We've got company, and it's a cliche

In spite of the chaos (and purple emo hair) running rampant at Casa Fenner, I've done a fair amount of editing this week. Last night I finished my Shrunken Manuscript editing pass. It was an interesting and helpful exercise; I'll post more details than you ever wanted to know in my next progress report.

Today I've been thinking about avoiding cliches in my writing. When I originally wrote the manuscript and put my characters in a difficult spot, I'd think of the first response they would logically have to being in the situation. Then, I'd think of the second thing. By the time I got to the fifth or sixth logical response, I figured I'd marched far enough away from what the reader would "expect" and into something more novel.

In spite of my best intentions, cliches -- whether they're character tropes or turns of phrase or worldviews -- still crept into my writing. I've been slashing every one of them I can find, but there always seem to be more.

In the spirit of cliches, I bring you this fantastic "We've got company" montage. Did you realize how much this cliche is used in movies, Dear Reader? And who says that phrase in real life (except when ironically referencing a movie line)?



Because I'm in a video mood today, and because "Sabotage" has been a long-time favorite, I present a frivolous and well-executed Beastie Boys/Star Wars mashup, via Distracted By Star Wars.



I promise ... Bootwick is making a comeback on Friday. Stay tuned.