Today I would like to discuss the use of clichés.
No! Wait! Don’t run off yet. Clichés can be good when used properly. If you don’t believe me would you believe Terry Pratchett? He once said, “The reason that clichés become clichés is that they are the hammers and screwdrivers of the communication toolbox.” I prefer to think of them as the culinary equivalent to salt and pepper. Too much of one or the other can ruin your creation, but can be heavenly when used in the right proportions.
Storytelling throughout the ages has remained relatively unchanged. Whether you begin your story with “Once upon a time...” or “In a galaxy far far away…” there are no new concepts, that is why we use clichés or follow formulas. Formulas aren’t bad. The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell tells you the basic formula for writing that can be found in any of this summer’s blockbuster movies or in ancient texts written on papyrus. You learn the basics by using formulas and then get creative as you get more experience.
Clichés have been used by storytellers since the beginning of time to entertain and convey ideas to each new generation. They are simple to use (or overuse) and easily recognized. Some cliché characters are the wicked queen or evil stepmother, the scrappy young hero, the wise old mentor and the one girl born in a generation to fight evil. You get the idea.
Famous television shows and movies revel in clichés. The movie Scream was a hit that spawned numerous sequels because it lampooned horror movie clichés while it at the same time embraced them. Ever hear of Joss Whendon or Stan Lee? Nuff said.
There is a down side to clichés. It can be easy to overuse them or just plain write them poorly. Instead of being clever and funny your story becomes a tired joke. For every Scream there is a Van Helsing. Don’t get me wrong, Hugh Jackman is completely hot in this movie but it doesn’t make up for the fact that this movie had so many vampire/monster movie clichés that it has spawned its own set of rules. One of the clichés in the movie is that high heels and corsets are appropriate vampire hunting clothes. If I have to do acrobatic leaps and jumps I’ll take some loose sweats and comfy workout shoes thank you very much.
What makes the difference between good clichés and bad? Well that is subjective. For every person who thinks a cliché is new and awesome there is someone else who feels it’s trite and overdone. You can’t please everyone.
The best thing I can recommend is hop out on the web and research clichés for yourself. By learning about which clichés work and which don’t you will be able to recognize them in your writing.
Love & Luck,
Stephanie Dawn Callahan
