Become Quote by Patrick Rothfuss
“The problem with dragons is that everyone uses them. All the time. When that happens, they become commonplace. A lot of people think you can just throw them into a story and suddenly whatever you're writing is 28% cooler. But that doesn't work. All that does is make dragons into some boring cliche.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Writer's Journey, 2015
Overused symbols like dragons become cliché when they lose originality; creative effort is needed to keep them fresh.
In simple terms: Common tropes become boring.
Key Takeaway
Innovate beyond clichés.
Themes
creativity
writing
originality
genre conventions
Mood
critical
inspired
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- game design
- screenwriting
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
literary criticism
storytelling
imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you reinvent a familiar element?
- What fresh perspectives can you bring to a trope?
A Different Perspective
Relying on clichés can make work predictable and dull.
