Cliches

This is usually a popular thread on horror writers forums, so why don't have it here? What are the storyline, theme, or other cliches in whatever genre of writing that drive you up the wall?

For me, and remember I read almost exclusively horror and dark fantasy fiction, the one that drives me crazier then all the rest is last minute divine intervention. The story is going along; people are dying and suffering all over the place, and the evil forces are running rampant, then at the very end divinity steps in and saves the hero and guides his/her hand towards victory. I mean really, where was this divinity with all these glories powers at the start of the trouble? It's just sloppy writing and an heavy handed way to force a happy ending.

Second to the this, are the local librarian types who have a bookcases or two full of 'occult' books of such amazing quality that if they were really on the market, or indeed real, Amazon.com would crash from people flooding their server within an hour. Seriously, where do I get these books, because I've looked?

Third and in the same vein as the second, witches, warlocks, and Satanists who kill babies or animals as part of their rituals. I mean it is one thing if these characters are in a fantasy setting, but when they are suppose to be 'real life' examples it smacks of ignorance and lack of research.

Finally, and this is a fairly recently born cliche, but strong female characters who buck all social restricts place on their gender and just happen to be living in the 1700s. Now, I'm sure there were women back in the day who didn't live the 'traditional' woman's life, but come on does every historical based fiction have to have one of them and why do they all dress like men/modern day women?

My pet peeve is most in the area of poetry; most people who write poetry stick to love poems, they are so popular that it seems they have all been done. I would like to see some poetry that is different from all the rest; a different format, a different perspective on what love is or means to the writer. Just be different instead of falling into the category of normal.

A cliche in horror:

Dumb teenagers who don't come up with good plans also a cliche because it seems like everyone likes to write about teenagers who don't know what they are doing.

Sexy vampires, enough of the sexy vampiers it's becoming a cliche because everyone does it now.

Some others:

Boy who finds out he is a wizard

Boy wizards in general

Person who lives poor life finds out he is royal blood

Quest tired of quest or journeys

Person who lives in farm life and finds out he is a chosen one

No more chosen ones

[I have more, but I can go on forever....I don't even think half of what I listed was a cliche]

Leaka - SEXY VAMPIRES? Dracula was a sexy vampire. I agree that there is nothing new in a sexy vampire, but there is nothing new in a sexy teenager either. I would rather read about a well presented sexually alluring vampire than some strutting rooster walking into a classroom. I agree that they have lost the drama and charm of the old gothic vampires. I just don't like the modern presentation of vampires. I don't consider them cliche, only bad.

I am tired of knowing the ending from the first chapter. Modern books are too predictable. It is not cliche, just outline writing where the author -- excuse me, WRITER, they really are not authoring -- knows what is going to happen and telegraphs it from page one.

I am tired of have so few characters that I can guess who did it by simply reviewing who COULD have done it. This is why I stopped watching television. I could often guess who did it by watching the opening credits list the guest stars, and definitely pick it just by how they were introduced.

I am tired of characters whining about "I don't know how to do it" when they haven't done anything to KNOW how to do it (Harry Potter basically had to be TOLD how and when to do the things he did).

I would like to see creativity and initiative return to main characters. Oh, on this same topic - TIME PASSES WITH NOTHING BEING DONE. This really drives me up the wall (Harry Potter again a good example). As a teacher, this does not bother me so much, as I can FLUNK those lazy whining creatures (Harry Potter would not have passed my class).

TerishD wrote:

Leaka - SEXY VAMPIRES? Dracula was a sexy vampire. I agree that there is nothing new in a sexy vampire, but there is nothing new in a sexy teenager either. I would rather read about a well presented sexually alluring vampire than some strutting rooster walking into a classroom. I agree that they have lost the drama and charm of the old gothic vampires. I just don't like the modern presentation of vampires. I don't consider them cliche, only bad.

I consider them cliche.
Can't we have a disgusting vampire for once.

Quote :

TIME PASSES WITH NOTHING BEING DONE. This really drives me up the wall (Harry Potter again a good example). As a teacher, this does not bother me so much, as I can FLUNK those lazy whining creatures (Harry Potter would not have passed my class).

What do you mean about time passing with nothing being done? Can you give me an example from the Harry Potter books because I don't really understand.

I actually enjoyed the Potter books!

Well, for a LARGE example, the one with the little contest. Harry does not work to figure any of the clues out. He comes up against each contest basically with no preparation. It happens in all the other books as well. I understand that Rowlings is trying to stretch the story over a school year, but it does leave a lot of unproductive time.

TerishD wrote:

Well, for a LARGE example, the one with the little contest. Harry does not work to figure any of the clues out. He comes up against each contest basically with no preparation. It happens in all the other books as well. I understand that Rowlings is trying to stretch the story over a school year, but it does leave a lot of unproductive time.

Um, that is the way teenagers are. I had always had the impression that she was doing it on purpose about Harry never find things on his own.
All kids want answers without figuring them out themselves. And sometimes Harry figured things out with no ones help.

Shoot, I and most adults that I know want answers without having to figure them out. Rowlings is doing kids a disservice by presenting the idea that it actual happens - and can be depended upon to happen. Every now and then things will go my way, but I know to smile, relax, then get ready for the treadmill again.

Now, admittedly, picking on Rowlings is not fair. Harry Potter is not at any serious level (even though the story does get a little intense). It was just a convenient example. I read the stories. I even say good things about Book 5.

I liked the Harry Potter books, but I still sort of agree with TerishD. It kind of seemed like the message was, if it's your destiny to do something then you'll do it. It doesn't matter if you are ill-prepared. It doesn't matter if you don't want to do. Hell, it doesn't even matter if you try. What will happen will happen, because it's meant to happen... Now, there is a danger message to depart to young people.

I hate to say this Trish D.

But as it stands, saying that a book series that have received near legendary status like, Harry Potter, would not pass your class, puts you in a very poor light. In my mind that is like a math teacher telling me that Einstein would have failed their class. (I leave it open for you to explain the how the examples differ)

Not to dwell on this, Anyway back on Topic.

A few things I can not stand.

The MC gets into a fight after fight against amazing odds and walks away unhurt.

This drives me nuts. I had to stop reading Orcs because of this. After four consecutive fights where they are out manned they still have not suffered a single loss.I mean I am cool with a fight here or there where Luck was on their side and they overcame superior odds and things like that. But is supposed to be Luck, not the norm.

Also. I love magic, I love fantasy, I live for Sci-Fi and all that, but the inclusion of Magic and High Tech does not allow for the removal of real world mechanics. Sorry! I just can not stand when an author thinks that because they have "Magic" that is an excuse to suspend the reality of life in general.

Those are my rants.

Hey, legendary status INVITES ridicule. Truthfully, it is kid lit, so is an easy target for ridicule. You just cannot honestly hold kid lit up to the standard for a mature audience. I thus should be slapped for picking on an easy target (and I consider myself slapped).

But, I did read them. I read ALL seven of them. Trust me, if I did not like them, I would not have kept reading them. Some students have let me know that the third Eragon book is out. I let them know that I still had mental scars from reading the second book, and would not touch the third.

I got another one, the social outcast that is murdered or put to death by the people of their town and they come back from the grave and kill everyone and anyone, but those who murdered them.

HYdraMStar wrote:

I got another one, the social outcast that is murdered or put to death by the people of their town and they come back from the grave and kill everyone and anyone, but those who murdered them.

crap... there went the novel I was working on.

Some of these I read and said "YES!" and some I read and said "oops". Even though I am one of the worst people about getting bothered by cliches, I usually finish any book I start. And if the cliches are found in moderation, I don't really mind them so much. I do believe a character should work hard to achieve their goals, rather than just achieving them, and I totally believe that if there's a battle where winning is against the odds, lives should be lost and the living should be injured.
I respectfully dissagree with TerishD's statement against time passing with nothing happening - it isn't like the characters just sat around for three days, it simply means nothing substantial happened, and the writer doesn't usually want to write about unsubstantial happenings, and the reader doesn't usually want to read about them. That's how life is, things aren't constantly exciting.
Anyway, I think this is a good thread, and the cliches named are good ones to watch out for . . .