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Have you ever felt that sensation that you've read this before, or that you feel you're writing in some unknown publisher's voice? One of the traps that even seasoned writers can fall into is relying too heavily on clichés. While clichés can provide a shorthand for conveying ideas, they often dilute the impact of your writing and thereby make it feel stale and uninspired. Overall, the effect is that the reader feels it's all been done before, so why should they continue reading?
Let’s explore some common clichés to avoid and consider how we may express ideas more originally and effectively.
1. Overused Phrases and Idioms
Phrases like "at the end of the day," "only time will tell," and "avoid it like the plague" have been so overused that they have lost their impact. We're certain they once had an avant-garde feel about them, but in today's western landscape, they can make your writing feel lazy and unoriginal (and no, inserting an ellipses will not add drama and thereby negate the lacklustre!).
Tip: Challenge yourself to convey the same message without leaning on these crutches to hobble through to the next section. For instance, instead of saying, "only time will tell," you might write, "looking onward to the horizon, she felt the truth would soon be uncovered" or something alike. Inject some personality!
2. Stereotypical Characters
From the brooding detective with a troubled past to the damsel in distress, clichéd characters are everywhere. These characters are predictable, and they rob your story of depth and intrigue. Unless that's the effect you're going for - and it needs to be done well and with purpose and intention to resonate with today's readers to any great effect -, they need to go (lest you end up with 2D caricatures flattening your story!).
Tip: Give your characters unique backgrounds, quirks, and motivations. Let their personalities and decisions be shaped by their unique experiences, rather than by tired archetypes. Consider basing their personalities and backgrounds on people you know (without encroaching on defamation territory!), and creating a whole story-board for each of them. Spend time with your characters so you can write them in a way will compel your reader to want to spend time with them, too.
3. Predictable Plots
A plot that readers can predict from the first few pages offers little suspense or satisfaction. Common plot clichés include the rags-to-riches success story, the love triangle, and the ‘chosen one’ narrative.
Tip: Subvert readers' expectations by twisting or inverting clichés. If you start with a clichéd scenario, think of unexpected outcomes or developments that can refresh the familiar narrative. There's nothing wrong with working with a beat-sheet until you find your feet, but you may prefer to write in your own style - again, with intention and some structure (don't throw all the whole rule-book away if you're writing for a broader audience!).
4. Clichéd Conflict
Conflicts such as misunderstandings that could be resolved with a simple conversation, or conflicts that arise from stock evil characters, can feel contrived and unsatisfying. They are endlessly frustrating and can leave a reader feeling annoyed or deflated... So please, help make their investment worthwhile by injecting some imagination!
Tip: Develop conflicts that are deeply rooted in your characters’ values, desires, and worldviews, and make sure the resolution of these conflicts requires real growth or change. Take your characters on a journey. Consider your muses carefully, and draw your inspiration from myriad influences - whether your friends, favourite characters, or people from your childhood.
5. Trite Conclusions
Endings like "and they lived happily ever after" or "it was all a dream" can feel unsatisfying and unrealistic. Such endings often fail to resonate emotionally with the reader, and your English teachers no doubt felt like scrunching up your stories if you ever dared cop out like this!
Tip: Aim for more nuanced resolutions that reflect the complexities of real life, and which leaves the reader with a lingering impression of your story. It’s okay to leave some questions unanswered or some conflicts unresolved if it serves the story.
6. Overdone Themes
Themes like "love conquers all" or "absolute power corrupts absolutely" can feel clichéd unless they are approached with a fresh perspective. You do not want to leave your reader feeling that they've read the umpteenth version of the same old story - that's a sure-fire way to leave them with a feeling of frustration, and your narrative with little more than forgettability!
Tip: If you tackle a common theme, try to offer new insights or perspectives, and find creative ways to support its suitability to the modern landscape. How does your unique setting, character, or plot twist provide a fresh take on an old theme? It all comes down to purpose, purpose, purpose - what are you trying to achieve? What are you trying to say?
7. Excessive Adverbs and Flowery Prose
While descriptive language can enrich a story, relying too heavily on adverbs and flowery prose can make your writing feel overwrought and pretentious. This is where reading broadly and getting a second (and third, and fourth, and fifth!) set of eyes can really come in handy.
Tip: Use strong, precise verbs instead of adverbs where possible, and trust your readers to understand subtlety. Sometimes, less is more in making a significant impact. The easiest way to spot these excessive adverbs is perhaps to read your narrative aloud to yourself (or to someone else, real or imagined) and try to hear whether it relies too heavily on flowery prose. Is your message and the feeling you're trying to create present in the prose, it does it lose its way?
Embrace Originality
Avoiding clichés involves more than just swapping out phrases; it requires digging deeper into your creative well to find fresh expressions and novel ideas. Challenge yourself to step away from the familiar and explore new territories in your narrative and prose - your readers will thank you for it!
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Cairns, Queensland AU
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