Writing Down the Bones: Let's Talk About Cliches

Well I knew one day it would happen. A couple of weeks ago my excel program that I have my interviews lined up on crashed and I thought I got it right but somehow I ended up with no one to interview today so I'm posting one of my Writing Down the Bones. Hope you enjoy.

We’ve all used them. I know I have, not on purpose mind you, but they creep into my manuscript from time to time.

You know, phrases like ‘crazy as a loon’ and of course the new one everybody loves ‘bless her heart.’ Personally I like the real meaning behind it.

Most publishers don’t want them. You’ll find editors taking them out of your work.

So what is a cliché? Any phrase that has been overused.

I always think of the phrases my grandmother used to use when I was a kid. ‘The acorn doesn’t fall too far from the tree’ or ‘if wishes were fishes we’d all have a fry.’ You see them in writing all the time. Well, maybe not these but you get my drift...

There are so many I thought it might be easier to post the sites that list them.

http://clichesite.com/alpha_list.asp?which=lett+1

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/27/worst-cliches_n_3819046.html

http://clicheweb.cambiaresearch.com/clicheweb/classiccliches/cliche_list.html

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-cliches.html

http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/cliches.html

I hope these help you figure out what to use and what not to use..