Outtakes 87

Release 3-27-1213

When You Have Nothing To Say

By Cait Collins

I hate saying this, but I have nothing to take out of my mind this week. My thoughts are focused on responding to clients. After nine to ten hours of quoting contract provisions, calculating annual accrued interest, telling a beneficiary the contract was surrendered, and researching contract histories, I’m brain dead. I’m not sure I can write a coherent sentence much less create a well constructed blog.

This is one of those times when it’s best to say little and maintain a semblance of professionalism. Better to be thought a fool, than to type gibberish and remove all doubt. Less can be more. And if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Fake it til you make it. Wow, how many more clichés can I drop into this paragraph before I prove my mind is not functioning?

Writers prove their lack of vocabulary and ability to construct a story when the work is filled with clichés. While lines like “when hell freezes over” might be appropriate once in an entire novel, repeated over-used phrases ruin the work. Be creative. Instead of saying “you are not a blip on my radar” try “you’re not even a speed bump in my road.” Better yet, “and you are…?” All three indicate the character is not important to the speaker, but only one escapes sounding common place. Remember when “at the end of the day” was the hot saying. Newsmen, commentators, editorial writers used that line to the point of being irritating. At the end of the day, the writer or speaker showed a lack of originality

Used sparingly, some clichés might spice up your project. Just remember your original lines are better. Use your words instead of the old and tired.