A cliche is a cliche because it's a cliche...

I am going to write about the age old question: Is a cliche a bad thing? 

I was recently writing different options to use for my blurb on my first book. I have never written a blurb before and just wrote one out (well actually it turned out to be about six attempts) and the first feedback I got on it was: it's cliche. 

Okay, I understand this, I am a writer I can take constructive criticism, but my first thought was... is that a bad thing? 

So, let me explain my thinking. The reason that something has become a cliche is because it has worked, therefore many writers/actors/story tellers have leaned on this one thing over and over again because it works. In that respect, no a cliche is not a bad thing because it is a tried and tested method that has been proven to work. 

Take the standard rom-com cliche storyline. 

• Girl and boy meet 
• Girl and boy have a short time when they are happier than they have ever been and can't imagine life without one another 
• Something bad happens 
• They make it up to each other and live happily ever after 

Now some may say this is a boring story, so let me pose this question to you, why is there about a million films out there with this exact storyline? 

As much as people say they want a twist at the end, if the girl and boy didn't end up together, who would be the first to complain that it wasn't a happy ending? 

Another point to this as well is depending on the characters can it end any other way? For example, the two characters that I am writing with now, they are going through so much together, they are living through tragedies together, can they really not end up together at the end? As writers, we embody our characters, sometimes the character embodies us, and why wouldn't we want to be happy? 

Okay I will stop asking questions now but just give it some thought. To be a good writer you have to be original - at least some would say. I say is there anything wrong with sticking to an old equation that has worked for years and makes people happy if it is written well. 

Keep struggling - it will be worth it in the end. 

Kay x