 Horror/Scary: March 08, 2017 Issue [#8169] |
  Horror/Scary
This week: Don't fall into the horror cliche trap Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week: “The reason that clichés become clichés is that they are the hammers and screwdrivers in the toolbox of communication.”
― Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards! |
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A cliche is anything that has become too familiar or overused. The word “cliché” was originally French for the repetitive sound of a printing plate, which prints the same thing over and over. A cliche in literature is an overused phrase, theme or plot. Every cliche was once new and interesting, but overuse has made them worn out and predictable. Because we love the familiar, it is tempting to fall back on cliches, but doing so too often can make our writing sound trite and unimaginative. Every genre has its own set of cliches, such as roses and hearts which have long been associated with romance.
Horror cliches may be the oldest of all because they go back to the basic roots of fear. They become cliches when they are used in the same way in so many stories, that the reader can predict exactly what is going to happen when they see them.
Here are some examples:
Characters who accept a dare to spend the night in a dark, deserted house
A car breaking down on a lonely road
Characters running up the stairs when they should run out the door
Going out to investigate a strange noise
The throwaway character whose only purpose is to be the first one killed
Excessive blood and gore
Vampires, werewolves, zombies, and other overused monsters
Evil dolls or toys
Remember that even though these scenarios and characters have become cliches in the horror world, it does not mean that you cannot use them in your stories. Just make sure that you are using them in an original way. If your character runs upstairs instead of out the door, make sure they have a good reason for doing so. The character who seems likely to be the first one killed according to the horror "formula" might turn out to be the main character, or the killer. Maybe the blood and gore are not real, and are part of an illusion to cover up something even more frightening. (The true nature is up to you!)
Ask yourself if the reader will be able to predict what is going to happen based on other stories they might have read. This is where trusted reviewing partners can really help. Your reader's expectation of what might come based on a cliche could lead to a nice surprise when something different happens.
Something to try: Write a horror story using a cliche in a new way.
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| Question for next time: Is there any subject that you think is too disturbing even for a horror story? |
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