Clichés: Cheap Tricks and How to Kill Them

Part 1: Why Writers Should Avoid Using Clichés (Even Though It’s Easier Said Than Done)

Blurb: The thing about clichés is they don’t leave bruises. They’re safe, polite, disposable … and that’s why they’re poison for writers. In this first post, I pull the plug on why clichés are lazy shortcuts that sand down your voice until it’s as smooth and forgettable as elevator music.

Read Part 1 →

 

Part 2: 10 Clichés That Need to Die Already

Blurb: Let’s get specific. In round two, I drag the worst offenders into the spotlight: from “at the end of the day” to “it is what it is.” Spoiler: they don’t survive the encounter.

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Part 3: Clichés—Sometimes the Joke’s on Them

Blurb: Plot twist: sometimes clichés work. Not often. Not without restraint. But when you twist them for humor, when you use them to make a character sound human, or when you let one land with a wink, they can actually earn their keep. This finale is about knowing when to break my own rules.

Read Part 3 →