| It's a cold, rainy day here in The Big Apple, but you know what, readers? I'm still here for you because that's what a beleaguered Leagure does! The topic this week? Cliches. And since I'm kicking off the discussion, I'll play a little bit of devil's advocate. I like 'em! I can see you reaching for the Post Comment button now: Why, Anton & his trout, why? Here's why: I think cliches are a great jumping off point for brainstorming. A cliche is a cliche mostly because at some point it was a great idea. It's just that now that great idea has gone beyond the ideal of a piece of fiction that it's been done to death. But it's a good place to start when brainstorming your own work. For instance: Julie Kenner's Carpe Demon series. I'd call it suburban fantasy... a what if tale of what if Buffy grew up, had a kid and became a soccer mom? It has all the hints of Buffydom (demon hunter, a Watcher type character, quick witty dialog), but it is still its own unique voice . That's the trick. Cliche can be a great way to spark an idea, but then you truly have to make it your own. Also, when you're trying to sell your book in a practical sense, a lot of editors are looking for more of the same when it comes to acquiring new books, that tried and true success especially in genre fiction. The closer something is to a cliche, with a twist perhaps, the more likely they're going to be able to get it past their editorial review board so they can purchase it. Not many editors that I know of deviate too far from the tried and true paths... it gets too risky for their comfort zone and to use a cliche- if it ain't broke, why fix it? It's not laziness on their part, but just good business sense. So embrace the cliche, I say! Just don't be cliche... that's opening a whole other can of worms. |
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I think you could have worked a few more cliches into the post, but that was solid advice. I feel smarter for having read it.
You know, I could have spent the day cliche-ing that bitch out, but honestly I spent so much time on page proofing book one and writing the finale of book two while doing notes on two short stories, that I really had to get back to my day job. A rolling stone gathers no moss! When it rains, it pours!
I submitted an entry into a DejaVu contest that was specifically asking for cliches dealing with werewolves this year. :) I like the twists on stories when you don't always expect things to turn out what initially appears to be true.
I always felt cliches were a great place to start, then make it more.
Hi Anton,
I have to laugh, I am not even sure at this point how I got here, just that I am here, and I agree with you on two things,yes it is a dreay day here in New York, it has rained most of the night, gray most of the day, and more rain is expected through the night. I also agree with the idea of cliche's.I think they can fancy up a story or a character. Some people do fancy well and even though some people might think cliche' is naive, given the open nature we are living in today, there is always a little to be held back, or a slight reservation, that keeps us hanging on, wanting to know just a little bit more, about where that character is really going. There are so many fascinating things about people in general, so when the opportunity comes along for a writer to create a story line, that is belivable then a cliche' can convince the reader, hey this person is just like me, not too smart, but smart enough to think out loud.
I think this is probably a case of learning the rules so you know how to break them. Cliches can be crutches for lazy writers or they can be tools for clever ones.
Awesome point, Jaye!
Jaye- dammit, I knew I wuz lazeee!