Fic Talk > General Discussion
Fanfic cliches
RokofAges75:
What are some of the cliches you notice in Bsb fanfic?
I started reading this series the other day that more than one person had recommended to me. I won't say what it was, so as not to offend anyone, but it wasn't on AC. Anyway, I started the first story, which everyone had told me was so amazing, and all I read was cliche after cliche. The writing wasn't bad, but the plot seemed to predictable and overdone that it didn't interest me at all. But it was an older story, so I thought, "Well, maybe the series gets better with the later stories."
So I clicked to the last story in the series and started reading, thinking that if it seemed a lot better, I would go back and give the first story more of a chance. But all I found were even more ridiculous cliches, so ridiculous they were funny, so at that point I gave up on it. I know I'm picky, but I've read so many GOOD stories with the old cliched storylines that I can't get into ones that are less than stellar. It's just pointless.
Anyway, I was thinking of making up some sort of "litmus" test for Bsb fanfic cliches, kinda like the Mary Sue one we did on here once. So I need you to start listing cliches. Not just for romance either - think of all the cliched stuff that happens in drama, angst, suspense, action, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. Cause there are cliches for all of them, but I haven't read enough in certain genres to know very many.
I'm looking for stuff like bus crashes, car crashes, a character getting cancer, kidnappings, all that good stuff LOL.
MellzBellz:
OMG there are SOOO many lol. I think its really hard NOT to write something cliched. I believe that the trick is to take that cliched plotline and do something to make it a little different.
I feel that certain plotlines tend to go through phases. Like for instance they'll be one REALLY sucessful "best friends" story. Then they'll be ten others that come out all at once afterwards and each one is progressively worse until everyone is just sick of best friends and it becomes cliched. Does anyone else notice this or is it just me?
DragonStar:
What about the "girl meets BSB, *insert BSB name here* acts like he hates her until he finally admits he's in love with her." It can make for an interesting story when it's not totally obvious that *insert BSB name here* likes said girl.
I can't say I don't feel like a hypocrite for talking about cliches when I tend to use some of them. I try not to, and if I feel like I am then I try and figure out how to de-cliche whatever the issue is, but I can't help but feel like that lol.
mare:
There are plenty of fanfic cliches out there lol
To add to what Mel said, it seems like the problem is with every new story that gets written the cliche becomes more exaggerated until you feel like you're reading the Lifetime networks version of the story. (That was meant as an insult I hate the Lifetime Network lmao)
I know stories everyone tends to love I tend to think they are overly cliched a lot of the time lol
Probably the biggest one in suspense is of course the stalker or kidnapper, Always directed at Nick and I am guilty of writing a few storylines with this plot as well lmao *hangs head in shame*
The standard formula tends to be boy is being watched by stalker, recieves threats but doesn't take them seriously until it's too late.
I have to say since suspense has died down a bit to almost zilch, I haven't seen any good old fashioned kidnapping stories anymore but usually a bus crash is involved or it happens backstage at a concert.
The biggest cliche I have noticed in medical type dramas is the failure of the sick person (again usually Nick lol) to tell anyone he's sick until it's too late.
Other general overly done cliches:
- having Lou Pearlman be the bad guy
- having Leighanne be everyone's BFF
- the boys played out OVERLY stereotypical i.e. AJ the lonely alcoholic, Nick the womanizer, Brian the God boy, Howie the well...Howie lol, Kevin the anal one
- the boys always having long drawn out conversations about the main female character
- Nick acting younger than his age (we've discussed this one before. I doubt kevin carried Nick up to bed when he was 13 lmao unless his legs were broken)
- song lyrics lol (okay not sure if this is a cliche but it's a pet peeve)
- two friends fighting over the same boy or girl.
- the use of Frick and Frack
That's all I can think of for now lol
nicksgal:
I think in fantasy it's putting the guys in a Camelot type setting... I don't know why it's considered fantasy and not historical or a crossover, but...
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