Take a widely-known cliché character – the ditzy cheerleader, the dumb jock, the workaholic lawyer, the no-good cheating husband, the cat lady, etc. – and turn it on its head. How could a woman own 30 cats surprise the reader in new ways? How could you write a story about a cheerleading squad in a way that the audience would never expect?
Then take a look at your own characters: Where are they prone to clichés? How could you surprise your audience in new ways, giving them a character they’ve never seen before?
