The Lighter Side of Clichés

There is innumerable advice on the Internet as to what clichés to avoid in order to be a successful writer. Some of these articles are so intense and proscriptive, they could singularly induce writer's block. I was thus happy to see a tongue-in-cheek look at clichés in crime fiction in a blog by John Brantingham, a crime fiction writer himself, as well as an educator.

For your reading pleasure, I'll recap four of his favorite clichés:

No one slows down on the freeway to avoid guns and smashing cars when the good guy chases the bad guy. Next time you're watching a car chase scene on television or in a movie theatre, look around and see all the drivers who aren't changing speed or trying to bail out to avoid getting shot.

The dying really want to reveal the killer. No one's calling an ambulance while the guy is bleeding to death on the sidewalk because the victim is more worried about fingering the bad guy than his or her own health.

No one takes a break in their work when talking to the police. They just don’t have the time. They go on stacking boxes or doing other important work while they are talking.

No one ever wants police protection because it will cramp their lifestyle. (Seriously? How about just until after the hit man is caught?)

For the full text of this amusing blog, see http://johnbrantingham.blogspot.ca/20....

I'd like to add one of my own personal favorites: The detective goes to have a chat with a person of interest. After the detective identifies himself (usually by shouting out his police affiliation before he even gets to the guy), the person immediately starts running away. (If the police didn't think you were guilty before, they sure do now.) If you're a fan of CSI: New York, watch how many times this happens to Flack, especially when he's wearing a new suit!

There's a fun side to clichés: they spark recognition in readers/viewers and can actually help draw them into the action.

Any personal favorites you'd like to share?