I took the subject of clichés up with several authors I know from various genres: Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Contemporary YA. In literature, it refers to a plot or character development that tramps familiar ground. Let me start with the definition of a cliché: In language, a cliché is a trite or hackneyed expression that has been used so often it has lost its originality and impact. Be sure to check it out (It will open in a new tab). In fact, a dear colleague of mine, Maggie Bolitho, sent me this amazing infographic that explains why clichés don’t work. The same is true for Young Adult fiction, and clichés are certainly boring. One of the questions was: What is the difference between writing children’s books and adult fiction? To which he replied jokingly that in Children’s books, “ you can’t leave the boring bits in.” I recently saw Neil Gaiman speak in Vancouver where he answered questions from the audience. Though it is true for all writers, it seems especially true in the YA market, due to the fact that over the past few years, YA has absolutely taken off. One of the toughest things for any writer to do is to keep her or his work fresh.
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