Comments on: Learning to Write III

By: john baker

john baker — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 10:44:40 +0000

OK, clichés are not a forbidden country, but they are only useful, occasionally, in the hands of a practised master.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 21:05:53 +0000

Such great advice, thanks.

By: patry

patry — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:02:16 +0000

Thank you for this. There are so many wonderful things on your blog I don’t know what to link first.

By: Pearl

Pearl — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:19:07 +0000

Good tips but I don’t know whether to listen to you or not.

Cliches are like foreign phrases. They can be used in italics with knowledge of their specialness.

By: Free

Free — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 23:39:28 +0000

You said all the things I needed to hear right now. Thank you. I might have to put this up next to the PC!

By: Travis Jay Morgan

Travis Jay Morgan — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 15:35:52 +0000

Good advice John, This allows us to develop our own writing character without being influenced by others writing style.

By: skint writer

skint writer — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:04:57 +0000

“Don’t be lazy. Tell the whole truth.”

That just about sums it up for me. Truth is the most important element in fiction and it needs effort to make it real.

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 08:53:54 +0000

This useless words rule: I wish it were that simple! In which way useless? Who decides? There are plenty of ‘useless’ words in wonderful writing, in work by Richard Powers or McEwan or even Hollinghurst, all powerful writers.

And I like David Mitchell’s take on cliché: it can be a powerful tool, if used sparingly, if mined and adapted carefully. After all, cliché often touches on something that resonates in the reader.

But I agree with almost everything else you say.