I would consider myself to be an anti-cliché writer. Most of my stories very deliberately avoid certain clichés, especially plot armor.
To avoid clichés, there's only a few things you really need to consider:
Is what you're writing realistic?
That is, if events will play out like they did in the way you wrote them. Bear in mind that the story shouldn't be told in the eyes of your character, but rather your character should be told in the context of the story. The way I learned this skill was through roleplaying, where you no longer have control over the environment surrounding your character(s).
Are you falling into certain habits to lead your characters in certain situations?
Deus Ex Machina and plot armor are two forms of "cheap writing" that often lead to clichés. There are certain things that you will catch a habit of if you have your eyes on a set goal, in turn ignoring everything else that is going on in your story.
Can you reroute your story in a different direction?
Reenforcing the second point, this question ultimately identifies any immediate clichés you have in your story. I usually like to say that the story behind a novel is never finished until it is published. With this in mind, a story should formulate around a cause and effect system, which allows it to be flexible. Usually, clichés can cause an entire story to collapse if it is looked at from a new angle or direction.
And ultimately, not all clichés are inherently bad. A cliché is a cliché for a reason—We writers use it so much and love it because it is good. It is the overuse of clichés that will truly lead to your downfall.
And that's my opinion. Hope it's intuitive.
