Not a bitter pill to swallow

I’m an advocate in the belief that humour is wonderful medicine. While me and medication aren’t BFFs, the best things in life are free, so when under the weather, I’m happy to swallow a healthy dollop of laughter, giggles, and guffaws to ease the stresses and strains of modern life.

With that in mind, I’d like to share my thoughts on the awesome cliche. You know the deal. The sneaky little play on words that’s risen in popularity quicker than you can blink an eye. These little blighters aren’t a flash in the pan, nor a fly by night. Such cutie pies are the best thing since sliced bread. Miles better than a kick in the teeth! So, campers! Roll out your buzzwords, roast those old chestnuts, and be as trite and banal as you like. Cliches ain’t a drop in the ocean. Believe you me, they’re here to stay!

Feast your eyes on this!

Love ’em or hate ’em, we can’t deny that cliches are all over the map and all that jazz. Come on. Who wants to beat around the bush, bite off more than they can chew, or struggle to find an awesome phrase when having a natter? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Use a cliche. It’s a walk in the park. A drop in the ocean. And certainly justifies the means.

Make no bones about it, we all use them. Go on, people—milk them for all their worth. Admittedly, some folk have a string of platitudes as long as their arm. For others, they’re few and far between. I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill or a song and dance about it. At the end of the day, everyone has their preference, but the use it or lose it truism isn’t my bag. I prefer to do things by the book. It works wonders to be true to yourself and your beliefs. To bring your A game.

I’ll lay the cards on the table

Sometimes the cliche serves a purpose. To cut a long story short … in certain circumstances, cliches work. When copywriting, brevity is essential. Clean, concise, crisp copy works wonders. Platitudes, waffle, verbosity, and rabbiting can be a copywriter‘s Achilles’ heel. A lead balloon springs to mind. Oops!

What about authors? There must be gazillions who slip in a few cheeky truisms. They whet the appetite for a boatload more to come in prose or dialogue. Consequently, publishers and literary agents frown upon overuse, albeit Joe Public thinks they’re the bee’s knees. Let’s face it, cliches can be extremely amusing when used in the right context. As long as every page isn’t filled to the brim with them, you’re cooking on gas and riding the crest of a wave.

Plain and simple

Is the cliche a necessary evil? Does anyone know how many they spout or write in any one day, and how many more lurk in the pipeline? Would you know? In the long run, with all things considered, does anyone care? You must’ve heard that old one, ignorance is bliss.

Not always. I care when burning the midnight oil as a writer, editor, and proofreader. I must cut the cliches and pawn the platitudes. Granted, most of the time it’s a no-brainer, but sometimes it’s difficult to see the wood for the trees when my head’s a shed. Are you getting the message? D’you know which way the wind’s blowing? Am I making myself crystal clear?

All’s well that ends well!

Time to get off my soapbox and cut to the chase. Using a cliche’s a piece of cake. On the contrary, if you can’t find the right words, a corny stock phrase is like water off a duck’s back. If you’re stuck, don’t let someone rain on your parade. Don’t walk on eggshells. Give ‘em a run for their money. Come on folks, think outside the box, and don’t judge a book by its cover. It ain’t rocket science! Bring it to the table and roll out a cliche. We all love ’em. Don’t we?

Personally, I avoid clichés like the plague, and if you believe that, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Laters!

After while.

Wen x

Not a bitter pill to swallow

I’m an advocate in the belief that humour is wonderful medicine. While me and medication aren’t BFFs, the best things in life are free, so when under the weather, I’m happy to swallow a healthy dollop of laughter, giggles, and guffaws to ease the stresses and strains of modern life.

With that in mind, I’d like to share my thoughts on the awesome cliche. You know the deal. The sneaky little play on words that’s risen in popularity quicker than you can blink an eye. These little blighters aren’t a flash in the pan, nor a fly by night. Such cutie pies are the best thing since sliced bread. Miles better than a kick in the teeth! So, campers! Roll out your buzzwords, roast those old chestnuts, and be as trite and banal as you like. Cliches ain’t a drop in the ocean. Believe you me, they’re here to stay!

Feast your eyes on this!

Love ’em or hate ’em, we can’t deny that cliches are all over the map and all that jazz. Come on. Who wants to beat around the bush, bite off more than they can chew, or struggle to find an awesome phrase when having a natter? When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Use a cliche. It’s a walk in the park. A drop in the ocean. And certainly justifies the means.

Make no bones about it, we all use them. Go on, people—milk them for all their worth. Admittedly, some folk have a string of platitudes as long as their arm. For others, they’re few and far between. I don’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill or a song and dance about it. At the end of the day, everyone has their preference, but the use it or lose it truism isn’t my bag. I prefer to do things by the book. It works wonders to be true to yourself and your beliefs. To bring your A game.

I’ll lay the cards on the table

Sometimes the cliche serves a purpose. To cut a long story short … in certain circumstances, cliches work. When copywriting, brevity is essential. Clean, concise, crisp copy works wonders. Platitudes, waffle, verbosity, and rabbiting can be a copywriter‘s Achilles’ heel. A lead balloon springs to mind. Oops!

What about authors? There must be gazillions who slip in a few cheeky truisms. They whet the appetite for a boatload more to come in prose or dialogue. Consequently, publishers and literary agents frown upon overuse, albeit Joe Public thinks they’re the bee’s knees. Let’s face it, cliches can be extremely amusing when used in the right context. As long as every page isn’t filled to the brim with them, you’re cooking on gas and riding the crest of a wave.

Plain and simple

Is the cliche a necessary evil? Does anyone know how many they spout or write in any one day, and how many more lurk in the pipeline? Would you know? In the long run, with all things considered, does anyone care? You must’ve heard that old one, ignorance is bliss.

Not always. I care when burning the midnight oil as a writer, editor, and proofreader. I must cut the cliches and pawn the platitudes. Granted, most of the time it’s a no-brainer, but sometimes it’s difficult to see the wood for the trees when my head’s a shed. Are you getting the message? D’you know which way the wind’s blowing? Am I making myself crystal clear?

All’s well that ends well!

Time to get off my soapbox and cut to the chase. Using a cliche’s a piece of cake. On the contrary, if you can’t find the right words, a corny stock phrase is like water off a duck’s back. If you’re stuck, don’t let someone rain on your parade. Don’t walk on eggshells. Give ‘em a run for their money. Come on folks, think outside the box, and don’t judge a book by its cover. It ain’t rocket science! Bring it to the table and roll out a cliche. We all love ’em. Don’t we?

Personally, I avoid clichés like the plague, and if you believe that, it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Laters!

After while.

Wen x