Don't be afraid of cliches!

Sometimes a so called "cliche" story can be one hell of a thrill all because an author has a knack for creative execution. It's all about what you do with a plot and a point in a story's timeline that can make a huge difference. People will read your story, BUT what will inspire your readers to interact and keep reading it, as oppose to stopping after the third chapter, are these three things:

1. Diverse, multidimensional characters worth rooting for.

2. Unexpected plot points.

3. Attention to emotional and sensory detail.

So, if you want to write a typical story about the bad boy falling in love with the good girl because you're so incredibly passionate about that idea, then by all means don't let anyone stop you! But, take your time with it. Cultivate characters worth rooting for, pay attention to emotional detail, and try to come up with plot points that are unique to your story.

I've read plenty of cliche stories here on Wattpad, and ones found on the bookshelves of Barnes and Noble. But cliche doesn't necessarily mean it's a terrible story. The thing about cliche books that make them so appealing, is the fact that it is familiar. When you read a cliche story, you can kind of predict what will happen to the characters. It's something easy to read; there's something welcoming about it- kind of like coming home after a long trip.

This is where your creative juices must work into overdrive.

Take your cliche plot, write it down, then come up with ways to make your story different. Take an overused story idea and twist it into something unpredictable. Make sure your main characters are multidimensional and they hold qualities that aren't just part of the typical archetype.

EXAMPLE.

In Nicholas Sparks' novel (with a film adaptation) A Walk To Remember, bad boy Landon Carter falls in love with good girl / Reverend's daughter, Jamie Sullivan. That in itself is a cliche plot. However, what makes this book different, and instigates an emotional tornado in our hearts, are the multidimensional characters and the plot elements.

We learn that Jamie (**spoiler**) has cancer. But instead of wallowing in misery because of her sickness, she learns to take life head on. She is still accepting of others, and still aims to help those who need it even though she needs help too. Jamie's cancer reveal is an unpredictable moment that takes a seemingly cliche story, and turns it into something more. Together with Jamie's sweet disposition, and her goal to inspire Landon to live to his full potential, gives an audience a reason to root for them as a couple and as individuals.

So don't be afraid of cliche, my friends.

My Fanfiction Award winning story entitled Run Baby Run happens to be a fan favorite despite it being quite cliche. It follows the life of soft-spoken, philanthropic Gwen Guzman who falls in love with Calum Hood- an all-brooding, tattooed bad boy.

SuperFuckingCliche.

But the way I made it stand out from the other stories with the "bad boy falls for good girl" trope, are the plot points within the book. So that is my advice to you. If you've got a story idea that makes you so excited write, but you're afraid that it's too cliche, expand it.

Sit on the idea for a few days, a few weeks even. Carry a notebook and pen wherever you go, or if you've got some kind of Notes application on your phone, that works too. Inspiration can come anytime and anywhere. So be ready to jot EVERYTHING down. Whether you use them in your story or not, make a note of it.

When you've got your story organized, and you're ready to write, don't forget to design your story using emotional and sensory detail.

A few cliche fan fictions I've read tend to be from young, inexperienced writers. Usually it's their first book and they're still learning the ropes. This is totally fine and acceptable because everyone starts somewhere. However, something all new writers (and seasoned ones) should practice, is writing with detail.

I don't want to read your story, I want to FEEL it. I want to immerse myself in it; be so lost in your words that it feels like I'm in the world you created. By paying attention to detail, you take a basic plot point and turn it into an adventure. Suddenly the cliche idea is overshadowed by well written content.

To recap: don't be afraid of cliches. Just give it some love and attention, and soon it will blossom into something completely awesome.