I'm rather upset. When i was in the seventh grade I came up with this frase "the memories come as if the flood gates in my mind were opened" or something to that effect. Now years later, to my dismay, I find out that I did not invent that lovely little piece of figurative language, but I just re-thought up a cliche. How disappointing is that!
Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :
Eh. It happens. Doesn't make you a bad person, or even a bad writer. Posted by dpatridge (Member # 2208) on :
there are multiple theories on why such things occur.
i tend to agree with the one that cliche ideas are ingrained in us so deeply by our previous reading experience that we end up doomed to repeat them. unless we strive to recognize them, and then to add little quirks to them, which, individual, either one would be cliche, but built up together forms a new, unique form.
Posted by yanos (Member # 1831) on :
There's nothing wrong with a good cliche. It's when your whole story is based on one you need to worry.
Posted by Shendülféa (Member # 2408) on :
Whenever I've come to a part in my story where I seemed forced to use a cliché, I try to change it so that it's not even recognizable as a cliché anymore. I usually fail at this. It's like trying to reinvent the wheel (Hey! A cliché!). What I end up doing is rewriting the scene in order to avoid the cliché.
Posted by Blue_Rabbit (Member # 2634) on :
In my novel, I have several original characters with personalities, dillemas etc etc. However, the beta-readers seem to like most one of the less important bad guys, a cross of Al Capone and Vampire Lestat. He's so wholeheartedly cliche, the type "look, I am a bad guy and I love my job". And the readers love him. Honestly.
I like playing cliches. If well-thought, it can be fun.
[This message has been edited by Blue_Rabbit (edited June 08, 2005).]
