All those years I listened to reporters bitching that the copy desk was crushing their creativity I also marveled at their fondness for hackneyed devices. It may be that they think, as one reporter once told me, "It's not a cliche when I use it," but readers are undeceived.
If you feel tempted to use any of these, reach for the nearest book and bring it down smartly on your hand. (Readers should feel free to add items in the comments.)
Something and something and something, oh my!
Meet Firstname Lastname.
It's not your grandfathers'/father's X.
Webster's defines X as ...
Welcome to ...
Yes, Virginia ...
Ah, X.
It was an X seasonal, X weathery day ...
Any opening that asks a question, to which the reader's likely response is "Who cares?"
The good news is, the bad news is ...
A sentence that some situation is "still" the case, tipping the reader that the story offers nothing new.
The "X is not alone," "X is not the only" transition from an anecdotal opening. Just get on with it. The reader knows how this convention works.
