Worldbuilding: How to avoid clichéd writing

One way to NOT be clichéd is to use metaphors from the universe you’re in.

JK Rowling is great at this. Harry feels as excited as when Griffyndor won the house cup. Not as “happy as a clam” or “so happy he would burst.” The metaphor is squarely in the world of Harry Potter and makes it nowhere near clichéd.

Other examples with Rick Riordan: Magnus Chase isn’t just irritated; he’s bummed that his talking disco sword has a better social life than he does. That kind of unique writing makes the reader pay attention instead of glossing over a tried and true phrase.

You glossed over “tried and true,” didn’t you?

So using specifics in the world you’re building is a great way to avoid clichés.

It doesn’t have to be in the fantasy world either. The character can feel as elated as she did when she scored an A on the history test Mr. S gave or as dejected as when character X left.

I’m a big fan of using the world of the story to build metaphors and emotions.