Why the aversion to "cliche" things?

Question

Not that I like reading books where cliches come in like a hurricane, of course. I just don't understand why the aspiring authors on this board are always asking what thing is less cliche, as if that's going to make their book the next Harry Potter. They have this thing where they have to avoid cliches like the plague, where really it's the story that's important. Most story tropes are older than dirt- Shakespeare did everything first, after all. So where'd the idea pop into these kid's heads that they need to write a story without any cliches and then suddenly they will have written the greatest book of all time? My personal favorite story of all time is Hamlet, otherwise known as "that story Shakespeare basically plagerized, number 45", but it's still alive and kicking hundreds of years later. This is because Shakespeare's, well, Shakespeare, and even though this story's been done before he did it far better than anyone else did. So, I guess the point of this is: weird B&A children, embrace the cliches. Remember that there's nothing new under the sun.

I mean don't go overboard like I just did but don't be afraid to include, say, an elf when that's a total fantasy cliche. Or elemental powers. Or more basic cliches, like "being set on Earth and populated by characters who are humanoid in thought and in form".

Katrina E. · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure what you think clichés are.  It's not a that a specific idea or word is cliché - it's more how it is used.

Clichés are bad because they rob us of detail.  They're oversimplification that lack any depth of meaning.  They're convent and predictable.  That makes them uninteresting.

But it's not like we can or should eliminate all clichés in writing - they exist in real life so they will exist in our writing.  And sometimes a writer doesn't want to be interesting.  But as a writer you should be aware that something is a cliché and make a conscious choice to keep it because it serves a purpose in your writing.  The problem is that some writers can't recognize how full of clichés their writing is.

? · Answer

I've seen entirely the opposite!

I've seen writers who choose nothing but clichés in the hope that they'll make something worth selling, because they believe that's what the public want to read. I don't mean just one little idea that has been done before, but their whole idea has been done a thousand times over in books both published & unpublished (except for on Wattpad).

I've just asked a question on clichés myself ... it'll be good to see your input!
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BabyDragon · Answer

Most people like to avoid them because they don't want their books to remind you of another because of similarities. I believe that most people try to avoid clichés because the more original the book, the more they think people will be interested. I don't think clichés are bad as long as they don't spoil the plot or make it predictable.

Steph · Answer

Mostly because clichés are boring. We've seen them before, and we want something fresh and original. Of course it isn't always possible, but a writer should TRY to be as original as possible, in my opinion.

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Why the aversion to "cliche" things?

4 Answers