During my first self-editing round with Bryony, scarcely having gotten my feet wet with the process (wink), I was surprised to learn how easily cliches creep into writing, and how certain patterns of speech so quickly spring to mind (wink again), and, perhaps most importantly, how I did not first recognize them as cliches.
While an occasional cliche is perfectly acceptable for the first and crudest of drafts, it's important to recognize and eliminate those pesky phrases, charecterizations, and plot lines on subsequent passes. If any combination of words, characters, or story developments easily flow onto the computer screen, you're probably dealing with a group of overworked and overused words and/or scenarios. Crisp writing that smacks of originality is hard work.
Below are a few cliche-identifying sites. The first, in alphabetized format, provides a checklist of 681 (yes, 681) popular cliches. Chances are, you'll find at least one of them in your writing.
The second site, intended for gamers, but helpful for writers, too, generates samples of cliched storylines, a good self-checker before venturing too far into a story. The third provides examples of various cliches, along with a "search and destroy" tactic.
The last link is Tood Rundgren's Cliche, included for motivation and listening fun, while you check out the links.
www.be-a-better-writer.com/cliches.html
http://chaoticshiny.com/clichegen.php?amount=10
http://writeitsideways.com/how-cliched-is-your-writing-take-the-test/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6uAPcFJZr8
While an occasional cliche is perfectly acceptable for the first and crudest of drafts, it's important to recognize and eliminate those pesky phrases, charecterizations, and plot lines on subsequent passes. If any combination of words, characters, or story developments easily flow onto the computer screen, you're probably dealing with a group of overworked and overused words and/or scenarios. Crisp writing that smacks of originality is hard work.
Below are a few cliche-identifying sites. The first, in alphabetized format, provides a checklist of 681 (yes, 681) popular cliches. Chances are, you'll find at least one of them in your writing.
The second site, intended for gamers, but helpful for writers, too, generates samples of cliched storylines, a good self-checker before venturing too far into a story. The third provides examples of various cliches, along with a "search and destroy" tactic.
The last link is Tood Rundgren's Cliche, included for motivation and listening fun, while you check out the links.
www.be-a-better-writer.com/cliches.html
http://chaoticshiny.com/clichegen.php?amount=10
http://writeitsideways.com/how-cliched-is-your-writing-take-the-test/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6uAPcFJZr8
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