If you've been writing for any length of time, you've probably come across writing advice telling you to avoid clichés. 

You might be worrying about using a particular type of plot or character, because you're concerned it's a cliché ... or on a smaller scale, you might be examining every phrase to see whether it's hackneyed.

What Exactly Are Clichés?

A cliché is an phrase or idea that's been used so many times before, it's become rather trite. 

Often, clichés are common, go-to phrases like "at the end of the day" or "last but not least" or "speak of the devil". 

You can also talk about a cliché in terms of a situation, character, or idea in a story. The ruggedly handsome hero might be seen as a cliché, for instance.

Which brings me on to ...

Tropes and Clichés

Many genres use specific tropes. Romance is best known for this (but other genres can have common tropes too). 

Within romance, readers often specifically seek out stories that use certain tropes, like:

• Enemies to lovers
• Only one bed
• Forced proximity
• Fake dating
• Forbidden love

.... and plenty more. You could see these tropes as a type of cliche ... but that doesn't make them bad. 

So at least some of the time, clichés can be a good thing. Let's take a look at three key situations where clichés are appropriate – and might even enhance your story.

Two Key Situations Where Cliches Are Appropriate

You can use cliches if they fit one (or both!) of these situations:

They Suit Your Audience and Purpose

Sometimes, a cliché is the best fit for what you're writing. In romance, tropes definitely suit your readers and what you're trying to do (write a successful book).

Clichéd phrases could also suit your audience in some contexts. Let's say you're writing for a business audience. You might use common phrases like a win-win situation as a useful shorthand.

They Are In-Character (Dialogue or Narrative)

Your characters (like all people!) probably use clichés. These might appear in dialogue or in the narrative, if you're writing from a first-person or third-person limited perspective.

Let's say one character mutters to another, at an already-heated family gathering, "Don't rock the boat." Yes, it's a clichéd phrase ... but it could be exactly what that person would say in that situation.

Warning: Some Clichés Have Racist or Bigoted Origins

Certain clichés and slang phrases are best avoided in all situations. It might not be immediately obvious that a phrase has a racist or bigoted history, so it's worth double-checking any clichés that you're unsure about.

For instance, until fairly recently I had no idea that the phrase "throwing a paddy" (a slightly outdated UK English expression for "having a tantrum") had anti-Irish origins.

There's a list here of a few clichés you'll want to steer clear of.

It's always worth thinking twice about any clichés in your writing (and double-checking the origins of any dubious phrases). But there's no rule saying you can't ever use a cliché ... and in some situations, as we saw above, it makes a lot of sense to do so.

Happy writing,

Ali

P.S. Here's last week's blog post, in case you missed it:

Stop Procrastinating, Start Writing: 3 Situations That Trigger Writing Procrastination (& What You Can Do)