What are character cliches?

These are some common clichés to avoid in writing characters:

• Damsel in Distress: The character who needs someone to save them.
• Boy/Girl Next Door: The nice, boring, average, unobtrusive side character.
• Bad Boy: The character who’s hard on the outside but soft on the inside.
• Femme Fatale: The attractive, lethal lady.

How do you make a character not cliche?

Here’s how to avoid character cliches in your storytelling:

1. Focus on Your Character’s Origin Story.
2. Go In Depth With Character Description.
3. Give Your Characters a Range of Emotions.
4. Give Your Character a Sense of Motivation.
5. Give Your Character Fears and Flaws.
6. Give Your Character Strengths.

How do you come up with a catchy character name?

By reading the naming strategies below you’ll certainly pick up useful skills in creating cool character names.

1. Pick a One Word Name.
2. Go Wild With Puns, Humor and Craziness.
3. Make the Name Represent the Character’s True Nature.
4. Reverse the Relationship Between First and Last Name.
5. Repeat.
6. Give Your Character Your Name.

Why would you not name a character?

Or, in a work that is based on allegory, an unnamed character can be identified by a number, letter, job, or common trait to symbolize a hidden meaning. By using a nameless character, an author can prevent readers from unconsciously attaching the identity of another person, ethnic group, or social background.

What are cliches when to avoid cliches?

When you’re writing on a more formal level, it’s better to try to avoid using clichés. They tend to annoy people, especially if they’re overused, and they may even create an impression of laziness or a lack of careful thought.

How do you avoid flat characters?

Thankfully, there are ways we can avoid writing characters who will fall flat with audiences.

1. Don’t make them stupid.
2. Don’t make them all one thing.
3. Give your villains redeemable qualities (and vice versa)
4. Don’t rely on specific physical descriptions.
5. Don’t choose race/gender simply for diversity.
6. Don’t reveal every detail.

Why are the characters given generic names?

Some authors intentionally choose generic names so that people can’t tell what those people will do. They could have named her that because they heard the statistic that people with unusual name usually end up in jail. Or, it could be because of a relative. Or the mother just really liked that name.

Do characters need names?

A well-chosen character name can reflect their personality. First, it’s a good thing because it shows that their characters were coming ‘alive’ in the writing process, evolving into their own ‘self’ beyond the monikers which had been tacked onto them. …

What can I use instead of clichés?

If so, it is probably a cliche or on its way there. Instead of using stock phrases and images, be creative–but beware! Using the thesaurus has many dangers, such as misusing a synonym that doesn’t quite fit the meaning you want….

Phrase	Alternative
this day & age	today, presently