Storystarters: Cliches – One Minute to Better Writing
Cliche – a trite phrase, a hackneyed theme, a thing which has become overused and commonplace.
Once upon a time…
Ok knock it off, you’re not Aesop.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far…
You’re not George Lucas either.
Image via Wikipedia
So why are you dead set on opening your story with a cliche? Aesop and George barely pull it off, what makes you think you can?
The cliche comes from the French “Clicher”, to stereotype, or imitate. Sometimes imitation can be a good thing, but it’s better to be the one who is being imitated because that means you got it right.
Be original, start your story with anything but a cliche. Like bodily functions, you ever notice how no one ever seems to be sick, or has a runny nose, or is vomiting in a story? People eat as much as they want in stories and never seem to have to go to the bathroom. How about that? Or have you ever noticed that when the villain has the hero in his clutches, instead of just killing him, he becomes an orator and proceeds to boast about his master plan.
Be original. If you use something someone else has done, your piece is just one more copycat.
“The urine was warm and unpleasant as it ran down Henry’s leg, but he didn’t dare move lest the man with the machine gun see him…”
Be original. Be the one that others will copy for years to come.
Now go write something!
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August 12th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Once upon a time I started to write a story…. (lol!!!). So true – we need some original, free thinkers in the world of literature. Good work!
August 12th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Solid advice. I am coming to really apopreciate this series of articles, well done.
August 12th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Nice work and so true. I have a book that says a writer should avoid cliches like the plague. lol
Sometimes though it does add something to it.
One gripe; Aesop never started anything with ‘Once upon a time’
August 12th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
{sic} Forgive my literary license. One usually never sees the fables written, only spoken, and if written, written as if spoken.
It’s tradition used eved today, educators have been taught to begin the reading of Aesop with the OUAT. The Kennedy Center in providing lesson plans on the Fables to teachers also recommend it.
October 1st, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Not all writers are skilled at taking something old and making something entertaining out of it, When themes from a fairy tale are used to create idiotic melodrama for kids, I find it revolting. The creators of Shrek almost got it right, but by the third rehashing the anachronisms and innuendos were getting stale.