Blab On Clichés

Since I’m new to the writing world, I’ve been doing a lot of research on grammar (which is not my strength), style (which I’m still discovering) and writers’ do’s and don’ts (which I mostly don’t). Even though my weaknesses are many, I still have that life-long desire to write.

However, besides grammar and punctuation, I think the most trouble I’m having is with clichés. Writers are told to not use clichés because it’s a “lazy” way to write. This is easier said than done (oops). Some clichés are so burned into our brains that they flow out of our fingers like water coming out of a turned-on faucet. Even so, I will try to use original ways to tell my stories.

I do sometimes think, though, that not using clichés is like disrespecting the clever things that someone at some time said. Others thought it was so good that they kept repeating and repeating and repeating it until it became familiar to everyone. It created a common bond of understanding.

But, alas, because I don’t want to be looked at as an uncreative writer, I’ll batten down my hatches and prepare for the rough ride of straining my brain to come up with different ways to say the same thing. Who knows, maybe some of my original phrases will catch on and I’ll become a cliché someday.