Fantasy is one of the biggest playgrounds for a writer, and yet we end up using the same tropes. Big dark castletowerfortresskeep, usually impenetrable except for the secret. Horror fiction ten cliches to avoid by freelance writing for anyone thinking about writing in the horror genre, there are certain situations that, over the years, have been done so often that the audience knows exactly what to expect. Im going to hash out a few of them and why i think. How to write horror fiction and avoid typical horror genre. This is one of the most common mistakes many ya authors make. Its a story about a group of teens who find a portal to another world. Today, i will be sharing the most hated fantasy cliches as well as some. Fantasy cliches to avoid mythic scribes writing forums. You dont need to fake horror, or try to make it more horrifying. Also, they are not necessarily cliches for a 15 year old today because they had not been exposed to the history separate argument here about how well history is taught in schools. Top 10 worst fantasy cliches fantasy is my absolute favorite genre of fiction, but these cliches in it bother me quite a bit. You have the right to an attorney almost all of society believes when youre arrested you have to have your miranda.
In this post, well share the top offenders and how to avoid them in your own storytelling. Excellent writing wont necessarily make or break a book and regrettably, some authors grow sick and tired enough to give up, get some wellearned rest, and publish, warts and all. Jul 19, 2019 think about the last fantasy book you read. In the great high fantasy novels, characters surprise not only each other but themselves too. When writing a genre such as fantasy with such wellknown. Fantasy is a genre built on tropes, as are all types of fiction in their own way. High fantasy book writing is challenging because of the scope of creation and invention it requires. I am currently writing a book and i was thinking about some cliches i want to avoid and about some cliches i accidently took into the story but i dont want to take them out because i would have to rewrite the whole story.
If you really derive an entire true love from just seeing someone, its not going to work. Top 10 storytelling cliches writers need to stop using. In this post, well discuss the most common cliches in literature and how to avoid repeating these mistakes in your own stories. As a general rule, female characters will only have a father and male characters will only have a mother. The cliche is farmboy to leader of the world, fantasy literature has few actual farmers. May 29, 2016 worldbuildingsetting cliches to avoid discussion in setting development started by firewater, jul 28, 2018. Inspired by the the grand list of overused science fiction cliches by jon vansickle.
Lets take a look at five common mistakes to avoid when writing ya fiction. A lot of people read fantasy to escape, not be reminded of the real world. Theres always a motive, people arent purely driven by giddiness or darkness. If the writers want to use magic, they should try the fantasy genre, or the science fictionfantasy genre most fantasy shows have elements of scifi. Some fantasy books do make up their own creatures, but most of the time, those creatures seem a bit underdeveloped. Jason bougger i go through phases all the time when it comes to music, to reading, and even to writing. World building 101 how to create a breathing world for your fantasy novel. So, avoid cliches whenever possible or turn them on their head, if your genre requires them. Great writing requires tender loving care and when the work is done, the polished writer may yet wind up an unsung hero. Apr 04, 2016 i recently encountered a question on quora asking what some fatal flaws or mistakes in fantasy novels are. Avoid the pitfalls of muddled fantasy book writing and plan ahead. Now, while i dont suggest getting rid of every fantasy cliches in. What are some of the worst fantasycliches you can think of.
Jun 12, 2017 15 urban fantasy cliches to avoid june 12, 2017 by hiten vyas 4 comments an urban fantasy book is one which has an urban and modern city setting, and yet, it contains supernatural components hence the name urban fantasy, where a real world setting is combined with fantasy. Unfortunately, it can be all too easy to fall into. Fantasy cliches also from dragon writing prompts is a list of fantasy cliches in four different categories. Although harry is a chosen one, the cliche is balanced by the fresh, new world the author created. I find that too many writers use these cliches as openers to their works even finding myself sometimes doing this. Also, obsidian bookshelf has another list of mosthated fantasy cliches. Why its okay to have cliches in your fantasy novel kingdom pen. I dont think its fair to hold out lovecraft or monkeys paw as bad examples. When writing a genre such as fantasy with such wellknown concepts, authors often feel the need to straddle a fine line. Here are 5 additional writing cliches to avoid in your storytelling. Like any genre of fiction, fantasy is susceptible to a wide range of cliches. Turn off the light, scare your self, go out into the darkness and try to record what you feel, how you act etc. Writing a realist novel set in a familiar city is a challenge itself.
Whether your fantasy novel contains none of these cliches or all of them, what matters most is that it is written well. Many books and shows aimed at kids will include adults who are foolish andor totally useless, usually as. Love takes time, and this is just lazy authors skipping this element of life, and i dont care what excuse you make up for it. How to avoid cliches in fantasy writing with pictures wikihow. The first step to being able to make the decision on whether to avoid or exploit cliche is the understand what the common cliches are. The following discussion was fun, informative and lighthearted. But in seeking out those essential elements, you might fall prey to some dreaded fantasy cliches. Feb 23, 2015 while a fantasy book will contain the occasional dryad or other creature and some authors will make up their own creatures, elves, humans, and dragons almost always get the spot light. Avoiding these cliches will not only help your novel be more compelling and original, itll appeal a lot more to your audience. The only thing worse than writing a cliche is forcing your audience to read one. Fantasy cliches to avoid question i plan on writing an epic fantasy series but i wanted to make it something original and unique so i was wondering what fantasy cliches and tropes should i avoid other than the obivious ones such as the chosen one the damsel in distress or the dark lord. Another thing to avoid when writing fantasy is creating perfect, mary suestyle characters. Unless you can find a way to put a really innovative spin on it, try to avoid writing this kind of ending.
Whats wrong with the manuscript i have sitting in front of me on my computer right now. Writers, avoid these 5 literary cliches ny book editors. One of the most common cliches in all of literature is the love triangle. Dec 05, 2017 fantasy is one of the biggest playgrounds for a writer, and yet we end up using the same tropes. Walk into any book store, and you will find shelves and shelves of fantasy books. Selfpublished authors can make serious money writing romance novels. When writing horror you need to try to get into the moment, to pretend to be there. Our hero was born into a desperately poor peasant tenant farmer family.
So, what cliches do you really hate in fantasy books, storys, movies or games. If you are trying to write the best fantasy book of 2020, chances are you are worried about fantasy tropes in your novel ive seen many a writer and critic chastise the fantasy cliche as a problem that needs to be eliminated. Apr 21, 2019 ive put together a list of even more cliches and tropes that the fantasy audience has decided need to get the chop. A plethora of wattpad cliches and how to avoid them. The purpose of each element in your fictional setting or world. If youre building a fantasy world, for example, avoid cliched setting by thinking about. Thats the equivalent of saying on a job interview that your biggest defect is that you are too much of a workaholic. Apr 05, 20 hmm, im already writing a story about a telepath who falls in love with vampires, and i spend a third of every book reinforcing that its so hard for her to block out the thoughts of others and that she likes the vampires because she cant for the most part, but dont tell them read their thoughts. Horror fiction ten cliches to avoid freelancewriting. Writing a book is challenging, and it can be even more difficult to try to avoid overused stereotypes in any kind of fiction. The word comes from the french clicher, meaning to click, in reference to the click a printers metal stereotyping plate would make. Maybe if you just write a honest work, people will love it because of its honesty. All of these are some cliches, along with many others, which i will rant about and give you tips on how to avoid. Worldbuildingsetting cliches to avoid discussion in setting development started by firewater, jul 28, 2018.
Frankly, were sick of it, so weve compiled a list of ripoff tipoffs in the form of an exam. The problem is that most of this great, original fantasy is actually poor, derivative fantasy. Grand list of fantasy cliches silver blade magazine. Fantasy cliches to avoid discussion in writing discussions started by greybeard, feb 21, 2011. For example, a damsel in distress if you make her aware of her situation, and she thinks its for the best like daisy in the great gatsby, it can really follow the cliche, yet add depth to the character.
Books in the genre are inherently the way they are because of those fantasy cliches we love. Inspired by the the grand list of overused science fiction cliches by jon. Four fantasy cliches to avoid in our search for originality, it is often beneficial to find out what not to do. So here are 3 fantasy cliches i found in my writing and 2 more you should avoid. If you want to learn about cliche phrases that all writers should avoid, check out these cliche examples. Writers of contemporary ya must be particularly careful of this. Before writing a book with an amnesia plot, ask yourself what the draw of this type of plot is, and then make sure you can bring that element to your story. Unfortunately, character development is an area where a lot of fantasy writers tend to succumb to cliches and stereotypes. If we work too hard to avoid cliches instead of trying to find nuances within them, were just going to make the sandbox we play in smaller. Avoid falling into the basic story plot writing trap by developing an original and unique world. We think anybody considering writing a fantasy novel should be required to take this exam first.
Experts share the most common cliches in genre fiction the. It is not our intention to say these ideas should never see the light of day again though some we could do without. What do you struggle with most when writing fantasy. Jan 28, 2016 high fantasy book writing is challenging because of the scope of creation and invention it requires. But when it comes down to it, weve seen this too many times, to the point that when it happens, its almost predictable. Mar 30, 2017 this is a good metaphor for cliched writing it copies existing, worn ideas or phrases for example the infamous setting cliche it was a dark and stormy night. Top 10 worst young adult literature cliches thetoptens. A writers job is to write storiesnot to steal or borrow them and, with a coat of fresh paint, pawn them off as original.
Oct 14, 2019 you dont absolutely have to avoid all cliches. A popular example is hogwarts from the harry potter series. May 19, 2017 0 comment 7 cliches to avoid when writing romance novels. When writing a genre such as fantasy with such wellknown concepts, authors often. Let us know if you do intend on writing a book as we will be the first in line to pick up our copy. I wrote a response to it, and it got me thinking about the things that most commonly make me give up on a fantasy book, rate it poorly, or even avoid reading it in the first place. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Oct 16, 2014 the thing with cliches in genre writing like fantasy is that while most cliches should be avoided, some are used so much that theyre almost expected. Apr 27, 2012 recently, ive identified four fantasy cliches to avoid. Most of his siblings were given away as his family couldnt care for them, eventually. Its more discouraging too, because its not just about what i read im writing a story that i love, and yet i worry sometimes that in the current fantasy climate of outcry to avoid cliches. Provided that you plan ahead, spend some time coming up with the particulars of how your world works and avoid the pitfalls of common genre cliches, you can write a fantasy novel that makes readers reluctant to leave your fictional world. These ideas and phrases have been overused to the point of being worn out.
Often, the mistakes that others make can point us toward the right way to go. If youre writing a fantasy novel or screenplay or whatever, id suggest you avoid these cliches or better yet try something new and different with them. The most common cliches in genre fiction as soon as an officer arrests somebody, he immediately recites. As a writer, its your job to come up with creative storytelling. Sometimes you have to change locations with a dramatic flourishand whats more dramatic than knocking your character out and having them come to in a remote, unfamiliar location, all without having to deal with the boring parts, like driving there. Im really glad i stumbled across this article because its really going to help me edit my first chapter and be more aware of the things to avoid. Hopefully, this guide can help you spot any potentially predictable plots or overdone character types. This list, like the sf list that inspired it, is intended only to list various cliches common to the fantasy genre. Worldbuildingsetting cliches to avoid creative writing.
However, some weaknesses i find that crop up more often in paranormal or ya fantasy are. Writing a book is difficult, but crafting an ending that is both impactful and wraps the plot up beautifully is even more so. Star trek into darkness is also a perfect example, with captain kirk being resurrected by magic blood. Fantasy tropes, like any other type of literary trope, are recurring images, themes, or devices that are used to the point of being common conventions amongst its genre.
May 30, 20 10 worst science fiction cliches as a science fiction writer i must say that there are certain cliches that just really annoy the hell out of me. If you want to deliver what fantasy readers want from a book without descending into cliches check out this list of fantasy tropes. Romance novels are the most popular in selfpublishing. A book that incites genuine feeling will keep the reader coming back for more. If you read all quiet on the western front today, it is crammed with wwi cliches, but the book created those cliches i. Lets get started by discussing the most treacherous offenders. You can find it in the book tree and leafwhich has one of his short stories and poems in it too. Ive put together a list of even more cliches and tropes that the fantasy audience has decided need to get the chop. Top 10 most overused cliches in fantasy brad peirson. At the time they were written it was perfectly acceptable. Horror cliches to avoid in writing fiction write good books. A secondary, broader meaning is a very predictable or unoriginal thing or person. Try to avoid completely orphaned characters unless it is 100% necessary for their backstory.
How to avoid cliches in fantasy writing with pictures. Im doing some revision to make my fantasyscifi worlds cooler and i thought it would be fun to list out some common cliches to avoid. Over 300,000 authors trust the professionals on reedsy, come meet them. The best thing that ever happened to the zombie genre in my mind was when 28 days later did away with the slowmoving, clumsy zombie, whose only chance of catching you was to overwhelm you with sheer numbers or corner yo. The thing with cliches in genre writing like fantasy is that while most cliches should be avoided, some are used so much that theyre almost expected.
Five horror cliches waiting to be broken mythcreants. Knocking characters unconscious for plot convenience why its easy. Open me get the best threads a bookwormwriter can wear. But at the end of it, even though i came up with a wide variety of suggestions for cliches to avoid in your romance, the general consensus it. Experts share the most common cliches in genre fiction.
But the same cliches run through most of them, and many are so predictable that you only have to read the back cover to guess the entire plot. Mystery cliches confessions of a starving mystery writer lists detective cliches to avoid, along with links to two other lists. Mar 20, 2017 its more discouraging too, because its not just about what i read im writing a story that i love, and yet i worry sometimes that in the current fantasy climate of outcry to avoid cliches. Fantasy fiction demands certain essential elements to fit into the genre and reach the right audience. H is for heaving bosoms and other romance cliches to avoid i asked my fellow members of rwa romance writers of australia what sort of cliches they dislike reading about in the genre.