Writing An Original Script:
5 Writing Clichés You Can Avoid
Are you struggling to come up with an original story idea? You’re not alone. Many writers find themselves stuck in a rut, repeating the same storylines; if you’re seeing a way to break out of your slump and create something truly unique, avoid these five writing clichés.
What Is An Original Story?
An original story is a unique narrative or interpretation of a common idea, such as finding love. Original stories haven’t been attempted before (or done in your specific way). They are free of clichés and overused tropes, common motifs, or patterns in art. In fiction writing, character tropes refer to common attributes and stock characters. Using too many tropes and derivative storylines may be viewed as a sign of lazy or uninspired writing.
5 Writing Clichés to Avoid
- The chosen one
In this specific cliché, a character sees something special in themselves and becomes the protagonist of their adventure: destined to save the day. This trope is tired and overdone for several reasons. It paints him, the on-screen hero, as infallible or superior, simplifies moral ambiguity into black or white dynamics, and makes little room for growth through mistakes.
A good screenwriter finds ways to make their characters human — full of flaws and weaknesses that complicate their journeys. Don’t forget that even Superman had kryptonite! For inspiration on how to create a more three-dimensional hero who learns from his mistakes, try reading screenplays from some of your favorite films or screenwriters. For example, screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie’s work on “The Usual Suspects” and Bryan Singer’s screen adaptation of the novel “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” portray heroes who learn to accept their weaknesses and embrace the vulnerability that comes with being human.
2. The dream revelation
Another tired cliché is when a character has an epiphany in their sleep (“It was all just a dream!”) and wakes up enlightened and refreshed. While this might work if you’re writing for children or aiming for broad comedy, dream sequences are often used as cop-outs serious screenplays to avoid writing complex or controversial scenes.
If you find yourself tempted to use this screenwriting cliché, take a step back and ask yourself whether or not that scene will resonate with your audience. If it won’t, try rewriting the scene to take place during waking hours instead of in someone’s sleep.
3. The love triangle
Many screenwriters have found success by writing about relationships. These scripts are usually about love interests struggling to choose between two admirers who are both head-over-heels for them. While romantic storylines are relatable and can be fun to write, they also tap into well-worn clichés (“Can’t we all just be friends?”) and are overused on screens. Especially in young adult movies.
Before adding another love triangle to your screenplay, read screenplays by screenwriters who excel at writing romantic scripts. For inspiration on how to write a more complex and nuanced love story, take a look at the teen drama “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” The protagonist is confused about his feelings for two different women until he manages to find some clarity through his grief over the loss of a close friend.
4. The magical supporting character
This screenwriting cliché is an instant mood-killer that doesn’t ring true with audiences. Using magic or fantasy elements in screenplays allows screenwriters to bend or break laws of nature to resolve otherwise complex conflicts quickly. The best screenwriters would instead figure out ways around these issues rather than use screenwriting clichés to solve them. Once again, screenwriters who excel at writing high-stakes screenplays or screenwriters who write fantasy screenplays are the best place to look for inspiration.
5. Overused literary devices
Finally, screenwriters should avoid using screenwriting clichés when it comes to overused literary devices such as dream sequences and voice-over narration — mainly if they’re being used without purpose or in an excessively heavy-handed way. Many screenwriters find that their best work is produced when they trust the intelligence of their audience and don’t feel a need to spell out every detail for them in dialogue or through a narrator’s voice.
If you’re unsure whether your screenplay is written too heavily with screenwriting clichés, screenplay by screenwriters you admire is an excellent place to start. By reading screenplays written by screenwriters who excel at writing screenplays like yours, you’ll be able to know their best and worst practices in each of their screenplays — ultimately allowing you to identify the screenwriting clichés that work for them as well as those that don’t.
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