Clichés -- Don't use them, even as a last resort
by
There are hundreds of clichés, maybe thousands and they worm their way into your writing without your noticing.
Yes, they’re great for a quick visual because the phrases are so familiar, but they make your writing passive, maybe even boring.
Photo credit: Movies and House Music moviesandhousemusic.blogspot.com
A good way to raise your awareness of clichés is to perform the following exercise: pick 39 common clichés and write the shortest possible story you can.
See the sample story below.
There’s a lomg list of common clichés at the following website;
Clichés, avoid them like the plague www.suspense.net
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A short story in thirty-nine clichés
Once upon a time, I sat thinking outside the box. At the end of the day, my girl came in and gave me a wakeup call.
"This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you," she said.
"Well," I said. "All's fair in love and war." And then I waited with bated breath.
"Let's wipe the slate clean."
"Don't beat around the bush," I said.
"You need to go back to the drawing board and I need to get back in the saddle."
"Been there, done that." I knew she had an ace up her sleeve.
"This could be a win-win situation." She reached for my poison pen.
"If you've got ants in your pants, we'll call it a day." This is no babe in the woods, I thought.
"You're a laugh a minute."
"Yeah, and you laughed all the way to the bank." Just then, I heard the patter of little feet.
We both turned to see a wolf at the door. I hit the ground running but she had her back against the wall.
I stopped, put my best foot forward, and said, "Everything happens for a reason."
"God knows," she said.
Then I turned on the wolf. "You're barking up the wrong tree."
He gave me the evil eye. "I just came to tell you the check is in the mail."
Boy, was my face red. I was blind as a bat not to recognize a true believer.
"You must have got up on the wrong side of bed," the wolf said to me.
"No, I've been working like a dog."
He gave me a sheepish grin.
"Can I buy you a drink?" I asked.
"Not till the fat lady sings."
We turned to look at my girl.
"You ain't nothing but a hound dog, crying all the time…"
Photo credit: Shiners Blog sunhiners.blogspot.com
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Written by Ariion Kathleen Brindley
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All material © Copyright ariionkathleenbrindley.com 2009
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