Cliches I Have Known and Loved

During these lazy, hazy days of summer, I decided to write about what is supposed to be lazy writing—clichés.

I love a good cliché. As soon as you hear one you know exactly what the writer or person is saying. So easy. Such an economy of words. As a writer it’s verboten to use clichés. I must leave my precious cliché babies behind.

Here’s an ode to that which I must not use. Enjoy these oldies but goodies and a few new ones.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Life’s not so bad, when you consider the alternative.

All’s fair in love and war.

There are plenty more fish in the sea. (Not so much anymore).

It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. (Is it?).

Beauty is only skin deep. (Tell that to the guys lusting after supermodels).

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. (See above note).

You can’t tell a book by its cover. (Maybe not, but a good cover is essential).

I’m not ugly; I’m visually challenging. (Okay. I never heard this one but I like it).

It’s what’s on the inside that really matters. (See above re supermodels and lust).

If you can’t beat them, join them.

Nobody is perfect.

I’m only human.

The devil made me do it.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Tomorrow, no one will remember (Ya think?)

Avoid clichés like the plague. (There are many things you need to avoid like the plague).

There is truth in every cliché. (This is why I love them).

Clichés sound better in a foreign language. (Ah, that’s how I can get away with using them in my writing).

There is nothing to fear but fear itself. (Good one, but overused).

Life sucks and then you die.

When God gives you lemons, make lemonade (I prefer to wallow in self-pity).

Life is a bitch. (Ain’t that the truth). Also, Karma is a bitch.

When it rains, it pours.

No pain, no gain.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

I did it my way. (Or at least Sinatra did).

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Have a nice life.

Live and learn.

To be or not to be.

Live and let live.

Shit happens.

Laughter is the best medicine.

Same shit, different day.

Carpe diem. (See clichés, foreign language above)

What goes around comes around.

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.

Life is messy.

Que sera, sera. (Ditto clichés and foreign languages)

Time will tell.

No news is good news.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Haste makes waste.

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

Do it right the first time. (Easy to say, hard to do)

There, I’ve done it. I’ve gotten my need for clichés out of my system. I will never again write one in a book. I promise (fingers crossed).

Feel free to add your favorites.

Chill out this summer by filling your Kindle with lots of hot romance novels. 

Check out my website: www.caramarsi.com for a list of all my mostly cliche-free books and short stories. I hope you'll find some favorites there.

STAY CALM AND READ A BOOK!