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indent} Hello, everyone! Welcome to this edition of the For Authors newsletter.  This week's topic is focused on cliches, but first off, I'd like to share a few quotes with you. Enjoy!
Quotes:
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You must have long range goals to keep you from being frustrated by short range failures.
~ Charles Noble
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I love deadlines. I especially love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
~ Douglas Adams
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You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.
~ Les Brown |
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According to http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cliche, the definition of cliche is...
cli-che` [klee-shay, kli-] noun
1. a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.
 ~ Overworked Cliches for Every Tom, Dick, and Harry! ~
Don't beat around bush; go full circle and give the shirt off your back! Giving pause in your neck of the woods for no rhyme or reason, only resluts in people thinking you're pulling the wool over their eyes, pure and simple.
So avoid it like the plague because, for what it's worth, it's best to come up smelling like a rose. And it goes without saying, honesty is the best policy; you can bet your bottom dollar.
Sit tight, but don't be a sitting duck. Swallow your pride and sum things up in a nutshell. Call a spade a spade and don't babble like a brook. You shouldn't leave any stone unturned or leave anyone hanging by a thread. Be fair and square.
No one likes to hear things word of mouth. You don't want to wear egg on your face if you aren't clear as a bell. Otherwise you might smell like a rat to your friends.
It's a small world, so make the grade and don't chicken out when the chips are down. Don't let the cat get your tongue, but appear bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. If others refuse to lend an ear, they can like it or lump it!
Thank you for putting up with that.  When I decided to write this week's topic on cliches, I couldn't help but challenge myself to put something together with as many cliches as possible. It was easier than I thought.
As you most likely experienced in the above example, readers tire quickly of too many words of wisdom. Cliches are great for summing up a point or situation, say as a transition; however, overuse can become either irritating or commical. If you find yourself utilizing too many, try to replace them with appropriate synonyms. You want your writing to be unique; using cliches does not make your work original.
Be wary of cliches, but on the other hand, working them them into a contest prompt could be great fun! Or perhaps use a cliche as a title and write a poem or story without repeating the same phrase more than once. Of course if you are writing fiction and one of your characters has a habit of using cliches, that is more acceptable, too. Some people absolutely detest cliches while others can't seem to play on them enough. All I can tell you is what my grandmother related to me many times: Busy hands are happy hands. Now.. Get to work!
A few interesting books to check out:
 Dictionary of Cliches by James Rogers
Why Do We Say It: The Stories Behind the Words, Expressions and Cliches We Use by Editors
For additional online information, browse the following links:
Cliche Site
http://clichesite.com/
Cliche Finder
http://www.westegg.com/cliche/
Now for a fun prompt... If you like using cliches, or want to try your hand at it, go whole hog! Put your best foot forward and write a short piece that includes as many cliches as you can muster up.
Happy Springs-a-Coming! and...
Keep on Writing!
Cubby ") |
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~~~ ~~~~~~
~FEEDBACK~
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quiero
This newsletter was so helpful! Thank you! I wasn't sure about the dots and dashes, but now it's all cleared. Once again thank you!
jannie..
~ You are very welcome!
JACE 
Hey, Cubby; great newsletter! I've often wondered if I might have OCD regarding punctuation, often mentioning such things in my reviews. It's so nice to learn something new, and to discover some neat resources too. Thanks. 
Jace
~ Glad to be of help. There are always new things to learn for all of us.
Leger~ 
Cubby, what a great newsletter on dashes! Thanks for posting, it was interesting.
Leger~
~ My pleasure!
Shaziane 
Thank you for this NW on the four types of dashes. I learnt a few things, and I accept your challenge.
~ Great! Glad to hear it!
Red Writing Hood <3 
Excellent information. I knew about the em dash, and how to use the en dash (but not what it was called). More stuff I didn't know, thank you
~  Thanks, Holly! I love learning new things... when it strikes me just right, lol!
monty31802
Great information, I never get it straight for long.
and will probably have to print this out, then try not to lose it, definitely worth the reading.
Thanks for a fine newsletter Cubby.
~ I'm glad you liked it, Monty. Thanks so much and you are very welcome!
weeowl flying free! 
LOL when I read your example that Today's assignment is to read pages something-something, I had a moment of "Oh my goodness! where's my book!" I think it's nearing snack-time. Awesome Newsletter today! Weeowl
~ This comment really got me laughing! Sounds like something I might do!
quinkylar
Dashes are a real tool for writers to use. I personally like using the em-dashes to show abrupt changes in conversation, lines of thought, when referring to someone else in mid-dialog without stopping it, and such.
~ You got it! I especially like it for abrupt changes.
Kathleen
Thanks, Cubby, for the helpful information on using the four kinds of dashes in writing and for the links under Featured Items to many more beneficial punctuation/grammar documents written by our own Writing.Com members.
I loved the quote by Lynne Truss citing 'Punctuation directs you how to read,' etc.
~ I love that quote, too. It is so true! Proper punctuation makes such a difference! 
spazmom
This was a great newsletter. I always have problem with the dashes!! lol
~ I think in school, we were taught to concentrate more on other forms of punctuation, so the dashes don't seem to stick in our brain as much as the periods, commas, quotation marks, etc. Thank you for your feedback!
Jay is studying
Great newsletter Cubby. I knew the em-dash versus ellipsis notion. I didn't know about the two and three em-dash use. Really helpful!
~ To be truthful, it's confusing for me sometimes, too. 
DRSmith
Terrific and timely piece... love these type pieces, and no doubt critical for helping many literary aspirants improve in here.
Good use of punctuation strengthens any piece, giving it life, ie: infuses a phrase with emotional inflection, sets a pace, creates suspense, dramatical impact, pause for thought, a raised eyebrow of suspicion, et al. If I were Cubby, I'd repeat such items say every six months... sort of like Pop's slap upside the head-- keeps us focused.
~ Great response! You are so right when you say punctuation strengthens any piece, giving it life. Thank you very much!
 Thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful feedback you send in!
As always...
Have a wonderful week!
AND KEEP ON WRITING!!!
Cubby ")
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For Authors: March 04, 2009 Issue [#2922]
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