tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post2181263925925513993..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Writing Danger: Don’t Create a ClichéGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-15932074636292312072012-12-03T06:27:52.053-08:002012-12-03T06:27:52.053-08:00That's a good example. It's one of those c...That's a good example. It's one of those clichés that was wonderful when it was original, but then became a little <i>too</i> popular and lost its meaning.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-90280729318518640562012-12-02T08:37:37.535-08:002012-12-02T08:37:37.535-08:00I see the phrase "painted skies" a lot, ...I see the phrase "painted skies" a lot, in my writing and in others. It's a beautiful way to describe the weather, and thus, the setting, but it's overused.ArkAngelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-22884683354714803962012-11-02T05:33:43.961-07:002012-11-02T05:33:43.961-07:00Knowing what clichés you have trouble with in adva...Knowing what clichés you have trouble with in advance certainly makes destroying them later on much easier. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-48604446214361141272012-10-27T05:43:10.709-07:002012-10-27T05:43:10.709-07:00Very good. I mysel have several clichés. As I al...Very good. I mysel have several clichés. As I already know they exist, after I finish writing a text, I start a search for them.foscolonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-84233873522221306282012-10-03T01:42:18.431-07:002012-10-03T01:42:18.431-07:00I really like the way you worded the all of this a...I really like the way you worded the all of this and specifically your statement "you want to tell a story with invisible words."<br />Yes, I have this problem in a big way. Here it is, the word that I absolutely want to put in every other sentence: and.<br />Now I know this is a necessary, basic and important word. The problem is, I tend to write "and" into my fiest draft the same way I breathe air. It is just rediculous. <br />The good news is that I have become aware of this so now I specifically search for the million of them in my work and rework the piece. I also only noticed this about my writing recently and I am noticing I am naturally using it less the first time around now :)<br />Thanks for the great post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10656368340547599511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-68883666045918996392012-10-02T19:09:20.997-07:002012-10-02T19:09:20.997-07:00Thank you so much, Grace! ^_^ Thank you so much, Grace! ^_^ Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-42210810730816884012012-10-02T12:00:42.659-07:002012-10-02T12:00:42.659-07:00I love em dashes--and ellipses, too... :-P
On a d...I love em dashes--and ellipses, too... :-P<br /><br />On a different note, I love your statement about "tell a story with invisible words." That line right there is a great example of beautiful writing that makes its point and moves the process along, but also makes you stop and go "wow, what gorgeous writing." :)Grace Robinsonhttp://twitter.com/StorytellerGRLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-19375376179040969582012-09-29T09:20:08.573-07:002012-09-29T09:20:08.573-07:00As you said, they can be difficult to find in your...As you said, they can be difficult to find in your own writing--our brains tends to skip over those silly repetitions because they're natural to us (which is why we wrote them there in the first place). CPs definitely help. <br /><br /><br />I haven't read <i>Partials</i>, but that's an interesting observation. As you can see, it's not just the unpublished writers that suffer from overusing terms--they can slip into published works as well.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-10239700405359371082012-09-29T06:50:13.883-07:002012-09-29T06:50:13.883-07:00They're so hard to find in my own writing--tha...They're so hard to find in my own writing--thank goodness for my CPs! My characters tend to groan when they're annoyed, which I've been fixing.<br /><br />Like you pointed out in the post, it becomes a problem as soon as the cliche pulls you out of the story. I just finished reading 'Partials' last night, and every character used the same word to insult people with. Hearing someone called a 'blowhard' the first time made me chuckle, but after the fifth separate character used the same insult, I just wanted to throw the book against the wall. It seemed careless.Angela Andersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-80756970228933568472012-09-29T06:17:11.039-07:002012-09-29T06:17:11.039-07:00Agreed! Critique partners are fantastic for noting...Agreed! Critique partners are fantastic for noting those kind of issues. Great point, Ken. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-34894664729062657192012-09-29T06:16:25.530-07:002012-09-29T06:16:25.530-07:00Yes! Precisely that. Yes! Precisely that. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-86003432887919044442012-09-29T06:15:52.759-07:002012-09-29T06:15:52.759-07:00We often don't even realize that we've ove...We often don't even realize that we've overused certain phrases until a third party points it out to us. I have a feeling you're not the only one who has overused that phrase.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-43337874918328013672012-09-29T06:15:04.660-07:002012-09-29T06:15:04.660-07:00I'm not sure whether I find that image terrify...I'm not sure whether I find that image terrifying, or somewhat adorable.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-74104721092198509822012-09-29T06:13:11.805-07:002012-09-29T06:13:11.805-07:00Interesting point, Susan! I hadn't thought of ...Interesting point, Susan! I hadn't thought of using crutch words in that way, but I can definitely understand how they could become red flags in your work.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-30485968144691506552012-09-29T05:43:21.281-07:002012-09-29T05:43:21.281-07:00Cliches can be hard to spot on your own. That'...Cliches can be hard to spot on your own. That's why it's good to have a critique partner.Ken Rahmoellernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-7123962506577029782012-09-29T05:41:18.568-07:002012-09-29T05:41:18.568-07:00Cliches are hard to find and remove on your own. ...Cliches are hard to find and remove on your own. That's where my critique partner comes in handy.Ken Rahmoellernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-52207323335908781342012-09-29T05:39:00.895-07:002012-09-29T05:39:00.895-07:00Which is why editing is so important. :)Which is why editing is so important. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-25531104946685186082012-09-29T05:38:21.049-07:002012-09-29T05:38:21.049-07:00Yes! Although I have other uses for it as well, wh...Yes! Although I have other uses for it as well, which is why I tend to go a little crazy with the em dashes. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-23682246396315753052012-09-29T05:36:53.534-07:002012-09-29T05:36:53.534-07:00Well then! It looks like abusing em dashes and oth...Well then! It looks like abusing em dashes and other forms of punctuation is even more common than I originally suspected. <br /><br /><br />Also, compiling a list of those overused words, phrases, etc. is a fantastic idea, Christina. I imagine that would help tremendously during revision.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-33557722883164640002012-09-28T19:29:28.632-07:002012-09-28T19:29:28.632-07:00As the saying goes, "Avoid cliches like the p...As the saying goes, "Avoid cliches like the plague."Peter Reynardhttp://writebywriting.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-70241811350858598632012-09-28T17:10:50.995-07:002012-09-28T17:10:50.995-07:00Likewise. I have toned down on it a bit in my curr...Likewise. I have toned down on it a bit in my current WiP and it has made all the difference.Khaihttp://twitter.com/virtuefictionnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-2305757369392510402012-09-28T16:35:33.773-07:002012-09-28T16:35:33.773-07:00'...kissed her passionately...' is a phras...'...kissed her passionately...' is a phrase which springs to mind. it caused arguments with my co-author until a search proved how often it occured.John Chapmanhttp://twitter.com/JChapmanAuthornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-91764287329547789972012-09-28T13:20:05.956-07:002012-09-28T13:20:05.956-07:00Glad I'm not the only one who favors ellipses ...Glad I'm not the only one who favors ellipses and em dashes. As I write I'm compiling a list of words, phrases, punctuation, and other issues to go over during the final edit. Ellipses and em dashes are on it. Great post!Christina Jean Michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-69638162884924066002012-09-28T09:00:53.088-07:002012-09-28T09:00:53.088-07:00I use em dashes to denote people being interrupted...I use em dashes to denote people being interrupted a lot. Daniel Swensenhttp://www.surlymuse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-42693435132771446062012-09-28T09:00:30.373-07:002012-09-28T09:00:30.373-07:00All my characters are menaced by the possibility o...All my characters are menaced by the possibility of being gummed to death by baby minks.Daniel Swensenhttp://www.surlymuse.comnoreply@blogger.com