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Which literary devices are overused and should be avoided in contemporary writing?

Deric Klein

Well, I'm not necessarily an expert in literary devices and I'm not sure if there's a consensus on which ones should be avoided. However, from my personal experience as a reader, I think some common devices can become tiresome if they're used too frequently or in a clumsy way.

For instance, I've read so many books where the protagonist has a dream or a flashback that conveniently explains their backstory or foreshadows events to come. I understand why authors might use this technique, but when it's done in a cliched or predictable way, it just feels lazy to me. Similarly, I think some authors rely too heavily on foreshadowing in general, either by hinting too obviously at what's coming or by trying to be too clever and oblique. It's a delicate balance, and when it's off, it can make the reader feel like they're being hit over the head with a sledgehammer or being kept at arm's length from the story.

Another device that can be grating for me is using flowery or overly descriptive language. I appreciate beautiful prose as much as anyone, but there's a difference between using evocative imagery and getting bogged down in unnecessary details. When every noun is modified by three adjectives and every verb is swapped out for a fancier synonym, it can become distracting and slow down the pace of the story. Sometimes less is more.

Of course, these are just my opinions and there are plenty of people who might disagree with me. What works for one reader might not work for another, and what seems like a tired trope to me might be fresh and exciting to someone else. As long as the writing is engaging and the story is compelling, I'm willing to forgive a bit of overuse or predictability in the devices used.