Everyone gets sick of something overused so many times.
While these clichés may have been popular when they first started, after a
while, I got sick of them. Here are my most overwhelming clichés:
1: A cute little girl named Susie
I have been taught in a writing class to avoid giving
characters default names (i.e. Billy for a little boy). Susie is one of them.
So many authors, movie creators, and TV show creators name cute little girls
Susie. Aspiring writers, don’t name a cute little girl character Susie. Name
her Brianna, Laura, Kaitlyn, or whatever you want. Susie is too default and
overdone.
2: A fictional school doing the production, The Wizard of Oz
That is all I see on about every fictional piece of work,
whether it’s a movie, TV show, or book. It’s been like that since the
mid-twentieth century to recent times. Seriously, why only The Wizard of Oz? It’s been done way too many times. I also see it as a lack of effort for picking a
fiction school’s show. Aspiring writers, don’t make fictional schools do The Wizard of Oz. Make them do something
else. Maybe Annie, The Sound of Music,
West Side Story, Grease, My Fair Lady—I don’t care. Just avoid choosing The Wizard of Oz. That is one of the
biggest clichés I’ve seen.
3: White Christmases
I live in New York, and while it has snowed in December, I
don’t remember ever experiencing a white Christmas. While this idea may look
flattering, overusing it can make it seem unrealistic to those who’ve never
experienced it, even those who live in cold climates. Not only that, it’s
summertime for the southern hemisphere when Christmas comes. Northern Australia
receives warm weather at Christmas time. Aspiring writers, if you’re writing a
Christmas themed piece, consider avoiding snow in any scene, no matter where
your story takes place.
4: Surprise Parties:
While this may not be so clichéd in books, it’s very, very common
in TV shows and movies. In real life, many people help plan their own parties.
Those considering a career in TV show or movie writing, considering avoiding
surprise parties. Make a character help plan his or her own party.
