Are You Repeating Yourself? How to Spot—and Break—Your Personal Writing Clichés

Here’s something to think about. There’s a line from the movie Last Night, in which Keira Knightley’s character, who is a writer, says,

You live with your first book all your life…. It comes out on its own. After that, though, it’s different. You can suddenly write anything.

That First Book Is Different

Here’s the thing: that first book is usually the product of our deepest selves. When we’re writing it, we’re not thinking about saving ideas for future books (which is good; pour out everything you’ve got into the book you’re writing, because who knows if you’ll get the chance to write another). No, what we’re doing in that first book is writing the characters and themes that are strongest and most meaningful in our own subconscious.

But Then Comes Book Two… and Three

But then, when we start that second or third book, we’re often going to come to a moment in which we lean back in our desk chairs and realize we’re essentially writing the same story. Same character types, same basic themes, maybe even the same settings and plots. We’re just dressing them up a little differently.

The Story You Keep Telling

If we look at the bottom line on this, I have to say I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I tend to think each of us only ever has one story to tell, and we just keep telling it in different ways.

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be aware that we’re essentially perpetuating our own personal clichés.

Spotting Your Personal Writing Clichés

For example:

• Maybe your bad guys are always smarmy.
• Maybe your bad guys are always white collar.
• Maybe your hero always has a beloved pet.
• Maybe your protagonist is always an orphan.

These things are ultimately less about the heart of your story and more about window dressing. They’re part of what makes your voice yours, but they can also become blind spots.

So the next time you sit down to write, challenge yourself. Think back over all the characters you’ve written and list how they’re similar. What archetypes, plot beats, or character arcs do you keep returning to? How can you break that mold in your next book to take a fresh look at even familiar themes?

In Summary

Even if you’re writing the same core story over and over, that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. In fact, it probably means you’re tapping into something meaningful. But noticing your patterns—and questioning them—can help you evolve as a writer and keep your stories feeling fresh and authentic.

Key Takeaways

• Writers often repeat characters, plots, and themes found in thier first book.
• These recurring patterns usually stem from deep subconscious truths.
• Becoming aware of your personal writing clichés can help you keep evolving.
• Use self-reflection to identify repeating elements and decide whether to embrace or subvert them.

Wordplayers, tell me your opinions! Have you ever noticed any repeating patterns—or personal clichés–cropping up in your stories? Were they intentional, or did they surprise you? How have you worked with or against those patterns in your writing? Tell me in the comments!