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Can Cliches ever be useful?

24/5/2019

2 Comments

 
The answer to the above question should be "like the plague" really!  But to be serious can cliches have a place in fiction?

Yes, they can but in different ways.

1.  Above all else, they should be used sparingly.  Too many of them spoils any good effect you might want to use them for and will just switch readers off.  Also, don't use them in every story you write either.  Every now and again but more on this in 2 below.

2.  A cliche can be a useful shortcut but choose the right one and aim for it to have a positive impact on your readers.  You want them to be able to see why you used it and for there to be no stronger alternative.  Most of the time there will be as you come up with your own expressions and these should be the ones you always go for first.

3.  You can subvert a cliche.  I've used "take the Garibaldi" as a subversion of "take the biscuit".  This approach can also help you convey something of character too.  Someone who takes the Garibaldi is going to be of a different social standing to someone who "takes the Lidl Rich Tea" for one thing and you can then play on that for effect.


2 Comments
Paul Trembling link
26/5/2019 07:39:26 pm

And of course, you can put cliches into a characters mouth to show that they're the sort of person who uses cliches!

Reply
Allison Symes link
26/5/2019 07:52:27 pm

Cliches are great for spoofing purposes, Paul. I've not done this myself but have heard of stories being written entirely with cliches as a complete send up. I should imagine that could be great fun but I would think it would work best as a short piece (so it doesn't become tiresome).

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    I'm Allison Symes and write fairytales with bite, especially novels and short stories.

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