"Tale of woe" is an expression used to describe a sad, negative, or tragic story. However, there are other expressions that can be used to convey a similar sentiment, such as "sad tale", "woeful story", "tragic account", "heartbreaking narrative", "piteous chronicle", "anguishing saga", or "lamentable anecdote". These synonyms can help to add variety to your writing and make your stories more engaging. Whether you are writing a novel, an essay, or a blog post, experimenting with different expressions can help you to find the right words to convey your message and captivate your audience.