There are certain phrases that become SO common to a genre of writers, that they become not only a cliche, but a cliche that causes the reader to cringe.
In Historicals it's a heroine described as feisty or spunky.
In Mysteries it's the Butler did it(okay not so much anymore...)
In Romance novels it's the phrase "teeth, tongue & lips", I'll admit there is some variation. "lips, teeth and tongue". But always the three.
Can we not come up with better? Can the hero simply use two of them? Or can we, the reader, use logic and figure if tongue and teeth are there, Lips cannot be far away?
Could the three not be done in two sentences or heaven forbid...three?
I'm calling for a bann on the phrase and it's variants.
Let only old men be heroes.
Let the hero GUM her to ecstasy rather than use her as a teething toy!
What's your cringing cliche?
Friday, September 12, 2008
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