Let's muder those cliches!

Let's muder those cliches!

A Lesson by Camille Corbett
"

Although there are certain authors who can make cliches work, most authors cannot! Therefore let's do away with them!

"

1. Consider these your forbidden phrases!

·                                 add insult to injury

·                                 better late than never

·                                 brought back to reality

·                                 crushing blow

·                                 easier said than done

·                                 face the music

·                                 flat as a pancake

·                                 gentle as a lamb

·                                 green with envy

·                                 hard as a rock

·                                 moving experience

·                                 needle in a haystack

·                                 ripe old age

·                                 shoulder the burden

·                                 stand in awe

·                                 strong as an ox

·                                 untimely death

·                                 wise as an owl

 Do not do this to yourself people! I shuddered just typing them up!


2. Prophesies are so last year, think of another method  of information other than a wise woman or a magic glowing orb, in other words DON'T BE LAME!


3. It is always better to be creepy than cutesy, since creepiness is usually avoided.


4.Use odd metaphors and similes for a common experience!

ex.. I crumpled to the ground, like an old pair of yellowed jock straps and moaned.


5. If you HAVE to use a cliche, please have the decency to put quotes around them, especially when it's stream of consciousness.


6.No matter how much you care for a sentence or passage, or whatever, let it go if it's too predictable!


7. Look at a piece of your writing, find all the cliches present and try to figure out what you want to say, then find a way to say it better. It works!


8. Attempt to formalize your language! Cliches tend to bring the quality of writing down.


9.THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH USING A THESAURUS! I know alot of writers who feel a sort of pride when they don't use one, but don't listen to them, they're blubbering a******s.USE ONE! All the time!You will find words that cover your meaning far better than any ambiguous cliche can!


10. When you put your personality in a writing, the quirks you have will come out, this is good! Use them to develop your own witty phrases and you might be the next Oscar Wilde!


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Posted 13 Years Ago


i love knowing i can use a thesaurus ! these are neat tips and they'd really help me b/c half my writingis like cliches and yeah it totally bugs me too. thank u!

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Posted 13 Years Ago


One thing to remember about cliches, everything is a cliche. There is no story created that is original. You can avoid a lot of cliches, which is a good idea, but some you cannot, no matter how you word it. You can only reword s phrase or statement so many ways. The best way to avoid cliches is just to read. Once you know what has been written before then it is easier to know what you are looking for. And always try to avoid mimicking what you hear on television or in a movie. Cliches kill dialogue as well, and dialogue is a key tool. You can have a well written work, a masterpiece and cliched dialogue will flush it away.

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Posted 14 Years Ago


A couple of those forbidden phrases I don't think are that bad at all, and will continue to use all the time. Some of the other ones, however, you have my word that I'll stay away from them.

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Posted 14 Years Ago


It has to be said, a thesaurus should only be used as a reminder of words at the back of your mind. You shouldn't use a word from it that you didn't already know.

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Posted 14 Years Ago


Once again, highly subjective. But good.

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Author

Camille Corbett
Camille Corbett

Marietta, GA



About
I'm a 21 year old Fulbright ETA writing to kill the time and find my sanity. I have been gone for a while. But I have returned, so watch out for some new stories.