One thing’s certain. A sparkly turn of phrase turns into a cliche almost before the ink dries, and that’s simply because those sparklers are so good at what they do. They express the idea immediately and well. I guess that’s why a writer’s work is never done. We are always scouring for a way to express something in a new way.
I don’t know about other writers, but sometimes I yearn to be able to stick “drunk as a skunk” or “wise as an owl”into a story. They’re so simple, so visual. Alas, I know better, so I have to scramble to create new ways to show my reader the guy coming out of the bar or the wisdom of my wonderful grandfather character.
Richard Lederer once did this game in Writer and I thought since the weekend is coming up you’d take a few minutes to dump the cliche and create something fresh, something so good that it too will become cliched after your book is published.
Here’s how it goes: Complete the cliche then come up with a fresh and unique way of expressing the idea. While the cliches are four words, you don’t have to stay with any word count. Your phrase just has to convey the idea and do it well. Do as many as you’d like or just hope some other talented writer will leave a comment with something spectacular.
1. clean as a _________
2. sharp as a _________
3. poor as a _________
4. bald as an _________
And BTW when you’re revising, dump those cliches before you sub to an editor or an agent. I hope this little game will hone your cliche detection on that WIP. Good luck.
Shannon O'Donnell says
I am going to try this with my composition students – awesome exercise! Love it. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I guess your success will be measured as to how fast your similes become cliches. Glad you tried your hand at the game.
Janet Ann Collins says
Clean as a towel in the laundry basket.
Sharp as the finest needle in grandma's embroidery kit.
Poor as a person who fell for an investment scheme.
Bald as a balloon.
Bethany Wiggins says
[looked] sharp as a knife=He looked so hot my eyes wanted to bleed.
Poor as a pauper=Her clothes were so worn I could see her underwear through them.
Fun! Have a great weekend!!!
Bish Denham says
Oh this should be fun….
He was drunk, wobbling, like a daddy longlegs.
Wise as Yoda.
Clean as the inside of a washing machine.
Poor as Oliver Twist.
Bald as a snowman.