9 Ways to Avoid Clichés in Your Writing

“Behind the eight ball.”

“Calm before the storm.”

“Long arm of the law.”

Sound familiar? How about these…

all walks of life	give the devil his due	never a dull moment
all bets are off	hook, line, and sinker	nipped in the bud
bitter end	by hook or crook	patience of Job
call off the dogs	in the nick of time	paying the piper
checkered career	in the same boat	sands of time
chomping at the bit	leaps and bounds	selling like hot cakes
cool as a cucumber	leave no stone unturned	stick out like a sore thumb
cry over spilled milk	lock, stock, and barrel	whirlwind tour
fall on deaf ears	above board	winds of change
from time immemorial	march of history	writing on the wall

Clichés are metaphors that have become trite and tired through overuse. They are the writers worst enemy, and readers usually don’t like clichés much either. Writers from Jonathan Swift to George Orwell have ranted against the cliché like it was the Devil tempting an innocent seminary student. When these appear in copy, editors usually reach for a blue or red pen and ask the writer to come up with something better (1).

Clichés are lazy. They’re stereotypes. They stand in for feeling and sense, rather than evoking it. They’re supposed to trigger a Pavlovian response in the reader, make them feel something, because of their familiarity. But in fact the only thing they evoke is the mental flicker of awareness that they’ve gone by; they do not evoke a moment in the reader wherein the reader is taken all the way into the story, and feels the experience of the story as an experience. Clichés prevent that from happening. They stifle genuine emotion, and paper over real feelings by saying something simplistic and ultimately phony.

Once you’ve spotted a cliché in your writing, you need to rephrase your sentence. Here are some tips and strategies to help you do this.

9 ways to Avoid Clichés

1.  Search before you write. Before you start writing your story or plot, search for everything that is related to the theme of your game. Include original ideas and avoid things that are unreal, for example, if you’re human, in no way should you be expected to understand another race. If you’re unsure about something in your story, more searches always helps. Remember not to fall into a cliché. Create new ideas and search for proof that it is original and not cliché.

2. Freshen up.The majority of clichés in writing arise because of the bad or lazy use of modifiers. You can avoid many clichés simply by freshening up the modifiers, the adjectives, etc. It really can be just that simple.For example: don’t tell me about “dark shadows.” Use a fresher modifier. Describe to me “red shadows” or “thin shadows,” anything but “dark shadows.”

3. Think about what the cliché actually means. Think about the basic sense of the expression: what does it actually mean? You’ll probably find that some key words come to mind either as synonyms or as ‘ingredients’ of the overall meaning. Now you can:

o    use one of these key words to replace the cliché altogether
o    look them up in a thesaurus to find other alternatives

If you find it difficult to come up with the basic meaning, try looking the cliché up in a dictionary. Then you can use the words in the dictionary definition as a starting point for finding suitable synonyms in a thesaurus.

4. Decide whether you actually need the expression at all. Many clichés are just long-winded ‘fillers’, i.e. words or groups of words used just to maintain the flow of speech, or to pad out a speech or piece of writing. If you identify a clichéd expression of this sort, you can just remove it altogether. Wordy, overused phrases might increase the length of a piece of writing but they won’t improve its general quality.

5. Rewrite your sentence. Replace the clichés in your writing with more effective sentences.

For example: “The 1970s were a time when detention without trial was par for the course.” The meaning of the phrase is what is normal or what it expected.

Try rewriting the sentence as “The 1970s were a time when detention without trial was a normal occurrence.”

6. Be creative. Instead of using stock phrases and images, be creative – but beware! Using the thesaurus has many dangers, such as misusing a synonym that doesn’t quite fit the meaning you want.

7. Keep it real by taking it slow.  When I’m writing, I end up with lots of clichés popping up like weeds (yes, this is a cliché) in my writing. It’s fine, that doesn’t mean I’m a terrible writer or a bad person. They are code for bigger ideas. And that’s great! When I go through my work and spot them, they tell me a lot. They tell me the concept I was getting at. They also tell me that I was in a hurry at that point in my draft and now I need to go back and open up that idea, slow down and rewrite it, taking care to understand what my real point was beyond the easy, lazy language of the cliché.

8. Research and read. Reading will help you to learn the clichés well enough that you will be able to develop stories with fewer clichés! Learn how to avoid them by reading articles such as this one. It helps to read stories related to the theme of your story and it also helps to watch out for what you think is cliché and write it down; you will need this research later when you write your own story.

9. Write for quality, not length. There is absolutely no reason to impose arbitrary minimum (or maximum) word counts on your writing (unless demanded by an editor). For example, take blogs. I’ve read insightful blog posts that are only a few paragraphs long and others that seem to go on forever and still hold my attention. If you feel like you’ve made an important point or shared valuable information in a short amount of text, don’t ruin it by padding things out; bigger for the sake of bigger is not better. If you don’t have anything to say and find yourself spewing vile filler then ask yourself what the purpose of that piece of writing is in the first place. There are no rules – nothing has to be included in your writing . If you don’t have anything real to say then it is genuinely better not to say anything at all.

I want to make this one idea really clear: whether something is “technically” a cliché or not is not the point. The point is that you use good, strong language when you write. While you probably can’t avoid clichés altogether, remember:

• Clichés can be a barrier to communication and clear expression.
• Clichés can often be reduced to just one or two words that convey your meaning in a clearer or more original way.
• Clichés can sometimes be removed completely without the meaning of a sentence being affected.

What’s a 10th way a writer can avoid clichés?

Cliche-finder Websites

http://cliche.theinfo.org

http://www.westegg.com/cliche

http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/cliche.html

http://www.phrases.org.uk/index.html

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

References

1. Yagoda, Ben. The Sound on the Page: Style and Voice in Writing. NY: HarperCollins, 2004.

Image courtesy of Tom Newby Photography.

Wednesday Writing Prompt – Creative Nonfiction

The erasure is a poetic form created by obscuring words and phrases from an existing text and using those that remain to construct a poem. Apply the erasure to an essay. Make a copy of three or four pages of your favorite essay. Then, using a black marker or Wite-out, compose a short lyric essay by selecting certain words on the pages and erasing the rest. 

-pw.org

How To Write a Successful Query Letter

I find that queries and cover letters are the hardest things to write. First, you have to pitch your idea in a clever, unique way to hook the reader. Second, you have to show why you think you have a good idea and why you should be the one writing it. And third, you have to brag about yourself. None of this comes naturally to me, and I’m sure others struggle with it as well.

Writing a query letter, the aim is to be brief and to the point. For those of us who ramble (you know who you are), this can be a moment where we want to poke our eyes out with a pencil rather than write that letter. Not to mention as humble writers (ahem) telling someone about our skills at writing can be intimidating. You don’t want to come across as pompous, but you do have to give some kind of credentials and/or expertise for an editor to believe your query

Believe it or not, queries have value (so yes, you’re going to have to write one at some point). Editors much prefer to review a one-page letter than a 10-page manuscript, so queries spend less time in the slush pile.

They also enable an editor to determine, quickly, whether you:

• Can write effectively
• Have a coherent, well-thought-out idea that fits the publication’s content
• Have a basic grasp of grammar and spelling
• Have read the publication
• Have the credentials or expertise to write the article
• Are professional in your approach to writing

Queries save you time by ensuring that you don’t invest time and energy into writing an article that won’t be accepted. Keep in mind that articles are often rejected for reasons that have nothing to do with quality. An editor may already have a similar piece on file, or assigned, or have covered something similar in a recent issue. It’s much easier to find this out through a query, than to tailor an article for a publication and then have to rewrite it and send it somewhere else. It’s also easier to obtain interviews when you can say you have a solid assignment.

By querying first, you also give the editor a chance to provide feedback on your idea. The editor may want to suggest a particular length, or approach, or recommend experts to interview. S/he may want you to cover other aspects of your subject in sidebars. By finding out what the editor wants before you start writing, you’ll avoid having to revise the piece later.

A well-written query can also result in assignments you didn’t expect. If the editor is impressed by your style and credentials, s/he may offer you some other assignment, even if your original idea isn’t usable. This can often be the beginning of a long, rewarding relationship!

So what makes a successful query letter? Well, I’m glad you asked. A successful query letter generally includes these five basic components:

• The hook
• The pitch
• The body
• The credentials
• The close

Now, I’m sure you’re wondering what the heck each of these things are and the best way to achieve them. Lucky for you, I’m going to tell you! (doubly lucky for those of us who hate writing these letters)

The Hook

Your very first line should grab the reader’s attention, much like the hook in the beginning of a book or article. It must demonstrate that you can write effectively and understand your market.

There are several ways to approach the “hook,” including:

The problem/solution hook. This defines a problem or situation common to the publication’s audience, then proposes an article that can help solve that problem. Here’s an example:

The pet magazine market is an ideal place for newer writers to “break in”. However, it is constantly flooded with inappropriate submissions. To break in, one must understand what these magazines want, and what they won’t accept.

The Informative Hook. This usually presents two or three lines of useful information (e.g., facts, statistics), followed by an explanation of how this applies to the target audience. For example:

PCRM’s theory is that cheese is the enemy and the sole cause of the obesity epidemic. American’s annual consumption of cheese went up from 7.7 pounds per person to 29.8 pounds per person between the 1950s and 2000. But there seems to be a causation/correlation problem here. After all, a quarter of all Americans eat fast food every day (as an example of other culprits) – the cheese doesn’t exactly stand alone. This is the latest in a growing controversy over the healthiness of eating cheese. (Is Eating Cheese Healthy query for Culture magazine)

The Question. Often, this is a problem/solution or informative hook posed as a question, such as:

Did you know…?
What would you do if…?
Have you ever wondered…?

The personal experience/anecdote. Many writers like to take a personal approach, as it immediately establishes the credential of “experience.” Be sure, however, that your market uses more personal articles, or first-person accounts, before attempting a hook like this:

Forget-me-nots. I love their wistful name. I love their tiny blue flowers. And yes, I love that growing them is as simple as pie. (“Forget-me-nots: Simply Unforgettable Spring Flowers,” by Mary R., sold to Fine Gardening.)

The attention-grabber. The goal of this type of hook is to make the reader sit up and take notice — hopefully long enough to read the rest of the story. This might be a good “hook” for a query about parachuting in Yosemite:

As I fell from the top of Yosemite’s El Capitan, I wondered if my life would truly flash before my eyes — or if I would stop screaming long enough to notice.

Hooks to Avoid

Certain hooks scream “amateur” and are guaranteed to speed a query to the rejection pile, including:

• The personal introduction. Never start with a line like “Hi, my name is John, and I’d like to send you an article about…” Don’t offer irrelevant information, such as “I’m a housewife and mother of three lovely children. Recently I decided to pursue my lifelong dream of writing…”
• The “suck-up” hook. Yes, editors want to know that you’ve read their publication, but they also want you to prove it by offering an appropriate query — not by saying, “I’ve been a subscriber for 20 years and just love your magazine…” (This is even less effective if your query goes on to prove that you’ve never actually read the magazine!)
• The “bid for sympathy”. Don’t tell an editor that you’ve never been published before, or that you need to sell this piece or your children will starve.
• The “I’m perfect for you” hook. Never sing your own praises: “I am a highly experienced professional and will be an asset to your magazine”. Don’t inform the editor that your article is “perfect” for his readers. Never declare that your article is “wonderful” or “fascinating.” Prove it — with a good query.
• The “I’m an amateur” hook. Never announce that you have never been published before, or that you’ve tried to sell the same article to 20 other magazines, or that your writing teacher (or mother or spouse) suggested that you send this to a magazine. Even if you haven’t sold anything before, you can still act like a professional.

The Pitch

Once you have an editor’s attention, move on to the pitch. Usually, this is your second paragraph, and its purpose is to explain exactly what you’re offering. For example, the pitch that followed the “problem” hook, above, went like this:

I’d like to offer you a 600-word article titled “Is Eating Cheese Healthy.” I believe this type of article would be appropriate for your Cheese I.Q. section in your magazine.   (Is Eating Cheese Healthy query for Culture magazine)

If possible, your pitch should include a working title for your article (titles help editors “visualize” what you’re proposing), a word-count (make sure you’ve checked the publication’s guidelines!), and a brief summary of what the article will cover.

The Body

This is where you really start to “sell.” The body of your query will usually be from two to four paragraphs, and presents the details of your article. Remember that an editor wants to know exactly what the article will cover, so by this time you should have a working outline of the piece in your own mind.

A good way to present an overview of your topic is to break it into logical subtopics — e.g., the sections that would be likely to appear under subheads in the finished piece. The longer the article, the more subtopics you can include (though it’s usually not advisable to have more than four or five). For example, a 700-word article on cancer in pets might only cover “The ten warning signs of cancer,” while a 2000-word article on the same topic might cover “common types of cancer, warning signs, and current treatment options.” A good way to determine whether you have the right number of subtopics is to divide your word-count by the number of topics — e.g., a 2,000 word article with five subtopics gives you a budget of 400 words per topic.

Here’s how I described the content of the article, “Is Eating Cheese Healthy?”:

The article will discuss the health benefits of eating cheese and that you can enjoy cheese even while on a low-cholesterol diet. I will also discuss guidelines for choosing healthier, lower-sodium cheeses, and portion sizes. The article will also contain brief results from studies to confirm the healthiness of cheese.

Some writers like to use block paragraphs; others like to use bullets. There’s no rule on the best style; choose a style that makes your query visually appealing and easy to read.

The Credentials

Guess what? Now it’s time to sell yourself. Editors want to know why you are the best person to write the article you’ve proposed. This is where your credentials come in. Don’t assume, however, that these must include writing credits. While a list of previous articles on relevant topics is nice, you may also be able to prove your qualifications with credentials such as:

• Professional experience (some publications accept material only from qualified experts)
• Academic degrees or training
• Teaching experience in the subject area
• Personal experience (especially if the article relates to personal issues/problems)
• Writing experience
• Interviews with experts (a way to demonstrate that even if you don’t have the credentials, you’ll be able to get information from those who do)

Credentials are usually listed in the last or next-to-last paragraph. Here’s an example:

As webmaster of http://www.musicphotographer.com, it has been my job to connect music writers and photographers with the markets that need their work. This is the only site devoted to music journalism on the Web. I’m also writing the first guide on the topic. Reviews for my last book, The Van Halen Encyclopedia, are available at Amazon.com. (C. Chilver’s successful pitch to Inkspot for “How to Write for the Music Market.”)

The Close

Use the final paragraph of your article to thank the editor for reviewing your proposal — and to offer one last “nudge” to encourage the editor to respond. I usually include a time-estimate in this paragraph — e.g., “If you are interested in this article, I can have it on your desk within XX days.” Here’s a typical closing paragraph:

I am a subscriber and love the quality of your magazine. I hope this topic interests you, and look forward to your response. If you would like to see the article, I can have it on your desk within two weeks of receiving your go-ahead. Thank you for your time!

The Format

The presentation of your letter can be as important as your content. A traditional (paper) query should include the following elements:

• A decent letterhead. At the very least, your name and address and other contact information should be printed at the top of your letter (not at the bottom or under your signature) in an attractive font. You can have an inexpensive letterhead designed and typeset at your local printing shop, or online through iPrint.com. Or, design your own on your computer.
• A business-style body. If you aren’t familiar with terms like “block” or “modified block,” see Sample. Always include a blank line between paragraphs, and don’t indent more than five spaces (if at all).
• A formal salutation. Don’t address the editor by first name unless you know him/her personally.
• Clean, proofread copy. Don’t rely on your spellchecker; review your query yourself before mailing it out.
• Quality paper. Use at least 20-lb. bond paper for queries. Some writers like to use fancier papers — parchment, linen, etc. — on the theory that a nicer paper with a professional tint will stand out amidst all the white paper on an editor’s desk. Don’t go to “colors” however — pink paper and blue type scream for rejection.
• A SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope). Don’t use “insert” envelopes; fold a full-size business envelope (#10) in thirds and use that. Be sure it has adequate postage. If you are submitting a query from another country, be sure that your SASE has the correct postage for the target country — or else include an appropriate number if IRCs (international reply coupons).

Now, I know the world is predominantly digital and email queries are becoming more and more frequent. This format is for “paper queries”, which believe it or not, many publications still prefer. Next week, I’ll discuss the format of an email query.

-Adapted from Writing World.com

On Working

Reblogged from The Greenery:

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Does anyone truly love to work?

I mean, the actual act of working, not the side-effects: satisfaction, sense of purpose, feelings of accomplishment. I mean, let's be honest: wouldn't you rather be having a glass of wine with friends in a nice, sunny garden instead of surveilling a parking garage, polishing your story draft, or pulling weeds? I know I would.

Read more… 536 more words

I loved what Kim Green said so much about working on her blog, that I had to share it with you. As a writer by night, and a secretary by day, I often lament the daily grind of work and wish I could just write all the time. Yet, the bills must be paid, the cats must be fed, and I must shop (okay, not really, but a girl's gotta have some fun some time). I'm jealous of those who write as a full-time profession and my goal and prayer is that one day, I will join those ranks. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Kim's post!