the location with a surprising context that sparks new chemistry
Keep the setup but swap the cause of the collision to mislead
Sharpen the classic beats for cozy, swoony comfort
Leave the coffee-spill trope intact and move on
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Your magic system is taking shape. You decide to
Invent a novel constraint that drives plot and theme
Mimic a known system but flip one rule that changes everything
Use a classic rule set with affectionate detail
Adopt the most common rules so readers do not need explanations
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When readers guess your ending halfway through, you
Reroute the final act toward an uncharted consequence
Confirm their guess, then use a sting that reframes it
Deliver the expected ending with emotional richness
Keep the ending; predictability is fine if it wraps things up
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Your best friend asks for a campfire story. You reach for
An unheard-of creature with rules I invent on the spot
A ghost tale that leads to a reality-bending punchline
A beloved urban legend told with care and cadence
A standard spooky tale I remember easily
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Faced with a tired prophecy trope, you
Make the prophecy a decoy for a different engine of fate
Fulfill the prophecy but via the least suspect character
Honor the prophecy with classic symbolism and payoff
Use the standard Chosen One arc to keep momentum
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You are drafting under a tight deadline. Your habit is to
Pick a bold angle first to avoid cliché later
Sketch a familiar outline, then plan one major reversal
Lean on reliable structures that guarantee clarity
Grab the nearest trope and run with it
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Your logline must stand out. You write
A premise that collides two unlike ideas in a fresh way
A familiar hook with an unexpected price or rule
A classic promise told with evocative phrasing
A straightforward summary using stock phrasing
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During revision, which change feels most rewarding?
Swapping a core assumption to open new doors
Planting clues that set up a jaw-dropping turn
Tuning beats to ring with classic resonance
Trimming to the template so the draft is clean
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A reader says your scene feels familiar. You
Rebuild the scene around a new axis of conflict
Keep the frame but shift the reveal to a later beat
Lean deeper into the comfort and cadence of the moment
Accept it; familiar scenes are fine for pacing
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Your side character threatens to steal the story. You
Pivot the narrative to explore their unexpected vector
Let them seem comic relief until they trigger a twist
Give them a classic, heartwarming mini-arc
Keep them stock to avoid derailing the plot
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Your genre mashup strategy is
Blend genres that rarely meet to spark novelty
Use a known genre and smuggle in a twist from another
Honor a genre's core beats faithfully
Stay within one genre to keep it simple
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When you outline Act 2, how do you handle midpoint energy?
Introduce a game-changing variable that redefines stakes
Reveal a buried truth that flips motives sideways
Deliver the classic midpoint triumph-or-defeat beat cleanly
Follow the template beat without much alteration
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You are writing a finale. Your priority is
An ending that could only happen in this singular story
An earned reversal that recontextualizes everything
A comforting resolution that honors promises
A tidy wrap-up that checks required boxes
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Your approach to foreshadowing is
Seed strange, specific details that open new avenues later
Lay familiar clues that enable a sharp pivot
Use classic motifs to signal comforting payoffs
Add generic hints to keep drafting fast
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Tropes are tools; context makes them fresh.
True
False
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Every story must end with the hero winning.
True
False
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Nostalgic structure can be intentional craft rather than laziness.
True
False
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Readers never enjoy predictable moments.
True
False
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A twist works best when it is both surprising and inevitable.
True
False
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Originality is impossible without discarding all tropes.
True
False
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A familiar setting can become new through an unexpected rule.
True
False
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Comfort and innovation cannot coexist in the same story.
True
False
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Choosing the first idea is always the strongest strategy.
True
False
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Profiles

  1. Cliché Culprit -

    Your story bombed the cliche test, overflowing with tired tropes. Tip: challenge each trope by adding a fresh twist, then retake this writing cliche test after revisions!

  2. Trope Traveler -

    You passed the story cliche quiz with mixed results, relying on familiar themes. Quick tip: remix one classic element per chapter to surprise readers.

  3. Unexpected Upstart -

    Your plot cliche test shows few clichés and plenty of originality. Keep pushing boundaries by exploring unconventional character arcs.

  4. Genre Maverick -

    Almost no clichés detected - you're rewriting the rules in this cliche quiz. Next step: refine your unique voice with bold narrative experiments.

  5. Originality Champion -

    You aced our writing cliche test, brimming with fresh ideas. Share your insights with fellow writers and inspire them to take the story cliche quiz!

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