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Is having cliches in your story bad?


  • pink polka
    Apr 6 4:41 PM
    Reply
    I currently have been writing a story in my notebook. Unfortunately I've included many predictable or cliche parts.

    My main problem is the "love triangle". One girl, two guys. made worse because my main character is/might end up dating her old best guy friend, but of course including another dude who likes her.

    I find that kind of thing quite satisfying. Like, if I'm going to include a romance type sub plot, might as well add a conflict...or something.

    I feel like that's a bad idea, and if I do that people will roll their eyes when they read it. It's in so many books. It's very predictable, the only surprise or question is which guy does she end up with? (Yet if it's in so many other books, people must like it, yes?)

    But on the other hand, I doubt it will be published. Ever. So what's the harm? Even if I finish and polish it, an authors first complete work is almost never published. In fact, there's a fifty fifty chance anybody outside my family reads it. Still I don't want to embarrass myself.

    What do you think? bad idea? Are cliches irritating? Should I just stay away and leave it out completely?

  • Lady Pixie
    April 6 ↑
    Reply
    Cliches are irritating at times... HOWEVER... it can be difficult in some situations to avoid them (at least in my opinion). Sometimes, they're not bad depending on the storyline you have going and where you go with that storyline. Don't discourage yourself, though, just because you think you're being 'cliched'. It turns out that people still read it anyway (yes, even those that complain about cliches). You could throw in some twists and turns that could make up for any cliches.

    After so many years of literature, a lot of people are lucky to have a completely cliche-free piece in my opinion. Even some of the most famous authors have light ones here and there in their own works... or they start something that ends up being cliche later down the road . I really find nothing wrong with them as long as something isn't just overrun with them and have some originality if you know what I mean.

    Please keep in mind, this is only my opinion. Many others may disagree with me or even perhaps condemn me for saying that cliches are alright sometimes.

    Either way, I would still probably read a story like yours... simply because I'm a sucker for romance.


  • Glowstarcharmer
    April 7 ↑
    Reply
    I think it would be impossible to not include a single cliche in a piece of work but at the end of the day as long as the storyline and characters are engaging then who cares?

    If people are into romance then they are gonna like the cliches that go along with it. Personally Im into fantasy/D&D type stories. Youll be hard pressed to find a fantasy novel which doesnt have a main group of heroes consisting of at least one member who is the epitomy of each race/class, ie. a ranger elf, a grupmy old stubern dwarf, a cheerful halfling, a mysterious magic user, a 'holier than thou' healer, an anoying yet lovable rogue and a knight (more often than not trying to clear his name of a deed he didnt commit). This mismatched group then have to save the world from the impending appocalyps. Its completely cliched but if I know a story has those elements then Ill read it zealously because thats what floats my boat. So if someone is into the whole love triangle thing then as long as there is enough orrigionality in the storyline and characters people will love it.

  • the back row
    April 7 ↑
    Reply
    When it comes to cliches, it strongly depends on how well you pull it off. If you are able to make something cliche unique and fresh, then that's a good.

  • spikeyness
    April 10 ↑
    Reply

    umm

    ...Only if you play it for comedy.

  • scriptor
    April 10 ↑
    Reply
    some cliches work, some dont. It really depends on how you use them. If your theme or plot is a cliche... well, it depends on the cliche. If it's a common cliche then avoid it at all costs

  • Caterell
    April 11 ↑
    Reply
    Cliches can be annoying, but people only really notice they're cliches when they are unoriginal. For example:
    If someone was to write a story about a werewolf, vampire and human love triangle, people would instantly recognise it as 'cliche' - however, if the same love triangle instead used two dogs and a cat, people probably wouldn't even notice it was using a cliche until they'd finished reading it. It's all abotu making it look new, and writing it in a way that captures attention.
    A plot's only as a good as the writing that creates it.

  • Oddities
    April 11 ↑
    Reply

    when was teh last time

    you saw a hollywood movie that didnt have some kind of romantic element?

    stuff like that is not even a cliche, its just SOP.

    I would be more concerned with making the characters stand out.

    IE, guy 1 is the uncool nerd with a heart of gold, and guy 2 is the badboy / jock / yuppie type, then your, well, making an adam sandler film.

  • Barbara
    April 11 ↑
    Reply
    I'm going to go against the grain here, and say that.. cliches are fun! Picking up a book full of something you've read before, but in a different format, is like sitting down with an old friend. I know which books are like that, and when I want that old familiar feeling, I'll read them. When I want something new, I'll try a different author in a completely different genre.... cause, face it... doesn't matter what is written, most paranormal books are similar, most court dramas are similar and most romance books end the same.

    Nothing is new... Harry Potter wasn't a new idea when it came out... Twilight was far from original when it came out... even Star Wars was borrowed from other stories and given a cool space backdrop.

    Don't churn out cookie-cutter stories that can have interchangeable names and be the same as someone else's. Embrace the cliche!!! Make them yours, and write them better than all the others that are doing the same!

    • Pyro Fish
      April 17 ↑
      Reply
      Eragon was such a popular series, because the first one was so cliched, the critic's review printed on the cover of the fist edition of the first book, described Eragon as being "LOTR for a new generation"

      • pink polka
        April 17 ↑
        Reply
        it was popular because it was so cliche?

        • Pyro Fish
          April 23 ↑
          Reply
          Eragon was similar to LOTR, and fans of LOTR liked reading a story similar to a story that they'd already read
          this is why Danielle Steele makes so much money, all her books are pretty much identical except for the characters' names
          also the characters "Rachel Morgan" (written by Kim Harrison) and "Anita Blake" (written by Laurell K Hamilton) are pretty much identical to "Buffy the vampire slayer" (created by Joss Whedon)
          (please forgive me if i misspelled anything)

  • Lawrie
    April 23 ↑
    Reply
    There are only so many ways a good/bad guy can be described.
    There are only so many ways a bad guy can be killed off.
    There are only so many ways a good guy can beat the bad guy.
    There are only so many ways any given character can be described.
    Dumb blonde can be changed to dumb redhead/brunette etc etc then after a while the 'dumb brunette' is a cliche.
    Everything is cliche nowadays, so what's the big deal?
    If a reader/writer is worried about a cliche, then the story can't be all that interesting.
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