Clichés are phrases, themes, or plot devices that have become overused to the point of losing their originality and impact. They can make your writing feel stale, predictable, and uninspired, which is why avoiding them is crucial if you want to keep your work fresh and engaging. Whether you’re writing a novel, a blog post, or a screenplay, steering clear of clichés will help your writing stand out. In this guide, we’ll explore what clichés are, why they should be avoided, and how to keep your writing original.
What Are Clichés?
A cliché is an idea, expression, or element that has been used so often that it no longer feels unique or interesting. Clichés can take many forms, including:
- Phrases: “Better late than never,” “as cold as ice,” “like a kid in a candy store.”
- Characters: The “damsel in distress,” the “chosen one,” the “tortured artist.”
- Plots: The “hero’s journey” where an unlikely hero saves the day, or the classic “love triangle.”
Clichés are not always inherently bad, but they become problematic when they are used without thought or creativity. Relying on clichés can make your writing seem lazy or uninspired, and it can turn readers off.
Why Avoid Clichés?
- Predictability: Clichés make your writing predictable. If readers can guess what will happen next, they are less likely to stay engaged.
- Lack of Originality: Clichés suggest that the writer didn’t take the time to think of new ways to express ideas. Fresh, original writing shows creativity and effort, which readers appreciate.
- Weak Emotional Impact: Because clichés are so familiar, they don’t evoke strong emotions. Readers have seen them countless times, so they don’t elicit the same reaction as something unique and specific.
How to Avoid Clichés in Your Writing
1. Be Specific and Descriptive
One of the best ways to avoid clichés is to be specific. Instead of using a common phrase, think of a way to describe the scene, emotion, or character that is unique to your story.
- Cliché: “He was as busy as a bee.”
- Fresh: “He darted from task to task, barely pausing to catch his breath, as if the world might end if he slowed down.”
By focusing on specific details, you create images and emotions that feel authentic and original.
2. Show, Don’t Tell
Clichés often emerge from telling rather than showing. Instead of using a familiar expression to convey emotion, describe what the character is doing, thinking, or feeling.
- Cliché: “She was head over heels in love.”
- Fresh: “Every time he entered the room, her heart raced as if it were trying to escape her chest.”
By showing the character’s actions and emotions, you can express ideas in a way that feels more natural and less cliché.
3. Find New Ways to Say Common Phrases
Certain phrases have become clichés because they are so commonly used. Try finding new ways to express these ideas or replace them with something more specific to your characters or setting.
- Cliché: “At the end of the day…”
- Fresh: “When all was said and done…”
Avoiding common expressions and rephrasing them in a fresh way can help your writing stand out.
4. Create Unique Characters
Clichéd characters are often flat and one-dimensional because they rely on stereotypes. To avoid this, develop characters with depth, unique traits, and realistic motivations.
- Cliché Character: The “wise old mentor” who always knows the answer.
- Fresh Character: A mentor who struggles with his own insecurities and doubts, occasionally making mistakes but learning from them alongside the protagonist.
By adding layers to your characters, you make them feel more realistic and avoid falling into the trap of cliché.
5. Subvert Expectations
One way to avoid clichés is to play with reader expectations. Take a familiar trope or idea, and then twist it in a way that surprises readers.
- Cliché: The “chosen one” is destined to save the world.
- Fresh: The “chosen one” is actually a decoy, and the real hero is someone unexpected who rises to the occasion.
Subverting expectations can add depth to your story and keep readers intrigued by the unexpected turns.
6. Avoid Overused Plots and Themes
Certain plots have been used so frequently that they have become clichéd. If you’re writing a story that follows a common theme, think of ways to add new elements or approach it from a different angle.
- Cliché Plot: The “love triangle” where two characters compete for the affections of a third.
- Fresh Plot: A love triangle where all three characters have complex, intertwining relationships, and the story explores the nuances of each connection rather than just choosing who ends up with whom.
Adding complexity and depth to a familiar plot can help it feel new and engaging.
Examples of Clichés and How to Refresh Them
| Cliché | Fresh Approach |
|---|---|
| “The calm before the storm.” | “The world held its breath, as if waiting for a whispered secret to be spoken.” |
| “His heart skipped a beat.” | “His pulse stuttered, like a record that had lost its groove.” |
| “She felt a chill down her spine.” | “A shiver crawled up her back, prickling her skin like tiny needles.” |
| “He couldn’t believe his eyes.” | “His mind stumbled, trying to catch up with what his eyes were showing him.” |
| “As light as a feather.” | “She moved with the weightless grace of a falling leaf.” |
Tips to Keep Your Writing Fresh and Original
- Read Widely and Often: Exposure to different writing styles, genres, and authors can help you find fresh ways of expressing ideas. The more you read, the more you’ll understand how to avoid clichés and make your writing stand out.
- Think Like a Reader: Put yourself in the reader’s shoes. If you can predict what will happen next, so can your audience. Strive to surprise them with unexpected turns or unique perspectives.
- Experiment with Language: Play with words, metaphors, and descriptions. Don’t be afraid to take risks, even if it means editing out what doesn’t work later. Original writing often comes from experimentation.
- Draw from Real Life: Real life is full of unique, strange, and specific moments that can add authenticity to your writing. Drawing from your own experiences can help you avoid relying on overused phrases and tropes.
Conclusion
Avoiding clichés is all about finding new, original ways to express ideas and emotions. By focusing on specifics, showing rather than telling, and developing unique characters and plots, you can keep your writing fresh and engaging. While clichés may be convenient, they can detract from your work’s originality. Challenge yourself to go beyond the obvious, and you’ll create stories that captivate and resonate with your readers.