The Truth About Clichés | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

The Truth About Clichés

A discussion on what can be done with clichés in writing.

91
The Truth About Clichés
Tom Newby / Flickr

It is well-known by anyone who has ever listened to music, read a book or watched a movie that clichés are abundant. You can't pick up a romance novel without finding the same plot, the same characters, and the same basic everything. You can't watch a superhero movie without seeing the same predictable action sequences. You can't even listen to music without finding the same overused chords, the same overused themes, the same overused words for rhyme. Clichés are everywhere. They cannot be escaped. This can be extremely hard on the writers who want to come up with something fresh and new, something that will appeal to society, that looks at life with a new perspective.

Well, I'm going to be honest with you. It is impossible to come up with something new. In writing, there are only so many plots to pick from, so many characters to choose from and you cannot come up with something new that will not border on cliché. And even if you try to escape clichés altogether, you run into a different cliché. There is no real way to get around this.

However, let me put a different spin on this whole cliché thing. What if it's not the cliché that is the problem, but how we use the cliché? Clichés are in the world of literature and film and art for a reason. They are here because people figured out that there really isn't anything new out there, and so they overused these and turned them into clichés. As a writer, you have a limited amount of things you can choose from for coming up with your next great novel. Instead of shooting down each idea because it's overused and cliché, look at it, and see how you can do it better than all the rest. Write something good, so good that it doesn't feel cliché.

The truth about clichés is that it's not about the cliché but how you use them. If you can write a good romance novel, people will ignore the fact that it's cliché because it doesn't sound or feel cliché. I'm still learning these things myself, and I probably haven't figured out precisely how to master the art of writing non-cliché clichés. But I know that it is possible, and I know that with practice, the greatest writers to come will have figured it out too.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

196149
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18419
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460531
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28132
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments