Are cliches really bad? - Writers Forum

Cyber Kitten · 10-27-2005, 04:59 PM

I'm just wondering, because the main character of my story is probably the most overused stereotype in alien fiction: a paranoid, dillusional loner with a stockpile of illegal weapons in his/her basement.

Of course, I'll add alot of details to give my character some depth, but the whole idea in general is pretty much overdone.

I'm just wondering if using a cliche like this will necessarily bring down my writing...

Edit: Another thing... How can I think of a good name for a fictional city?

SeattleGhostWriter · 10-27-2005, 05:42 PM

Not sure about the charactor stereotype. As for the naming of a city, look around, play around with words, names, etc.

How I came up with my character Camus Chandler, was simple. But one of his vices are smoking cigarettes and I fretted on using a namebrand or no brand cigarette until it hit me while playing an online rpg game that I would have him smoke Paladinos. Paladin with an o. So, now I don't have to fret over this particular issue.

valeca · 10-27-2005, 05:59 PM

www.seventhsanctum.com

Find names for cities, people, monsters, pets, weapons, ships...just about anything. Mucho generators.

Enjoy.

10-27-2005, 06:57 PM

slayerofangels · 10-28-2005, 03:10 AM

Cliches can be fairly bad, but they can also be pretty rewarding if you go out of your way to throw the cliched character into funny situations to dispel the whole "bad cliche" image.

Anarkos · 10-28-2005, 05:06 AM

Cliches should be avoided, unless used intentionally for effect. Well-used, they can be comical and highly satirical.

Name generators, like plot generators, are missing the point entirely.

slayerofangels · 10-28-2005, 05:41 AM

Yeah. It works better if you came up with the names yourself, as then you have a firm idea what the city/people/places are supposed to be like.

Mike C · 10-30-2005, 11:59 AM

Avoid cliches like the plague.

slayerofangels · 10-30-2005, 12:25 PM

Which one?

Nihilistic Dream · 10-30-2005, 02:11 PM

I would avoid the bubonic one, the other two just kill you but with the bubonic plague you have 70% of dying and you also get butt ugly of the pocks.

Anyway. it depends the cliche. Some are way wors then others.
"The main character not knowing his past" cliche usualy makes me turn away form the story as if it is poison.
Some are good i guess, science has proven that people (mostly stupid people) respond well to clichés in movies, commercials and even books. The best exsample is James Bond. its sad but true.

But its more fun to make something compleetly new.
And using clichés compleetly depend on who you are writing it for.

suzakugaiden · 10-30-2005, 04:12 PM

""The main character not knowing his past" cliche usualy makes me turn away form the story as if it is poison."

Oh, I use this one

Only it's more tha he repressed the memories because they were so horrible, except not really, because he still remembers repressing them, and didn't really repress them anyway. He's just acting like it and has sort of convinced himself it's true even though he know's it's not

Anarkos · 10-30-2005, 09:16 PM

Cliches like that can work very well if subtley altered. Take Memento for example.

I think twisting cliches is often a good move.

AfterHours · 10-30-2005, 10:54 PM

Cliches make people run from your writing. Find some way to make your character an individual. Personalizing cliched behaviors removes the cliche. Nobody on the planet has motives or feelings that are exactly identical.

Dephere · 10-30-2005, 11:09 PM

Cliches can be bad or they can be good, but it takes a very talented writer not to lose his/her readers when cliches are used. Good luck with that challenge.

And as to the name generator I suggest you stick with making up your own names, that way they are just that: your own names. Creating names can also help develop a character too.

Rhea · 11-03-2005, 06:43 AM

Cliches are bad...but. It depends on how you write. If it's obvious from the start...then that's bad. But some cliches have been overdone to death, yet they can be written well. It's like romantic comedies. A lot of them rather have the basic plotline of: guy meets girl. They hate each other. They fight. In the end they fall in love. Hate-love kind of thing. But people still watch them. Or maybe that's just me.