What cliché’s do you dislike?

[Redav]

I've been trying with the idea of writing some stories and have been thinking about some plot line ideas. I haven't read a huge amount of books but of the ones I have and the movies I've seen, there's a few cliché’s that I get sick of. Now admittedly my favorite books (Lone Wolf) suffer from at least one of my dislikes but it's over a long period of time so it doesn't bother me so much.

My pet peeve's are;

- sometimes I think things are too contrived / convenient to be believable (but I guess that’s the point of a story)
- I don't dislike magic but I'm not a big fan of it as I think it’s an easy way for solving problems and is to convenient
- I get sick of the new young kid becomes the awesome dude who saves the world
- the fate of the world rests on one person
- good guys never die and bad guys never win
- the hero gets the girl

And there's probably a few more that I can't think of.

What I have found is that I enjoy a good story set within believable events and focuses on the characters, their story and their world. With that in mind, I thought I'd want to write something that avoids the usual cliché’s.

So, what cliché’s do you dislike?

[Remyth]

Well, I'm not wanting to be super creative right now so I'm just going to comment and agree/disagree with yours, k?

- I don't dislike magic but I'm not a big fan of it as I think it’s an easy way for solving problems and is to convenient - Magic is fine, in my opinion, as long as there are rules to govern it. Without these rules (think Eragon) then it is waaaay too powerful and wouldn't make sense in a realistic world, where there are rules that govern the physical world.
- I get sick of the new young kid becomes the awesome dude who saves the world - This one I agree on. Although it is a huge cliche, it does often make for good storytelling and that is why it is used. I've tried to come up with a story that doesn't involve this and it is VERY difficult.
- the fate of the world rests on one person - Again, I agree. When I brainstorm ideas, they never include just one main character any more. However, a small group always works best for obvious reasons.
- good guys never die and bad guys never win - I agree and disagree with this one. While I always try to kill off a couple of my major (though maybe not main) characters, good always wins, eventually. There's the key: the bad guys have to win first.
- the hero gets the girl - I don't have problems with this but the reasoning is again, it makes for good storytelling and the 'happy ending' that modern (American) society wants. Most teenagers don't like Romeo and Juliet, not because of Shakespeare's 'confusing' language, but because of the ending. I do think that stories with 'bad' endings have there place, though.

Cheers,

[lord_of_orks]

-the thing about the young kid saves the world has always bothered me because its every where!(Luke skywalker Harry potter ext ext)
-with most fantasy books it's always the same orks,trolls,ogers,part reptile part humans=bad
humans,elfs(aside from drow),dwarfs=good

[Remyth]

-with most fantasy books it's always the same orks,trolls,ogers,part reptile part humans=bad
humans,elfs(aside from drow),dwarfs=good

I can't agree with this because I've personally read multiple books in which orks and trolls were good, and elves (especially certain ones) and dwarves were bad... Though they are generally thought of as such...

[Kosh]

- Just how good would the story be if it's the fully trained adult whose job is to stop the menace, just quietly does it it with his full back-up team? Even if it were to happen who'd hear about it? Oh, that Unit lead by X stopped the potential mega villain long before he became a threat, well that's their job, it's not exciting or even always provable....

Now cliches become cliches for a reason, but there's a reason for that too.

[Tower of Iron Will]

For me its been my experience that in real life the good guy never wins, young idealists don't have a chance against well funded and politically powerful evil. For example in Star Wars the Empire would have about one hundred "Death Stars" such that after the first one got blown up, they would fix the hole. The rebels would have 0% chance then of taking down the Empire. Where is the fun in that story? Look at the fall of the Roman Empire. Was that a glorious demise? Not for the Roman people.

I think my point is that there are certain stories that are told over and over with different characters and settings such that these stories share similar patterns; you call them chiches. These patterns are used over and over because some people like some particular patterns and some like other patterns. They get used again because they are liked. Some people like happy endings, period. Nothing wrong with that. Yet, if you want to try some new type of story line, I'm all for it. There have been some good examples of the "anti-hero" type story or Gladiator/Braveheart where the hero dies in the end.

To answer your question predictability would be one of my peeves. Another would be well written. I don't care how many times I see a movie with a happy ending as long as its a good story. Something that makes me forget the real world for a while.
-Tower

[theboywarrior]

In movies, dwarves being comic relief is funny, but overused. Narnia and all 3 LOTR, just as a few examples, and the 'girl hero' (what's that word again? Someone help me out here.)concept is a bit annoying in both books and movies. I can rarely pick up a modern fantasy book, or any book for that matter, and NOT find something like that. Whatever happened to our St. George? Our brave prince who risks life and limb to save the girl he loves? Sheesh.

[lord_of_orks]

the 'girl hero' (what's that word again? Someone help me out here.)

I believe the word you're looking for is heroin, or is it heroine, maybe it's, haroin. well anyway its some thing like that.

[theboywarrior]

the 'girl hero' (what's that word again? Someone help me out here.)

I believe the word you're looking for is heroin, or is it heroine, maybe it's, haroin. well anyway its some thing like that.

Herione! Thanks! that's what I was looking for.

[Sir Nelson]

My pet peeve is the misuse of the word "Aeswionme", via the total butching of the word by such others as "Aewsionme" and "Aewisonme". Indeed, thy yonder breaketh.

[AK_Brickster]

Well, if you're looking for a new plot, I've got some bad news.... there aren't any, lol.

See this interesting link for more info: http://ask.yahoo.com/20070305.html

[Redav]

Damn, I'm stuffed Neat reading, thanks.

What about [wo]man vs fate? Could that be an 8th or would that be vs man / supernatural?

[Velliscig]

As for any fantasy, magic is necessary, but I don't like it when used in abundance. This relates to my gaming experience as well; I tend to play characters that focus on melee combat and supplementary spells to their melee, rather than solely magic. Lord of the Rings is probably the best example of this... plenty of fantasy elements with a minimum amount of pure "magic".

The good guy winning isn't all that bad; as others have noted, this seldom occurs in real life. The manner most movies/books go about though, is annoying... The girl usually falls way to easily and quickly, and the moves are entirely too predictable. A more creative approach to the "hero" landing the girl would be nice.

[Prince Imdol]

Cliche's are cliche for a reason.
That being said, I hate stories where the magical elements are not believable.
I like it when the hero gets the girl.


P.I

[theboywarrior]

Another one I hate is the 'dead dad/family'. It's okay with a decent story to it, like in Eragon or Hawaii Five-0, but if it has no real story, it's quite aggravating.







Oh, and in my mind = with no exceptions.