Predictable Plots and Overused Clichés

BY Anushka IN Help 46 COMMENTS conflict, crime fiction, fantasy, Fiction, love, murder, suspense




Predictability is a huge turn-off. As I was discussing with a friend recently, some authors seem to have just lost their charm, in no small part due to predictability. It becomes extremely annoying when you know what is going to happen, because what is the fun in that? The same things, tried and tested, again and again and again are very tiresome. People need to know that if someone else has already written about it, then you probably shouldn’t. It worked once, but that doesn’t mean it’ll work again!

So I compiled a list of all the clichés that I, with inputs from my fellow reviewers and the World Wide Web, absolutely despise in a book. It is sorted through genre, because while some clichés are author specific, most are genre specific. Here’s hoping that this list finds its way to the authors concerned.

Romance

  • When the heroine is the damsel in distress who is going to be rescued by- gasp- her hero. Stop it already, please.
  • Perfect characters do NOT exist. If you want to keep it realistic, then make your characters at least a little flawed. Because, no, sunlight doesn’t make a halo behind your hero or your heroine.
  • Rekindling of high school romance. Sorry to burst your bubble, but unfortunately, high school sweethearts very seldom do end up getting married.
  • One night stand which leads to secret baby. Oh God, spare me. This is one cliché which Ms. Susan Elizabeth Philips has expertise in. It not only makes for unpleasant characters (You have a one night stand to have a baby and you call yourself the ‘heroine’?), but is also a damn unrealistic.
  • Mainly seen in historical romance, this is one cliché that I absolutely hate- When the millionaire playboy gets transformed into idiot lover boy for the sweet as sugar heroine. Yeah, right. 
  • Posing as a fake fiancé(e)/boy(girl)friend. This is one seriously overused cliché. It is so predictable – Circumstances are such that the hero/heroine needs a date (wedding of a loved one with social pressure is often the best situation), and one happens to come right along. The hero/heroine convinces him/her and they go to this ‘wedding’ where they’ll pretend to be in love, and usually are supposed to share a hotel room. Then they fall in love, but then some conflict happens, it is resolved and lo, you have the perfect novel! But, no, dear authors, you don’t, because we’re fed up!
  • The hero and heroine initially hate each other….but then, love happens. Of course, this one can be interesting when treated nicely. But unfortunately, it seldom is. 

 

Romantic Suspense

Romantic suspense only has one real cliché. And it is: when the heroine is in danger, the hero is a cop/Fed, who saves her life. It is the plot of about every romantic suspense I’ve read till date. Not that annoying, admittedly, but it is beginning to turn really boring. It depends on the twists that the author can introduce after this kind of a beginning whether the book will be predictable and see-through or not.

 

Fantasy

  • The biggest cliché in Fantasy, which most of you probably already know, is when the protagonist goes on some sort of a quest to- OhmiGod! – save the world.
  • Another very famous Fantasy cliché is when the protagonist has to overthrow an evil king to save the tortured people. Yawn.
  • Last, but by no means the least, is the cliché where the evil villain wants to take over the world (How’s that even possible? How exactly can one guy take over the entire world!?) And the main character has to fight him to save humanity.

 *Yawn*

Chick-Lit

  • One of the biggest turn offs in this kind of a book is when the heroine’s sister (who’s supposed to be very anti-heroine) is marrying the heroine’s now ex boyfriend, who became the ex because he started an affair with the sister while the heroine and he were together. It is soooo overused!
  • I hate it when there’s this whole thing where there is this one good guy, like, really good, who’s well settled, handsome and totally nice, who likes the heroine. Then there’s this other guy who’s everything the good guy isn’t. The good guy is really nice, but he doesn’t set the heroine’s heart racing. He’s really cute, but he isn’t- note these words; I have them memorised now- ruggedly handsome. He’s the guy the heroine ought to fall in love with, but he always gets the shorter end of the stick.
    Give me a break! That is really not how it actually happens, and I just wish there were as many good guys around as novels make them out to be.
  • The gay best friend. Because obviously every girl has that gay best friend who loves shoes as much as her. #sarcasm.
  • Shoes bring me to another cliché- where the heroine has a fetish for shopping for shoes. Or any other one thing, really. Does there really have to be one thing that the heroine loves to buy? In real life girls actually love to buy a mixture of everything.  
  • The nagging mother is one chick lit character who is seriously overused. Although true sometimes, not every mother is overbearing. Give the poor moms the benefit of doubt, at least!

 

Crime Fiction

  • One cliché in this kind of a novel is when the main character has seen someone close to them get murdered, which made him/her choose the career they are in. Then a case comes along for them, solving which automatically leads them to solving this past murder, i.e., this case and the murder of their loved one are interconnected.
    Nobody ever thinks that the odds of that happening are almost impossible.
  • The detective that drives a really flashy car. I don’t have anything against cool cars, but seriously, would you tail somebody in something as conspicuous as a Ferrari? Or an Audi?
  • The tough guy who, despite doctors warning him, checks himself out of the hospital to solve the case. Wow, now that’s what I call dedication.
  • Cops who can’t manage relationships – and/or whose spouses can’t handle their jobs. What did they expect when they married a cop? A 9-5 job with no stress? 

 Young Adult

  • As anyone might have expected, the first point on this list just has to be- Vampires.
    These young adult novels could well be called vampire novels now. Almost every other Y/A book that I see, involves a vampire story line in some way or the other.
  • Love Triangles. Especially when the girl is indecisive *cough* Bella *cough*.
  • This is a personal opinion, and not exactly a cliché, but I’d really like to tell all authors out there that a teenager does not have only a love life worth writing about- a Y/A book should be, and could be, about so much more than that!
  • The biggest thing that annoys me in Y/A are the absent parents. Not everybody’s parents are like that, and this kind of a plot simply lacks originality.
  • Then, there are the characters, whom I would absolutely kill if given a chance. Being a teenager, what really irritates me, is how can I not relate with the main character? I should be able to. But I guess I am nowhere like the TSTL (short for Too Stupid To Live) heroine (Fortunately!). Also, teenagers are shown to be so pathetic! We’re not all that shallow!
  •  Another cliché is when the nerd attracts the most handsome guy of the class: Give. Me. A. Break!

These are just some clichés that I feel are used a bit too much. Of course, a few of these, you might even like, but that doesn’t make them any less over-used.

A lot of them have also been used in hugely popular novels, some of which I liked too. This article is not to say that those novels were wrong in any way. The authors concerned obviously handled these plots excellently, which is why their books are successful. But often, when writers cannot think of an original story line, they give in and follow clichés, which is when their novels become tiring.
Also, it is not that an author becomes clichéd when he/she uses one of these plots in one of his/her novels. It is usually when they use a mixture of these in almost all their books that they become hugely predictable.

 

This post was written by

Anushka – who has written 54 posts on Vault of Books.
Anushka is a bright eyed sixteen year old, currently in Grade Eleven. She’s changed nearly seven schools, and has travelled to a lot of places, and thus has a varied taste in almost every thing. She believes that variety is the spice of life, and books are no different.
She’s passionate about reading and writing, and her favourite genres include Romance, like every other girl out there; Romantic Suspense; Mystery and Thrillers. However, as aforementioned, she believes in experimenting and is game to try out different kinds of books.
A little inactive at the moment due to the ever increasing workload of school and studies, she hopes to devote more time to reviewing soon!

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  • Shriya

    Contemporary Romance:

    Fuck buddies. No relationship. Just lots of Sex. Girl falls in love. Guy walks out. Realizes his fault. Comes back and says a couple of pathetic lines. Girl forgives and Happy-Ever-After. *Cough* Rachel Gibson *Cough*

    Young Adult:

    New girl/boy at school. Instant attraction. Mysterious disappearances. Hero with special powers to the rescue.

    • Anushka

      Bwahahaahaa xD
      Oh God, yes! How could I forget those?

      Especially the Rachel Gibson thing. It is totally PATHETIC! And I really don’t understand how these kind of novels sell. I mean, the people who buy these novels, have they seriously not become tired of reading the same damn things again and again!?

  • Shriya

    Contemporary Romance:

    Fuck buddies. No relationship. Just lots of Sex. Girl falls in love. Guy walks out. Realizes his fault. Comes back and says a couple of pathetic lines. Girl forgives and Happy-Ever-After. *Cough* Rachel Gibson *Cough*

    Young Adult:

    New girl/boy at school. Instant attraction. Mysterious disappearances. Hero with special powers to the rescue.

    • Anushka

      Bwahahaahaa xD
      Oh God, yes! How could I forget those?

      Especially the Rachel Gibson thing. It is totally PATHETIC! And I really don’t understand how these kind of novels sell. I mean, the people who buy these novels, have they seriously not become tired of reading the same damn things again and again!?

  • Shival

    Great article. Glad to know at least someone is counting the cliches.

    • Anushka

      Thank You Glad you liked it.
      Oh, and by the way, Someone had to xD

  • Sneha

    Oh Yeah, Anushka!!

    Seriously, it has become really very common : ‘a girl is in distress and is rescued by a boy who ultimately turns to be her boyfriend.’ Gimme a break! Its NOT at all realistic.
    Usually, its your family who saves you. Not an unknown person who even doesn’t know your name. I mean, why would a stranger gamble on his life to save you? @_@

    BTW, good job as always!

    • Anushka

      Thank You

    • Anushka

      Thank You

  • Sneha

    Oh Yeah, Anushka!!

    Seriously, it has become really very common : ‘a girl is in distress and is rescued by a boy who ultimately turns to be her boyfriend.’ Gimme a break! Its NOT at all realistic.
    Usually, its your family who saves you. Not an unknown person who even doesn’t know your name. I mean, why would a stranger gamble on his life to save you? @_@

    BTW, good job as always!

  • Riya

    Awesome article Anushka! I love the topic on which you wrote it.

    Here are some of the cliches which I feel -

    When the heroine is kissing some one and the hero is SO jealous, he breaks something etc. etc. even though at that time he is trying to avoid her.

    Or

    The hero wants the heroine to go away and is looking for a perfect guy for her. He makes a list, but- oh!- it turns out he manages to find some problem with all hundreds of guys listen in that list.
    (I hate to name the author but it is – Judith McNaught)

    I admit, I loved it the first time , even the second time. But by the third time, it got on my nerve.

    • Anushka

      Thanks Riya di

      Good ones. And both of these get on MY nerves as well.
      You supposedly want the girl to get away from you because you are supposedly not good enough for her, but when she starts to move on, you’re jealous!?
      Stupid as hell.

    • Anushka

      Thanks Riya di

      Good ones. And both of these get on MY nerves as well.
      You supposedly want the girl to get away from you because you are supposedly not good enough for her, but when she starts to move on, you’re jealous!?
      Stupid as hell.

  • Riya

    The Chick-lit second point- “I hate it when there’s this whole thing where there is this one good guy, like, really good, who’s well settled, handsome and totally nice, who likes the heroine… He’s the guy the heroine ought to fall in love with, but he always gets the shorter end of the stick.”

    I agree with you whole-heartedly. I wish some one would make me meet some of those guys too

    Hey will you do me a favor?
    There’s this one point you mentioned-

    “The nagging mother is one chick lit character who is seriously overused. Although true sometimes, not every mother is overbearing. Give the poor moms the benefit of doubt, at least!-”

    Can you please mention that point to my sister?

    One point which I felt in the Crime Fiction area was-

    Three-fourth of what I’ve read ends up with the hero saving “The President” from a terrorist attack, etc. etc.
    Why does all thriller HAVE TO, HAVE TO include The President’s safety?

    • http://shriyagarg.co.cc/ Shriya

      Byotch. Shut up. Next time, instead of a nagging mother, I’ll put in a nagging sister.

      @Anushka: In the four books I have written, the mother is dead in two of them. In the third one, she is a pain in the ass and in the fourth one, she has gone on a world tour, so that I don’t have to write in her scenes. Complete co-incidence. I love my mum.

      • http://shriyagarg.co.cc/ Shriya

        Historical romance: Reformed rakes. I forgot that one.

        • Riya

          Come on! That is the one cliche I like.

          You know, there is this quote by Judith McNaught-
          “Reformed rakes make the best husband”.

          When a terribly handsome hero and a playboy leaves all the girls behind for the heroine, it just melts my heart.

          • Anushka

            Shadow Dance was okay, but that I didn’t LOVE it. Not that part at least
            Plus, I was actually talking with Historicals in mind.

          • Anushka

            I liked everything else but that in it

            And it isn’t just a bit cheesy. It is beyond cheesy. The thing is, first of all, it’s so predictable and repetitive.
            Secondly, it’s idiotic at times, depending upon the author’s writing.

            But as I’ve mentioned before, I was talking with historicals in mind. So those examples weren’t the books I was talking about. In contemporary it’s sort of believable, but in historicals: I hate it.

          • Anushka

            I liked everything else but that in it

            And it isn’t just a bit cheesy. It is beyond cheesy. The thing is, first of all, it’s so predictable and repetitive.
            Secondly, it’s idiotic at times, depending upon the author’s writing.

            But as I’ve mentioned before, I was talking with historicals in mind. So those examples weren’t the books I was talking about. In contemporary it’s sort of believable, but in historicals: I hate it.

        • Anushka

          I’ve mentioned it.

          “Mainly seen in historical romance, this is one cliché that I absolutely hate- When the millionaire playboy gets transformed into idiot lover boy for the sweet as sugar heroine. Yeah, right.”

          And Riya di, the fact that you like it doesn’t make it any less of a cliche, does it?
          And I hate that kind of a plot, btw

          • Riya

            Ah, shoot! Come on, didn’t you love “Shadow Dance”?
            Noah Clayborne- a very sexy FBI agent AND a Playboy, turns into a one woman man for our nerdy Jordan.

          • Riya

            You’ve got to be kidding me!
            Then what did you like in Shadow Dance if NOT that part?

            I absolutely love the part when the heroine gets critically injured or the hero thinks she is dead and the hero is destroyed and devastated and the man who couldn’t cry at first cries. (I know it’s a bit cheesy, still….)

            Think about it. It happened in Breaking Point, Something Wonderful. Once and Always, Shadow Dance and many more.

      • Riya

        @Shriya- Please do and put HER sister as the bossiest and the most stubborn person who when writes, somehow, makes all her heroines mom’s a pain in the ass.

        @Anushka- I guess you would agree with me.

    • http://shriyagarg.co.cc/ Shriya

      Byotch. Shut up. Next time, instead of a nagging mother, I’ll put in a nagging sister.

      @Anushka: In the four books I have written, the mother is dead in two of them. In the third one, she is a pain in the ass and in the fourth one, she has gone on a world tour, so that I don’t have to write in her scenes. Complete co-incidence. I love my mum.

      • Riya

        @Shriya- Please do and put HER sister as the bossiest and the most stubborn person who when writes, somehow, makes all her heroines mom’s a pain in the ass.

        @Anushka- I guess you would agree with me.

    • Anushka

      Hahaa, those guys don’t exist di, stop dreaming

      Okay, I’m SO staying out of that one. Shriya di, you don’t have to explain anything to me. No justifications needed.
      And yeah, I read your blog, so I know how MUCH you love your mother. Like, seriously. You adore her.
      Btw, we were talking about your characters’ mothers, not yours
      Plus, I’ve read only one (and a half I guess) of your novels….so I shouldn’t judge.

      And Riya di, that Crime Fiction Point- EXACTLY! Especially David Baldacci. All his thrillers tie back to the president!

      • Riya

        Clever, to stay diplomatic. You’ll reach great heights in your future

        Why do all the thrillers I read end up with the President’s assassination or the hero being selected as the President(s) of United States

    • Anushka

      Hahaa, those guys don’t exist di, stop dreaming

      Okay, I’m SO staying out of that one. Shriya di, you don’t have to explain anything to me. No justifications needed.
      And yeah, I read your blog, so I know how MUCH you love your mother. Like, seriously. You adore her.
      Btw, we were talking about your characters’ mothers, not yours
      Plus, I’ve read only one (and a half I guess) of your novels….so I shouldn’t judge.

      And Riya di, that Crime Fiction Point- EXACTLY! Especially David Baldacci. All his thrillers tie back to the president!

      • Riya

        Clever, to stay diplomatic. You’ll reach great heights in your future

        Why do all the thrillers I read end up with the President’s assassination or the hero being selected as the President(s) of United States

  • Anukriti

    Some cliches I would like to add are-

    When a mysterious boy comes to school. The heroine is attracted to her. She leaves her boy friend for him. Leaves her whole family (gives up EVERYTHING for that Vampire boyfriend- You get WHOM I am talking about )

    And when heroines are told not to go out because they are in danger
    but stupidly they do and then- woah!- the hero comes to her rescue.
    Stupid heroine!

    • Anushka

      Totally. I can see the TSTL (Too stupid to live) syndrome here

      • Riya

        Lmao, seriously!

  • http://shriyagarg.co.cc/ Shriya

    Historical romance: Reformed rakes. I forgot that one.

    • Riya

      Come on! That is the one cliche I like.

      You know, there is this quote by Judith McNaught-
      “Reformed rakes make the best husband”.

      When a terribly handsome hero and a playboy leaves all the girls behind for the heroine, it just melts my heart.

      • Anushka

        Shadow Dance was okay, but that I didn’t LOVE it. Not that part at least
        Plus, I was actually talking with Historicals in mind.

      • Anushka

        I liked everything else but that in it

        And it isn’t just a bit cheesy. It is beyond cheesy. The thing is, first of all, it’s so predictable and repetitive.
        Secondly, it’s idiotic at times, depending upon the author’s writing.

        But as I’ve mentioned before, I was talking with historicals in mind. So those examples weren’t the books I was talking about. In contemporary it’s sort of believable, but in historicals: I hate it.

    • Anushka

      I’ve mentioned it.

      “Mainly seen in historical romance, this is one cliché that I absolutely hate- When the millionaire playboy gets transformed into idiot lover boy for the sweet as sugar heroine. Yeah, right.”

      And Riya di, the fact that you like it doesn’t make it any less of a cliche, does it?
      And I hate that kind of a plot, btw

      • Riya

        Ah, shoot! Come on, didn’t you love “Shadow Dance”?
        Noah Clayborne- a very sexy FBI agent AND a Playboy, turns into a one woman man for our nerdy Jordan.

      • Riya

        You’ve got to be kidding me!
        Then what did you like in Shadow Dance if NOT that part?

        I absolutely love the part when the heroine gets critically injured or the hero thinks she is dead and the hero is destroyed and devastated and the man who couldn’t cry at first cries. (I know it’s a bit cheesy, still….)

        Think about it. It happened in Breaking Point, Something Wonderful. Once and Always, Shadow Dance and many more.

  • Aniesha Brahma

    Very insightful.

  • Shival

    Great article. Glad to know at least someone is counting the cliches.

  • Anushka

    Thank You Glad you liked it.
    Oh, and by the way, Someone had to xD

  • Anukriti

    Some cliches I would like to add are-

    When a mysterious boy comes to school. The heroine is attracted to her. She leaves her boy friend for him. Leaves her whole family (gives up EVERYTHING for that Vampire boyfriend- You get WHOM I am talking about )

    And when heroines are told not to go out because they are in danger
    but stupidly they do and then- woah!- the hero comes to her rescue.
    Stupid heroine!

  • Anushka

    Totally. I can see the TSTL (Too stupid to live) syndrome here

  • Riya

    Lmao, seriously!