In a guest post on Writers in the Storm, says that clichés, metaphors, and similes are cultural touchstones that writers can use to build their story worlds. “The culture, history, and language of a group of people contribute to what life is like in that world,” she says. “This history and culture is where those clichés, metaphors, and similes come from.”
While writers don’t want to rely on clichés haphazardly. “Don’t just throw in a cliché or a metaphor because it sounds good,” Hardy says. “Think about why you’re using it and what effect you want it to have on your reader. Is it helping to create a more vivid image of your world? Is it revealing something about your characters or their emotions? Is it adding depth and complexity to your story?”
Hardy shares some tips for using these elements to best effect:
- Choose your clichés wisely. “Although clichés get a bad rap, they can serve a valuable purpose,” Hardy writes. “They’re cultural shorthand that can suggest the larger world a character lives in.” If a cliché sounds right for a moment in your story, rephrase it or add to it, making it seem more original and specific to your story world.
- Use metaphors and similes to create vivid descriptions. “Every culture and group has their own ‘language’ and how they communicate, and the phrases everyone knows,” Hardy says. “Maybe your software developer compares things to coding, or the teacher makes math metaphors. The Iowa farm girl might pepper her speech with colloquialisms.” Choose phrases that show your world and how your characters relate to it.
- Make sure your comparisons are accurate. “An inaccurate or nonsensical comparison can pull readers out of the story and undermine the effectiveness of your scene,” Hardy notes. They should also fit the tone and style of your story.
- Mix them up for the most impact. “Too many clichés can feel stale and unoriginal,” Hardy says. “Too many metaphors or similes can feel overwritten or even pretentious. Mix all three into your story where they feel the most natural.” Consider assigning elements to different characters, with one using clichés and another speaking in metaphor.
