I wanna talk, guys. About what, you ask? You ask, because you want to talk, right? Not because you're totally humoring me. I knew it. Yay!
So I wanted to talk about pet peeves in writing/reading. You know, that reoccurring theme you see in a crap ton paranormal novels, that stereotypical character, that bad review that makes no sense, the glowing fangurl praise that doesn't make sense either, etc.
This is your chance to tell me what your pet peeve is about anything related to writing and/or reading.
I'm a little crabby today b/c it's been pouring rain here ALL day, so maybe my pet peeve will seem more peevish than it should, but I HATE the whole, "I love him. He's beautiful. He might kill me, but I don't care because I love him and he's beautiful" thing that happens in 3 out of 5 paranormal romance novels. I really wanted to like Hush Hush and Crescendo, but I couldn't get past that part. (Of course, will I read #3? Absolutely. So there's that.)
ReplyDeleteI also hate the phrase in queries when someone writes: she/he MUST....do whatever. I think it's weak and if I were an agent that would mean a form rejection every time. Of course I'm unagented. So there's that. :)
Ah Brenda, I know what you are saying. Especially when said character thought said character killed said character and she was all like, I lurves you still.
ReplyDeleteWhat.
But I will still read the third one, too.
...Constant random and/or sudden POV changes. If handled right and --consistantly-- I can live with them and enjoy the multiple perspectives it's all good. However, you take me on a journey with ONE character, or even a few for a big chunk of the book and I'm happy with them, and suddenly you WHISK me into another POV for a few chapters (like, I don't know...the villain (biggest peeve of all)) I am righteously PO'd and will not pick up your book for another few months!
ReplyDeleteThat and meaningless sad endings that give no closure, but at least I read through the entire book with those.
I agree with b.e.t. about sad endings with no closure.
ReplyDeleteI don't like random pov changes. I don't like the I love you but your a murderer thing in paranormal romances and I really don't like the instant love thing. I mean, I'll read books where characters meet and are instantly in love but I'm internally snorting because it's so unbelievable. If you feel that way about someone the first time you meet them... it's lust not love. That being said if these characters knew each other before the books starts and suddenly see each other in a different light, then that's different. I'm sure I have more cause I'm picky but I can't think of them right now.
ReplyDeleteI get annoyed when writers stop in the middle of a novel and start lecturing. Crichton did it with matters of science. Clancy does it with military hardware.
ReplyDeleteThe readers, meanwhile, roll their eyes.
Have to say, I'm getting tired of the tall, wavy-haired, rich, insert paranormal attribute here love interest that seems to be in way too many YAs these days.
ReplyDeleteYou guys have some great point and I agree with all of them.
ReplyDeleteMy pet peeve? People who review and rate a book they haven't read. Especially new releases that don't even have ARCs out on them. Even if its a positive reading, it's not really accurate.
My pet peeve is when the book is in 1st-person alternating pov and the 'voices' of the characters aren't different enough from each other, so I'm totally confused as to what's going on and I keep checking the beginning of the chapter to see who's 'talking'. I don't know why, but that really bothers me - it just interrupts the flow of the story.
ReplyDeleteI don't like when the actual story doesn't start or completely changes out of no where until half way though the book. Makes me wonder if the author had an outline.
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