Young Writers Society

When it comes down to the bare-bones, all modern work is cliched in one way or another. The two main ways are plot and characters. Which ones do not mind seeing? The plot that is a bit predictable, or the characters who you've seen a thousand times before?

Please explain your answer.

(Note- This is not to say you should use a purely cliched plot/characters. It's just asking where you prefer to see the cliches)

I honestly don't mind a cliched plot. While cliched plots are easily saved by fantastic characters, cliched characters can not be saved by a fantastic plot in my opinion.

A cliched plot can be done right if it has a little bit of a twist on it, and the characters are ones that people can relate to or just enjoy completely. So I would have to say I hate cliched characters much more than a cliched plot.

To answer my own poll choice, I prefer seeing a cliched plot.

My reasoning is: To make cliched characters successful, you must put in some twist. Therefor, by the time you have made them relate-able, they are no longer cliched.

But when it comes to a cliched plot, you can click into the characters right away since they've got a fresh view. To follow that thought, cliched plots then become interesting when you factor in character response. Have different characters go through the same event, and you'll end up with something different if you've done your characters right.

Agreed. Cliches in plots don't bother me as much, because we don't get to know the plot. We're relating to the characters, and as long as their view on the situation isn't old and cliched, the story could not be.

Plots are moved around by the characters, no the other way around. I prefer clichéd plots because no matter what, as long as the story isn't a complete copy of another story, it is unique in its own way. A character that is exactly the same as another is easier to weave into the story and tend to drag down the entire book. I have to say, if you have interesting and unique enough characters, the plot will follow.

-Lydia <3

I don't care for either. I will probably not read a work if the plot summary is cliche. Cliched characters make me put the work down a bit less then a cliche plot because developed characters can seem cliche, but it depends on a realistic type of cliche. Nerds being smart. Jocks being strong. Or even in the classic fantasy D&D cliche, with the thief, the cleric and the paladin with not just a stick up the wazoo.

Just because your source material or mold for the book has such characters doesn't mean it is wrong. Yes the magician should be smart, and yes the warrior is a meat-shield. Thieves tend to be low on morals. They are what they are for a reason, and by showing how and why you make a character complete and not a cliche.

Definitely, if the plot is old an dull, then I just won't read it. But give me a fun character and the plot flaws become less noticable.


Take for instance the book "You Suck" by Christopher Moore. Though it easily become dull as just another Vampire story, having crazy unique characters saved it.

Now this is an interesting question, because quite honestly under usual circumstances I'd rather have an epic plot with cliched characters.

When however a character is so eccentric, interesting, or intriguing to read about, I often prefer this to a cliched plot...

So I guess it depends really.

Have a good one!

I say plot. Mainly because if the characters is cliched, you know what they are going to do, but if you're plot is cliched and your characters are freaks, they make it interesting.

Well, for me it depends whether the story is plot-driven (beyond the main characters' control) or character-driven. But since most are driven by characters, and I tend to focus on them more so than I do the storyline, I'd rather a cliche plot.

In fact what I hate most is cliched writing. Next in line are cliched characters; lastly a cliched plot.

Plot. Cliche characters are boring. I agree that a cliche plot can be saved by great characters. Those are my thoughts.

When it comes down to the bare-bones, all modern work is cliched in one way or another.

I'm sorry, but no. No. No. No. No. It's no more clichéd than the classics; it's like an inventor saying everything's already been invented.

Sorry... just had to say that. I'd prefer a clichéd plot, because characters define the story, really, or at least how they grasp it.

Blink- I was taking that off of Arastotal saying there are/were only seven plots.

But, take it as you mean it. If you can show me something that has no cliches what so ever I will remove that line.