Werewolf story-What tropes are overused vs. necessary to genre

[9outofPen]

If you're writing a story about werewolves- or any monster really- which tropes are necessary to stay true to the monster's origins and which ones are just plain overdone? I've been having some fun researching werewolf tropes and wondered what you guys' thoughts are on the subject? ^-^

The first few tropes I threw out: no clear-cut Alpha/Omega stuff, no imprinting (honestly I forgot about that one until I even looked it up), and most importantly no one becomes magically bigger/faster/stronger upon becoming a werewolf. Also the other werewolves do not just suddenly gather around the protagonist by some weird coincidence, they are scattered among regular people too. No exchange students here lol

Any other tropes that you love or hate?

[tayo_rafferty]

I'm not sure about sepecific tropes in the werewolf genre but if you want to write a good werewolf story or monster story you might consider making the beast and their nature analogous to the central problems of the character or relate the creature to fatal flaw of the character.

[miesmud]

If you're gonna do a werewolf story, I hope you won't put vampires (or other supernatural creatures) in it.
Because I hate how werewolves are often either the biggest enemy or the best friend of vampires. I think it doesn't make sense for them to be enemies, since vampires are superior to werewolves, and it's not like their instincts clash or something. Vampires want blood, werewolves want freedom. Why would they be enemies??? And them being friends is always the same "romeo and juliet" kinda trope where they can't be friends because their families won't accept it. #boring
I think vampires + werewolves stories overdone anyway. It's not like werewolves alone are uninteresting at all, so why put so many side things in it? (Same for any supernatural story, why put all those other types in it? They really don't match that well?)

I like werewolves to subtly show their nature in human form too. Like: how they love meat, have great sniffing noses, probably drool when they sleep and other wolf-like features.

[Kura]

I haven't read too many werewolf stories, but honestly the alpha/omega stuff is the most annoying thing when it comes to werewolf stories for me.

Second most annoying thing is the 'I get more horny / can't control my primal instincts for sex under the full moon' thing (this more a thing for stories where they change at will or outside of the fullmoon)

As for the werewolves gathering around werewolf protagonist, that one I can understand and don't really have a problem with, since wolves are very family / pack orientated. Though I only like this when they're much more like a family instead of... what is the word... ranked/militarized like they tend to be in a lot of fiction.

I also like when it's treated like a curse, is a obstacle in what would otherwise be a normal life. I think 'Being Human' (UK) did that pretty well.

[9outofPen]

I totally get you. Nope, no vampires. My hipster side wants to avoid Twilight-ish scenarios as much as possible. Besides, if I included vampires, I'd have to include other monsters too, and there's just not room for everyone! Best to keep it simple and get in depth on werewolves alone.

[9outofPen]

I agree, alpha/omega militarized ranks are kind of overdone in werewolf stories. I'm thinking my protagonist will form a family of sorts from her close friends/ chosen people and that will be her "pack." No horny primal instincts either, one because she's asexual, and two because even animals are driven by instincts other than sex, so it doesn't make sense for that to be a catalyst.

[rmdooley]

The bad thing about werewolves is that they are so common, there are a lot of negative tropes associated with them. The good thing is, since so much has been done, there are many different routes that can be taken that can be fitted and adapted to your story while still being recognizable as a werewolf to a wide readership.

So it depends what route you want to take. When deciding how werewolves would be portrayed in the current chapter of Legio Arcana, a lot of the more mythical elements, such as killing the werewolf that bit someone can be a cure, the curse being tied to the phases of the moon, etc. were thrown out and replaced with biological ties or triggers.

Some instances in fiction where the portrayal of werewolves was found to be enjoyable were in Courtney Crumrin Monstrous Holiday and the Dresden Files Fool Moon

Good luck on your tale!

[phoenixrenaissance]

I feel like there are certain tropes that yeah, should be avoided. I feel I've doing so but, that's probably because my werewolf is the side character, and it's not really a story about him being one.
I tried to change up some things though. For one, no amount of love our care is gonna keep a werewolf from being dangerous on the full moon. My werewolf can still transform freely, but to a lesser form with more control.
No vampires and no aversion to silver.
There's stuff I'm still establishing, but that's what's important thus far.

[mariusthered]

you might consider researching some of the native American stories on the subject.

[SleepingPoppy]

I can't think of any specific tropes. But I would suggest learning about actual wolf behavior and pack dynamics, and seeing what you can bring over (like taking in the body language of wolves, there's so much you can communicate visually!). And make a world where it feels like werewolves make sense! Whether they're a known or unknown entity, I always love seeing the way supernatural things are folded into the world at large. Modern fantasy has a special place in my heart.

XD And just because others dislike it, I'll toss out that I quite like stories with big supernatural communities. If werewolves exist, why not vampires? etc. But that doesn't mean you need them for every story. Focusing on one thing can mean fleshing it out better, and a good story is what's important.

Also, yay for an ace lead! Good luck. <3

[rainbowolfe]

I feel like the only thing "necessarily" is a human who turns into a wolf sometimes. I mean in this day and age, it doesn't even have to be a wolf lol.

Though I feel some classic tropes would be:
-Having the moon give off some kind of effects to the werewolf(s)
-High body heat / heart rate? I feel like I see that a lot, or maybe I'm just remembering twilight really hard?

I think some overused tropes would be like "abusive werewolf relationship" or "omega and alpha fall in love". Like I don't have a problem with either of those things, it just happens a looooot

[Ayomekum]

I guess every reader is going to have a lot of personal preference in dealing with werewolves and other commonly used supernaturals. Unfortunately you won't please everyone.

My perspective is to stick to the core werewolf tropes (uncontrollable transformation, allergy to silver) b/c they're accessible, but put a lot of originality into characterization and themes. I especially like stories where a supernatural conflict is an analogy for social/cultural/political inequality.

[indagold]

Kinda tired of werewolves being angry rogue beasts 24/7. I'd like to see more wolf like werewolves with actual wolf attributes not stuff thought off the top of your head. Wolves are adorable grittier version of dogs, we need more derpy werewolves doing wolf things like raiding watermelon patches.

[9outofPen]

Hahaha! Thank you, I love the picture!! XD

[riverfur]

Omg I've seen so many overused werewolf tropes through seeking out terrible Wattpad stories on purpose...Here are some ones that make me facepalm (although they're more general 'supernatural' tropes and not strictly just werewolf tropes):
-becoming a werewolf makes you super attractive suddenly for no reason
-MC can smell the love interest's like...pheromones i guess?? and that's how they develop the hots for them (??????)

the 'I get more horny / can't control my primal instincts for sex under the full moon' thing

^^^yeah that's the worst one although it is kind of hilarious

[thorbjornlyk]

think it is pretty important that a werewolf is not just a person that transforms into a wolf when they feel like it. The forced transformation for one is a pretty strong feature, it enforces certain set of behaviors and problems that the character need to be aware of. Also even though the whole person behaves feral or something cause werewolf is a pretty overused trope, having a different set of behaviors when in wolf is a pretty good way to make the whole werewolf thing into a bit more of a story device than just a cool-factor.

If this behavior when in wolf-form is following, the classic trope of suddenly wanting to run through the woods and apparently going into heat, @indagold comment about wolves really being rather derpy or the classic mythos of needing to eat a human every so often, really comes down to what kind of story you want to write.