Writing Workshop.

Great topic^_^

What are some of the clichés that should be avoided at all costs?

Thank you.

At all cost? That is a hard one. Depends a bit on the genre but here is a short list of three that I think should be avoided.

Killing of a main character only to resurrect him/her to make a happy ending.
To kill a main character is a good way to make a climax, a good writer knows that. A bad writer decides to resurrect said character, without any consequences. Compare with zombies or vampires, creatures returned from the dead and suffers the consequences. It is a lazy way to give the readers what they expect/want but not in a satisfying way.

A stupid and not evil villain.
A combination of two clichés:
1. A villain that is stupid. Examples, a hundred of them: http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html
2. A villain that is not evil. My example is from Harry Potter. Voldemort was evil, they spend all the books telling the reader about how evil he was in the past - what he does in the actual story? Nothing really. Darth Vader from the Star Wars Episode 4,5 and 6. He kills more imperial officers than he does rebels - he just looks evil.

Making the most unimportant character the most important character.
Remember that man/woman that the author mentions for on or two sentences? He/she will save the day or give the protagonist just what he needs to do it.

Great tips^_^

What are some great brain storming techniques when a writer is stumped.

The first thing to do is to figure out why you, the author, finds it impossible to continue writing. Oftentimes there is a reason why the ideas and words stop coming to your head like they used too.

It could be because of personal problems. A stressing situation at work, a failing relationship, thoughts that always linger in the back of your head and block all creativity. If the problem is of this nature writing is perhaps not the thing to focus your time on. Reading is a escapism. Writing is not.

It could be because there is a problem with the story. Maybe the chapter or passage you are about to write is not interesting enough? Has the idea or theme you started with changed to much? Is the main character boring?

My point? Brainstorming is what you do once you have found the problem with you story. So now on to some brainstorming techniques.

Making a mind map.
A good way to chart out the relationship between the characters and the story and find that idea or theme you lost once you started writing.

Discussing your work with other authors/creators.
A writing group can both help you find what is 'wrong' with the story, help you in the thinking process and boost your writing morale. Forum threads about writing, like this one, can also help you find the problem with a piece and give advice on how to mend it.

Rewrite a part of the story with a new protagonist.
By changing the protagonist from man to woman or from a lone wolf to that popular girl it will change the story. Perhaps that will make it more interesting to write and if it is more interesting to write it is also more interesting to read.

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

When is a good time to write the title of a story? After the story is finished or before it's written?

I always have some title for a project and some times that first title sticks and some times it doesn't. It depends on how much the story changes and grows away from that first title - if the title looses its intended meaning it is time to find a new one.

I am very reluctant to change titles myself and tend to stick to that first title. When a change the title of a project it often decide once it is finished, that way I don't have to change it a third time.

How do you make an antagonist lovable or love to hate?