tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post6662647889861286127..comments2024-01-15T23:06:07.457-08:00Comments on My Life Is (In) A Zoo: The Benefits of Being ClicheL. T. Hosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-26539992983546727622009-10-02T10:41:58.495-07:002009-10-02T10:41:58.495-07:00Jm- Thanks! I'm not sure it's the right th...Jm- Thanks! I'm not sure it's the right thing, but I kind of wanted to dissect why I don't think they're all bad. Or delude myself into thinking it's ok. Either way.<br /><br />Stephanie- I generally do the same. Consider this post my rebellion against the system and acceptance of a cliche here and there, though. :)<br /><br />Laura- That's another really good point, too. Agh. Writing is hard.L. T. Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-65036241607008850322009-10-01T23:27:09.785-07:002009-10-01T23:27:09.785-07:00I agree with Susan and Bane - moderation is the ke...I agree with Susan and Bane - moderation is the key. And Stephanie has a point about using them in dialogue. <br /><br />I'm aware of the cliche issue in my own writing, but sometimes, when I try too hard to tweak a cliche, it ends up being awkward and more "visible" than a simple cliche would have been. LOL!Laura Martonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17131901155051433491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-79913444281638625542009-10-01T22:16:14.827-07:002009-10-01T22:16:14.827-07:00My rule of thumb on cliches (hehehe...) is that if...My rule of thumb on cliches (hehehe...) is that if they're in spoken dialogue they're okay. That's how people talk so it flows smoother, just as you mentioned, L.T. <br /><br />But if they're not in dialogue I either tweak them or find some other way to say what I'm trying to get across.Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-78250615180781173442009-10-01T21:19:58.111-07:002009-10-01T21:19:58.111-07:00I HAD to check out the website... and yes, i inves...I HAD to check out the website... and yes, i invested a few hours in it already.. and will be back like a junkie for another hit. <br /><br />As far cliche's, I'm with you.. I use them, but make sure they are carefully placed.<br /><br />Great post!Jm Diazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02542245056831474827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-21958898681843717722009-10-01T19:43:01.800-07:002009-10-01T19:43:01.800-07:00Thanks for the correction :)Thanks for the correction :)L. T. Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-22766642022064863292009-10-01T18:51:35.439-07:002009-10-01T18:51:35.439-07:00D'oh! I always screw that up ... the actual we...D'oh! I always screw that up ... the actual website is TvTropes.org. Sorry!Matthew Delmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-79453579676825841712009-10-01T15:08:01.254-07:002009-10-01T15:08:01.254-07:00Matt- It was hard to navigate that site. Just look...Matt- It was hard to navigate that site. Just looked like a search compiler. Is there a more specific link/ area for what you're talking about?<br /><br />LW- Yay I'm not alone :)<br /><br />Bane- Absolutely. I am preaching moderation, for sure. But my main point is that inclusion of a few per MS is not going to blow anyone's head off and might even help, if used properly.L. T. Hosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12448176940211118898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-44112704677546617312009-10-01T15:02:43.424-07:002009-10-01T15:02:43.424-07:00Taking a cliche and mixing it up a bit can be a go...Taking a cliche and mixing it up a bit can be a good thing, b/c the reader will still understand the meaning, but mixing it up too much could just confuse. And I agree with Susan -- a few cliches are fine, though if there's another way to say it (without putting your head in a vise), try to do it that way.Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-64086298464996502692009-10-01T11:48:40.291-07:002009-10-01T11:48:40.291-07:00I've heard over and over again that cliches ar...I've heard over and over again that cliches are bad, bad, bad. I try to avoid them, but I see your point. I have a few phrases in my ms that my crit buddies have told me were cliche, but I'm leaving them in for similar reasons as you mention here. It's that old thought that bending the rules isn't always bad.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216358162273548069.post-35338755755118430372009-10-01T09:43:31.633-07:002009-10-01T09:43:31.633-07:00If you haven't already taken a gander at TvTro...If you haven't already taken a gander at <a href="http://www.tvtropes.com" rel="nofollow">TvTropes.com</a> you totally should. It'll kill an entire afternoon, but there's a wealth of knowledge on there about things you can reasonably expect your audience to know already when reading your book.<br /><br />Tre useful.Matthew Delmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11452378192874048547noreply@blogger.com