And...I share

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

I thought I'd interrupt my regularly scheduled post to slip in some fun, maybe. My regular job has been offering classes, etc., on the ethical use of AI. With the discussion about marketing, and more, I thought I would share some of the answers to some prompts I asked AI about the tropes and other pieces of this puzzle. Please tell me your thoughts on what transpired. (If anyone wants the complete set of answers, just let me know.)

Here are three standard tropes commonly found in the Western genre:

1.     The Lone Gunslinger
A solitary, often morally ambiguous hero with a mysterious past who lives by a personal code of honor.

2.     The Frontier Town
A dusty, isolated settlement that represents the edge of civilization, usually threatened by lawlessness or encroaching forces.

3.     Showdown at High Noon
A climactic gunfight, often in the center of town, that resolves major conflicts—typically between good and evil.

Three Historic Western Genre Suspense Tropes

1.     Wanted Man Among Us
A member of the community is revealed to have a bounty on their head—or a bounty hunter comes to town, turning everyone against each other in a tense standoff.

2.     The Ghost Town Secret
A deserted town holds dark secrets—abandoned mines, massacres, or cover-ups—and someone is willing to kill to keep the past buried.

3.     The Saboteur
Someone is sabotaging a railroad, telegraph line, cattle drive, or wagon train—creating suspicion, accidents, and growing paranoia among the group.

Here are three classic tropes tailored to Historic Western Mystery stories—where grit, dust, and justice intersect with secrets, investigations, and twists:

1.     The Silent Frontier Grave
A body is discovered in an unmarked grave (or hanging from a tree, etc.), prompting an investigation that uncovers old rivalries, hidden crimes, or land feuds.

2.     The Disguised Killer
A respected member of the community—preacher, doctor, rancher, or lawman—harbors a dark secret or double life, complicating the search for justice.

3.     The Vanished Prospector
A gold miner disappears, leaving behind a map or journal. Was it murder for a claim? A setup? A tragic accident—or something more sinister?

Historic Western tropes and common Young Adult (YA) tropes can intersect in rich and dynamic ways, often creating a compelling blend of adventure, identity, and transformation. Here's where they most commonly intersect:

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1. Coming of Age / Rite of Passage

• Western: A young protagonist must "prove themselves" by taming a horse, surviving in the wilderness, or confronting danger alone.
• YA: The main character undergoes personal growth, often through struggle, finding their place in the world.
• Intersection: A teenage character must survive frontier life, perhaps after being orphaned or separated from their family, and in doing so, matures emotionally and morally.

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2. Individualism and Self-Reliance

• Western: The hero is often a rugged individualist who resists authority and carves their own path.
• YA: Teens assert independence from adults, often questioning authority and forging their identity.
• Intersection: A young person may run away from an abusive home or restrictive society, heading west to create a new life, echoing both personal and literal frontier journeys.

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3. Outsider Status

• Western: Drifters, outlaws, and loners populate the frontier—characters who don’t fit in civilized society.
• YA: Protagonists often feel misunderstood, marginalized, or out of place.
• Intersection: A mixed-race character, or someone with a hidden past, may face discrimination or isolation in a frontier town, using that tension to fuel their growth.

✨ Sample Marketing Hooks for YA Westerns:

• “What if Katniss had a six-shooter and rode into town looking for justice?”
• “In a town with no sheriff and no rules, one girl is about to make her own law.”
• “Frontier justice isn’t just for outlaws — it’s for angry teens with nothing to lose.”

Until Next Time

Doris 

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon

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