Fantasy writers? Cliches!

Wizards with staffs. Seriously, when was the last time you read about a wizard who used, say, a broom?

Evil Uncles

Fledge said:

Wizards with staffs. Seriously, when was the last time you read about a wizard who used, say, a broom?

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or even absoloutly nothing! Just used their bare hands!

Tariel said:

or even absoloutly nothing! Just used their bare hands!

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Actually I saw one version of the story of Merlin that he used his bare hands.

GodFlute2 said:

Actually I saw one version of the story of Merlin that he used his bare hands.

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ok...that's one! See...not cliche

Megachihuahua said:

Elves.
Vampires.
Cthulu's cousin.
Must die.

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I have an original idea for a story, how about a male elf who get's turned into a vampire and then decides to marry a female dwarf. But the wedding is interrupted by Chuthulua's cousin.

Someone has probably already said this, but I think the 'gorgeous, perfect female meets up with the ruggedly handsome, perfect male under drastic circumstances, only to have an explosive argument and stop speaking to each other, only to then have to reconcile under yet another drastic circumstance' thing is used WAY too much.

jesusfreak10537 said:

Someone has probably already said this, but I think the 'gorgeous, perfect female meets up with the ruggedly handsome, perfect male under drastic circumstances, only to have an explosive argument and stop speaking to each other, only to then have to reconcile under yet another drastic circumstance' thing is used WAY too much.

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I agree

jesusfreak10537 said:

Someone has probably already said this, but I think the 'gorgeous, perfect female meets up with the ruggedly handsome, perfect male under drastic circumstances, only to have an explosive argument and stop speaking to each other, only to then have to reconcile under yet another drastic circumstance' thing is used WAY too much.

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People have trouble loving the ugly. It's genetic and it's unfortunate.

Megachihuahua said:

People have trouble loving the ugly. It's genetic and it's unfortunate.

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In Greek mythology, the ugly guy got the Goddess of Love.

DailyBlessings said:

In Greek mythology, the ugly guy got the Goddess of Love.

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Vulcan was crippled, not ugly.

Megachihuahua said:

People have trouble loving the ugly. It's genetic and it's unfortunate.

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but we're not talking ugly here...even just an average-looking girl would be nice

But all average girls are housemaids, and who ever heard of a housemaid-heroine? The whole hierarchy is pretty much set in stone. The gorgeous girl is either a noble or a slave, but never middle class. However, if she's a slave, her character is quite noble, but if she's a noble, there's a decent chance she'll have all the heart of a spider. On the male side of things, the hunk is either a noble or a lower-middle-class workingman by trade (not usually a slave though, interestingly enough). Again though, the lower-class citizen is inevitably stuffed full of noble character, and almost never a major villain. The handsome nobleman though is either a super hero or a super villain, never simply a handsome nobleman who simply shows up as a supporting character.

At least, this is the impression I get. Anybody else have anything to add?

How about dragon-slaying quests? I've even found fantasy magazines that won't accept any since they're that overdone.

While on the Greek Mythology subject, Hephestus was married to Aphrodite, but Ares was her favored lover. So as apposed to the brilliant master craftsman, she went for the embodiment of male over agression, cruelty, and testosterone overload. So its really just supporting the cliche, not an exception of it.

Slina said:

How about dragon-slaying quests? I've even found fantasy magazines that won't accept any since they're that overdone.

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You might want to read Dragondoom by Dennis McKerien. It is a little difficult to start, chapters jump around to different times in the characters lives.

However, once you can get into it, it has the best example, imo, of how an smart, evil dragon should act. Well worth the time to read.