My sentences are too long, but the paragraphs are too short. Colloquialisms abound in my work, but it doesn’t feel “real” enough. My papers are not finished and run past the page limit, or the polished and complete prose stop a mile short of the minimum. When it rains, it pours-- wait, I shouldn’t use that expression. It’s engraved in our minds as writers to think outside the box in order to avoid clichés. But honestly that begs the question. If a cliché or two manages to slip into a piece being written, I don’t mind. After all, I've learned not to cry over spilled milk. I’m happy as a clam as long as the piece gets the point across.

I remember sitting in my introduction to creative nonfiction class listening to the instructor as she spread her words of wisdom among us. The nonfiction genre was new and quite frankly uninteresting to me. Honestly only taking it to fulfill a requirement. But, as they say you should keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, I made an effort to listen and abide the rules.

Except for one. Clichés.

The nonfiction instructor was absolutely adamant about avoiding the use of clichés. Obviously this wasn’t new news to me, I’ve heard this advice for a solid decade and I heeded it without question every time. But it just felt wrong.

We were building “creative nonfiction” pieces revolving around actual events and activities in our lives. And we’re supposed to avoid clichés? How can we avoid writing about something that happens so frequently? What some might call “cringe-worthy” puns and clichés flourish naturally in my everyday life, and I’m not sorry about it. When I talk, I don’t try to censor the clichés with large words which would require a dictionary to understand what they mean. So I should I try to hide them in my writing, in a class centered around writing about me?

This sparked something in me, which I’m not sure is a good thing.

Thereafter I took my question about clichés from class to class. Specifically, creative writing classes, where creating short stories, prose, and poetry is the norm. Instructors, peers, and critics often say you should create believable characters in your writing. You want them to feel real. Which is why I incorporate cliché dialogue or action into pieces. During peer-feedback sessions people will be pleased with that tone and voice of my piece, but a few weeks prior they were preaching against what I feel made mine a strong piece.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to hang all the instructors out to dry that I’ve had over the years. Quite the opposite in fact. Without doubt I would not be in the same place now. After all, it’s hard to question a narrative without someone to provide me with one.

Clichés could break or build the tension. The line could be the comedic relief needed lighten otherwise somber section. Perhaps even being the perfect opening hook to a story, or the smooth closing you've dreamt of. The possibilities are endless. Heaven help us if the world loses its clichés