Are Clichés Bad for Writers?
It depends. Clichés can be detrimental when poorly used, much like a saw in carpentry. However, they can also serve writers well when wielded effectively. Clichés, like many natural occurrences, aren’t inherently good or bad; their value depends on how they’re employed. Writing skill and intent are the key determinants.
Welcome back, Neophyte. I hope you enjoyed the weekend. I certainly did. Today, we’re delving into an important topic that is often dismissed but deserves serious consideration: clichés.
Are you chuckling? I am not, but don’t worry; I’ll let you know when something’s meant to be funny. Right now, let’s focus on the subject at hand. We’ll begin with the definition of cliché, which essentially means “something that has been overused.” I’m not here to challenge the dictionary’s definition, but I’m here to contest the negative connotation that has become attached to clichés. In our world, some things are absolutes, like life and death, but many concepts we use daily derive their meaning from us. These meanings can take on emergent properties when a large group of people unintentionally agrees on something, resulting in the spread of a sort of “mind virus.” So, let’s break it down, shall we, Neophyte?
Why is the “overused” part considered bad? After all, for something to become overused, it must have served a purpose. It has to be good in some way, shape, or form. In the context of writing, this translates into readership, loyalty, and financial success. If something accomplishes these three aspects, it will be used repeatedly until its money-making potential is exhausted due to reader fatigue. It’s crucial not to confuse clichés with trends; these are distinct phenomena.
What’s that you’re mumbling about, creative vision? Oh, Neophyte, please don’t be so naive. I care about creative vision, originality, good stories, and well-crafted characters. However, the reality is that most of the world doesn’t share these concerns. Middlemen are often more preoccupied with their bottom line. Your readers need to place their trust in your vision, and as I’ve mentioned before, you must be worthy of that trust. Overusing clichés is a surefire way to erode that trust.
While I may not be entirely forthright here, the more accurate phrasing should be “misused” or “used poorly.” You see, clichés originate from the way we assemble patterns. They are, in essence, building blocks. This means, dear Neophyte, that it falls upon us to handle them correctly. Don’t fret or fiddle; there are many delicate components inside a computer. But take solace in the fact that it’s up to us because the things beyond your control, Neophyte, and mine are, quite literally, infinite.
Allow me to illustrate with an example from another medium: music. Between notes and octaves, there are approximately 84 notes to compose a song with (at least in Western music). In its purest essence, this implies that all songs are essentially variations of each other. But a song isn’t solely defined by its notes; it’s the instruments used, the lyrics, the songwriter, the performer, the number of musicians, and the musical tradition from which they hail.
So, where am I going with this discourse, Neophyte? Simply put, a cliché is only a bad cliché if you handle it poorly, if it becomes glaringly noticeable, or if it feels painfully predictable. It’s when a cliché is overused and ineptly executed to the point where its predictability becomes painfully obvious. That’s when a cliché is truly bad, akin to a splinter in the bottom cheek that ruins the magic of the circle upon which people are sitting.
And it’s incredibly easy to fall into clichés. From a writer’s perspective, they offer safety and comfort, and for the middlemen, situated between the reader and your product, who prioritize financial returns they are like insurance for success. Depending on your path Neophyte, is up to you whether to trust them or not.
To reiterate and clarify, clichés aren’t inherently bad. I know this because I personally enjoy reading straightforward, uncomplicated stories, those that are define as “trashy”. They provide a welcome respite, allowing the brain to unwind from its constant hamster-wheel motion. However, these stories don’t pretend to be anything more than that. If they tried to be serious, their clichés would give away the plot, the setting, and the characters, resulting in minimal readership.
Clichés are potent tools when employed effectively. They’ve gained a negative reputation because they’ve often been used poorly. People tend to notice the bad examples, and negativity spreads more easily than positivity.
So, are clichés bad for writers? Only if one is so inept that they can’t help but misuse them, only if they do a shoddy job. Everything else, Neophyte, is beyond your control.
Until next time.
