January 29, 2008
Second verse, same as the first
(Okay how many people even know what that’s from–If you have seen Ghost you should know!) So as I said last week, I have been reading contest entries. And I have the cliché book from H.E.double freaking hockey sticks. But that too got me wondering–as pretty much anything does when I am having an ADD-Day. Are all cliché’s bad?
The definition as per Wikipedia:
A cliché (from French, klɪ’ʃe) is a phrase, expression, or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force or novelty, especially when at some time it was considered distinctively forceful or novel. The term is generally used in a negative context.
Hmm, let’s look at a few:
the best of all possible worldsdon’t rush to judgementyou can pick your friends,you can pick your nosebut you can’t pick your friends nosebone dryNo good deed goes unpunished.absence makes the heart grow fonderrun amokround as an applemake ends meetgolden ageHeart of stoneHabit is a second naturesome people get all the breaks
Everyone knows these. And they know exactly what you mean by it, you don’t have to explain further or reemphasize a point. So when we use them are we being lazy writers, or just being as succinct as possible in that instance.
Anyone who knows me knows I tend to OVERthink things–shocking to hear I imagine 
So again, it made me wonder: Cliché or not to cliché , that would be my question. Because, there are times when you need them, when they and only they really work. You could omit them because the are against “the Rules”. Granted when you have two or three on each page it can get tedious! But “the Rules” are not a golden law that must be followed or else . . .
I think a cliché can pepper a story and lend to the author’s voice. But what do I know? Tell me what you think!
To be honest, none of those examples strike me as particularly cliche/tired. They’re just ’sayings’ , like ‘the early worm catches the worm’. As for the use of cliches, it’s all in the presentation and the justification. It can definitely be lazy writing for sure, but sometimes in trying to avoid a clinche the writing becomes ackward and clunky. The best thing to do is grab a cliche then twist it till it screams ‘Uncle!’ lol. et voila, you have something novel and fresh.
I’m with you. I think readers actually feel comfortable seeing them interspersed judiciously. Some clichés make comebacks because new generations have never heard or read them before. I would lay one on my kids when they were growing up, and they’d look at me like wow, that sounded good. Then they’d say ‘that’s one of those things from when dinosaurs were young, huh Dad?’.
Hey Bernard, No joke, my kids are the same way.
(worse is them hearing things they think are new and you say, “sorry guys, that’s been around for a bit,” then they get all dinosaur accusing!)
Vanessa–lol–that’s what you get when you wai til the last minute (read between driving the kids to school) to look up cliche’s! But yeah, you have a good point. I do like to tweak them and make more smart-assed or snarky and think it makes it fun! But nothing too taxing my brain hurts
LOL Bernard!!!!!
are we being lazy writers, or just being as succinct as possible in that instance
I”m with Jaye and Bernard…use judiciously. Take a second look and see if you’re being a lazy writer. I think, especially in romance, the cliche can be more in the storyline than in the actual writing. ie Bad boy makes good and comes home to discover he’s got a child he never knew about. It’s been done to death but it’s the WRITING that makes it fresh (sometimes).
can be more in the storyline than in the actual writing
very good point! It interesting when you see a great new take on boy meets girl, boy pisses off girl, boy gets girl back
hehehe
can be more in the storyline than in the actual writing
And when that is the case you can probably find a million cliches in their writing style. But again I’m a believer in putting a twist in an old cliche. The golden rule(s) are more like guidelines, but you should question why you have to break them.
I agree. My favorite cliches are the ones author’s rewrite to their own voice or story. For instance, there’s the old “every Tom, Dick and Jane,” and then the author puts a new name in there, like “every Tom, Dick and Shaniqua.” I saw this on a TV show once. Shaniqua was a villainous character on the show and it was funny as heck.
I look at cliches the way I do sex - will it still thrill me after you use it?
Yeah, I know, but…that’s my yardstick.
I’m Henery the Eighth I am, Henery the Eighth I am, I am. I got married to the widow next door, she’s been married seven times before and every one was a Henery … Hon, I knew that song waaaaaaaay before Ghost. Like original …
Bad boy makes good and comes home to discover he’s got a child he never knew about
Well, there goes that WIP.
I’m with everyone else. Especially in dialogue - that’s the way that people speak.
Unless they’re used to excess, or for lazy writing, lol, I have no problem with seeing them occasionally.
Think part of the reason they’re cliches is because they ring a bell with everyone, and that familiarity brings the meaning home quick, fast, and in a hurry (oops, another cliche).
And on the opposite end, if I read an author who was constantly–OBVIOUSLY–trying to re-write cliches so they seemed oh-so unique, I’d feel a wallbanging coming on.
I should have know you get it Bailey–you don’t know how many times I have annoyed, er uh sung that song to my DH . . . ( and a few times were even before Ghost!)
but you should question why you have to break them
Melissa, it’s so funny as Ames and Sj can attest I am an AVID rule follower when it comes to most everything, but in writing (at least in my mind) I want to break the rules, push myself past the “supposed tos”. Often I think I end up reigning my selg back in though darnitall
the author puts a new name in there, like “every Tom, Dick and Shaniqua
very true!
part of the reason they’re cliches is because they ring a bell with everyone
Good point. Kinda like a homey feel when you read it.
will it still thrill me after you use it
ooooh, I like this !
Honey, I was singing that song before you were born …