If Well Written, Can It Be Ridiculous?

It's impossible to write a story completely free of tropes. For every one you avoid, you'll run smack into a different one.

 

My advice is "don't fall into the trap of avoiding tropes". Then again you already know my opinion on the matter

A trope is a trope, and a trope isn't always a cliche. Even if it is I would still consider using something. People pay much more attention to the cliches when the surrounding material is a badly written. Well I do anyway.

 

Ridiculous can be awesome. And I think most people now know my view on cliches and tropes - I love them!

 

I have a short story I finished about a quest for cheese, with all sorts of playful things happening... Has a kobold shaman that rides a miniature cow, a witch who specializes in illusion/emotion magic and a moon elf weaponmaster. Originally it was supposed to be for a contest, but missed the deadline. I did end up finishing it and it's in the editing phase and though I don't think at this juncture it's particularly "Good" who knows what it will be when it's finally polished.

 

Tropes, to me, are NOT the same as cliches.

Tropes are just common themes and ideas that people can relate to and recognize.

Cliches are devices that are used time and time again as cheap fodder to move a story along.

Tropes are mostly fun and can be manipulated.

Cliches are mostly boring and can't be manipulated.