tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post3003615148641778590..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: What Are Your Reading Pet Peeves? Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26501018891801642522015-08-28T09:06:08.948-04:002015-08-28T09:06:08.948-04:00Awesome, thank you! I probably will, as I get more...Awesome, thank you! I probably will, as I get more into it.Icewall42https://www.blogger.com/profile/05520153894018567289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-36656653131748207942015-08-27T16:08:48.647-04:002015-08-27T16:08:48.647-04:00Definitely English then, though I'll save you ...Definitely English then, though I'll save you the confusion of discussing all the little nuances lol. I've been riding since I was 4 myself, so almost 20 years, and I compete pretty heavily as well, so if you ever have questions, I'd be happy to help. :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06744570041672028259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-72116059329736512322015-08-27T15:34:29.354-04:002015-08-27T15:34:29.354-04:00Talking to a complete newbie, here! I think they a...Talking to a complete newbie, here! I think they are teaching me the English style? The saddle doesn't have a horn, so they started me with my hands on the horse's neck or with my fingers gripping under the saddle at the front. Getting the hang of it, but riding is quite a bit more demanding than I thought it would be. Exactly why I wanted to learn, to know what I'm talking about in my novel.Icewall42https://www.blogger.com/profile/05520153894018567289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-69155471822064186532015-08-21T21:31:54.532-04:002015-08-21T21:31:54.532-04:00First, understand I'm for girls and women bein...First, understand I'm for girls and women being assertive in a positive way, but I personally don't "Bossy" is a female-centric term. <br /><br />There are guys I'd call "Bossy" and female characters whose behavior <b>(not them as people, in general)</b> I'd call "Jerky." I think we have to think about HOW the word is used, not just that's it's used.<br /><br />It also doesn't help that in American English, the same word, spelled and pronounced the same way. can have several or more meanings.<br /><br /><a href="http://jamigold.com/2015/07/audiobooks-getting-started-with-acx-guest-amy-patrick/#comment-515691" rel="nofollow">Something I had to deal with in a video I made last year...</a><br /><b>(Not sharing the anecdote here directly due to suggestive language)</b><br /><br />Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-49412681704913047572015-08-19T17:03:58.209-04:002015-08-19T17:03:58.209-04:00I wouldn't blame the author every time. The bo...I wouldn't blame the author every time. The bossy thing could be due to how the character thinks.Jessi L. Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368094392959597176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81013524870140898982015-08-19T16:45:20.326-04:002015-08-19T16:45:20.326-04:00Hope I'm not too late to the party. :) Here a...Hope I'm not too late to the party. :) Here are some of my pet peeves:<br /><br />Having a love triangle then killing off one of the rivals so the hero/ine doesn't have to make a choice- she just goes with whoever is left. Leaving said `winner' to spend the rest of his or her life wondering if he/she is really loved- or just conveniently there. (Sigh.)<br /><br />Battles where the odds are enormous but it doesn't matter because the villains can't fight worth anything, so even though our heroes are hopelessly outnumbered, there's still no suspense about who will win.Chicoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16504144663440678542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-54270812314208184242015-08-19T16:29:07.719-04:002015-08-19T16:29:07.719-04:00Yes, and calling girl leaders "bossy"......Yes, and calling girl leaders "bossy"... Also still alive and well. Even in Gail Carriger books!Julia Gandrud (aka JuliaLikesFrogs)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09599474074805067799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-3990885183548443032015-08-19T15:34:12.370-04:002015-08-19T15:34:12.370-04:001) Poor grammar will get me to stop reading- poorl...1) Poor grammar will get me to stop reading- poorly edited books that are riddled with it.<br />2) "Slut Shaming". Still alive and well unfortunately.<br />-AveryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-37455509878926927142015-08-18T20:59:39.203-04:002015-08-18T20:59:39.203-04:001. The amount of romance in YA. I like the YA genr...1. The amount of romance in YA. I like the YA genre, the action, the moral questions, and the political intrigue. I especially want to find a good story with aliens where the main character DOESN'T fall in love with an alien who looks just like a human but hotter.<br /><br />2. If there must be romance, focus less on the appearance. When the character keeps describing how hot the guy is, it turns me off from the guy. Show who he is as a character and let me decide if I like him.<br /><br />3. The Chosen One. At least now it might be going out of style.<br /><br />4. Warnings of global warming. If you write dystopian, find some other way to destroy the world, please.<br /><br />5. Knocking people out. It's fine if it's an accident, but attempting to knock out the guards will most likely not work the way it's intended.<br /><br />6. Randomly having a gay person pop up. It annoys me the most when it happens to a character I assumed was straight for four three. I'm guessing they're the new token minority, complete with the tendency to die off quickly.<br /><br />7. Basing villains off Hitler. It's getting old. I'd rather see villains based off someone else. Hitler wasn't the only dictator.Jessi L. Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368094392959597176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-83778414215602572892015-08-18T15:23:44.296-04:002015-08-18T15:23:44.296-04:00Typos, bad formatting, books in first person (I...Typos, bad formatting, books in first person (I've discovered this one within the past year. I especially don't like it with romance books because I want to know what both characters are thinking), excessive use of parentheses (I stopped reading an author because it got SO ANNOYING because she did it with each damn book in her series), using italics when characters are talking on the phone...as if to show the difference between face to face dialogue? This is going on with my current read. And it's pretty annoying as it includes my other pet peeve of bad formatting.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15217543833240987390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-87597449066980541232015-08-18T14:30:19.803-04:002015-08-18T14:30:19.803-04:00One of my pet peeves is sex in completely inapprop...One of my pet peeves is sex in completely inappropriate moments. If you have the "bad guy" pinned down and are about to take him out for the count, that's not the appropriate time to stop and maul your hunny bunny or have a long heart to heart with your besties. I nearly threw a book across the room over that. It was an ebook, though, and I love my Kindle. <br /><br />Another one of my pet peeves is MCs that are TSTL. I can't get behind a protagonist that's completely illogical. That includes insta love. I can handle silly, but not brainless.<br /><br />And finally, no naming a character's genitals. Just...no.<br /><br />PJ Frielhttp://www.pjfriel.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-2035083405481441682015-08-18T12:48:59.101-04:002015-08-18T12:48:59.101-04:00Wow, you guys have given me a ton to write about, ...Wow, you guys have given me a ton to write about, thanks! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39662714675835060772015-08-18T09:42:57.383-04:002015-08-18T09:42:57.383-04:00#4 for the win! YES! #4 for the win! YES! Bonnie Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02813024239481434223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59406177951144224482015-08-18T05:21:22.891-04:002015-08-18T05:21:22.891-04:00The thing that will make me put down the book for ...The thing that will make me put down the book for good is gratuitous sex and/or violence.<br />I'm totally for drama and traumatic experiences for characters in fiction, but if the rape/aggression/other scene is not followed by a realistic human response, and is just here for the shock value, I feel like the author is taking me for an idiot.<br />Even worse if the rape scene tries to pass for romantic and the survivor eventually falls in love with her aggressor (Games of Thrones, anyone?)<br /><br />Also another thing I'd rather avoid reading is awkward romance scenes. When the characters get deep and declare their love for each other. Bonus points if they state they cannot live without each other.<br />Maybe it's just me, but I usually speed through this scenes, hoping that the story goes back to normal as soon as possible.<br />Also when the author matches secondary characters together out of the blue, just so the story goes full happy ending.Blondie B. Goodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04604675752890942675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-26874561630742079052015-08-18T04:23:14.798-04:002015-08-18T04:23:14.798-04:00- Love triangles
- Characters that have no persona...- Love triangles<br />- Characters that have no personality traits other than to enforce a stereotype<br />- Characters becoming too self-conscious and going on philosophical rambles (this tends to happen a lot in YA contemporary novels). I suppose that goes under telling rather than showing.<br />- Excessive, awkward, trying-too-hard metaphorsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-23172818149877654852015-08-18T01:23:55.585-04:002015-08-18T01:23:55.585-04:00Finally, while there's merit to the Tom Clancy...Finally, <a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/08/what-are-your-reading-pet-peeves.html?showComment=1439840327595#c2910888447953552650" rel="nofollow">while there's merit to the Tom Clancy quote mentioned by Juli above</a>, I don't fully agree with it. <br /><br />The reason is because real life doesn't always make sense, and despite points to the contrary (which are legit at times) I don't think fiction should be held to such a high standard the way we point to The Bible or U.S. Constitution.<br /><br />Fiction is supposed to be a reflection of real life, but NOT an EXACT duplicate. In real life, people stutter, dance around issues, etc. But for a clear and fluid reading experience, we leave out all the "ums and ers" to , though we might leave in a few used judiciously for effect. <br /><br />This is why dialect is rarely used anymore because it's not flud to read as it is to hear audibly in real life, and we're FOREVER hearing about kids in particular who struggle to read dialect-heavy books, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are both common examples.<br /><br />But I don't go as far to say it's a major pet peeve because in small doses an in certain instances it makes sense is doesn't hinder the reading experience. HP handles it well regarding Hagrid, IMHO, and it never felt annoying to read but it was his dialect and mannerisms that set him apart from other characters in the series extensive supporting cast.<br /><br />As far as the "twin" thing Julia brought up, I don't think it has to be a eye-rolling annoyance, again it's how the author handles it. There ARE twins and multiples in real life and they deserve to be repped in fiction, the problem is how it's done, not that's it's done period. I think it's important to note the difference.<br /><br />For a story I shelved <b>(but will someday finish)</b> will feature boy-girl twins, but I made a conscious effort to not fall into the cliches used with twins: acting alike, being unnaturally "At War" more so than than the average siblings, dressing alike, and ESPECIALLY annoying for me, rhyming names. <br /><br />On that note, while I can respect where "Anonymous" is coming from about names having baggage, I think naming characters is first and foremost a personal choice and while I get those who get annoyed with certain ethnicities having certain names <b>(whatever the baggage)</b> we do have to balance overall pronounceability with not falling into stereotypes and that's not always easy.<br /><br />Another shelved story of mine is about a kid and his family who're half Italian and half Japanese, but I chose to use Italian names for the characters both for family reasons in the story, but also to avoid the common asian names that while are common, don't have the pronunciation baggage versus Italian names having more prominence in the U.S. in particular. <a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/08/what-are-your-reading-pet-peeves.html?showComment=1439848691284#c4135961649785515220" rel="nofollow">That speaks to what Leanne's said</a> about names that are really rough on the reader's verbal vernacular.<br /><br />It's easier for more people to say "Nick" than "Nozomi" <br /><br />But if I'm going to use Japanese first names for the older members of the MC's family, I'll avoid common names like "Lee" or "Kenji" for example.<br /><br />Plus, now the world of anime and manga have become more mainstream, there's less stigma to using asian names in general, but there are still issues with international vernacular that I think we need to address in publishing on the U.S. and Canadian markets especially.<br /><br />There are still people who pronounce Naruto <b>(Na-Roo-Toe)</b> versus <b>(Narr-roo-toe)</b> and Luffy from One Piece <b>(Luff-EE [like tuffy])</b> versus <b>(Lou-fee)</b><br />As a fan of both series I'm biased, but it's still a fair point, and there are avid American/Canadian fans who get the pronunciation wrong at times.Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41713927047594362632015-08-18T01:23:38.745-04:002015-08-18T01:23:38.745-04:00As far as some readers who get annoyed about thing...As far as some readers who get annoyed about things coming too easily...<br /><br />First, I agree with you, working in the visual arts are not effortless, and I make no secret of the fact of how painstaking the process is. I've always had a an appreciation for visual artists such as painters, sculptors and illustrators. <br /><br />My appreciation and respect for illustrators has only grown the more I learned about the industry, and as I struggle to land the illustrator I have in mind for my debut children's book, I've had only garnered further appreciation and respect for they can do what many can't at such a high level.<br /><br />But also filmmakers and producers of television do a lot more than lay viewers realize.<br /><br />All that said, research alone, however necessary, is not a story, but you need research to legitimize certain aspects of your characters and the story's world, whether or not the world in question is historical, contemporary or imaginary. Or even some combo thereof. <br /><br />So, I'm in no way disagreeing with what <a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/08/what-are-your-reading-pet-peeves.html?showComment=1439839243225#c6928081331964366831" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a> and <a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/08/what-are-your-reading-pet-peeves.html?showComment=1439841587900#c4096495671975821333" rel="nofollow">Julia</a> said, but only reminding us all the sometimes human error happens, and it's NOT ALWAYS due to willful neglect on the part of the author or the <b>(traditional)</b> publisher.<br /><br />While this is often aimed at indie published titles, you have to remember that in most cases one author is orchestrating every aspect of the publishing process on their own, and (unless stating otherwise) financing it all on their own.<br /><br />I'm not saying to excuse being sloppy or to lower our standards as readers, just to remind us all that not all mistakes or due to lack of caring about overall quality or willful ignorance. Sometimes it's a mix of professional compromise or simply a human mistake, however disconcerting.<br /><br />Plus, with all the fuss about "building a backlist" some indie writers put quantity over quality, and I'm not saying that's okay, just that it can play a part in this specific issue.<br /><br />To Be Continued...Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39641884330354631122015-08-18T01:21:11.517-04:002015-08-18T01:21:11.517-04:00I can understand Juli and Yolanda's points on ...I can understand <a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/08/what-are-your-reading-pet-peeves.html?showComment=1439840327595#c2910888447953552650" rel="nofollow">Juli</a> and <a href="http://blog.janicehardy.com/2015/08/what-are-your-reading-pet-peeves.html?showComment=1439841197958#c3824980891260448702" rel="nofollow">Yolanda's</a> points on the matter being careless with spreading misinformation.<br /><br />But sometimes we have to pick and choose what research we can include or make sense for our story. That's not necessarily the same as saying "Beavers have wings" when they don't.<br /><br />I know a historical fiction writer once told me "Research is the writing" and to me <b>(though I don't write historical fiction)</b> it both is and isn't. <br /><br />Sometimes it's just an unfortunate <b>(and HUMAN)</b> mistake, and I think we as readers can forget that in an era of hyper-vigilant accountability for even the most minor infractions. <br /><br />Again, I'm not saying to make light of it, but sometimes we have to put the act of just "writing it down" above being a wannabe "Phd- level" expert on the subject. I also think we can confuse accuracy with perfectionism. <br /><br />Personally, I think the goal first and foremost is to simply write the dang book in tangible form <b>(whether longhand, vocal dictation, or type on the computer)</b>, and then deal with fact-checking.<br /><br />I know lots of writers who research for YEARS before they ever write a single draft, and while that sometimes is necessary and works for lots of writers, I would never have written the first novel I sold had I got hung up on research.<br /><br />I'm not excusing blatant inaccuracies here, but just to be mindful that we can't know everything <b>(even if we are <i>[or once were]</i> working in the industry we're writing about)</b>, and no one would ever publish anything other than the phone book if we stay in "research mode" indefinitely. <br /><br />To Be Continued...Taurean J. Watkins (@Taurean_Watkins)http://www.talkinganimaladdicts.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41359616497855152202015-08-17T17:58:11.284-04:002015-08-17T17:58:11.284-04:00Speculative Fiction that uses an invented language...Speculative Fiction that uses an invented language/ names that are too challenging to read.<br />In any genre: A narrator that "cleverly" keeps the reader from enjoying the story -- misdirection, etc.Author Leanne Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886667518427660865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61912777326775770432015-08-17T16:18:07.797-04:002015-08-17T16:18:07.797-04:00Excellent points. I would elaborate on #3 with fem...Excellent points. I would elaborate on #3 with female relationships. One of my own peeves is the assumption that two female characters who are close friends are clearly going to be having sex at some point; particularly those living in societies where they're oppressed.Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04656175981346055745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-75738644683976933992015-08-17T16:17:11.849-04:002015-08-17T16:17:11.849-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04656175981346055745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-40964956719758213332015-08-17T15:59:47.900-04:002015-08-17T15:59:47.900-04:00Yes yes yes about art! I'm so glad you mention...Yes yes yes about art! I'm so glad you mentioned this one. <br /><br />I'm a visual artist, have been praised for it since I was a little kid, but I have always had to work very hard at it. I have an MFA, and know many extremely talented artists, and every one of them works at it like no tomorrow.<br /><br />Also related to characters who are visual artists: please, authors, don't make analogies to the process of drawing, painting, what have you, unless you have done a lot of it. <br />And don't describe the process at all without talking to several artists about it. <br />And don't make the artist ever go into a dreamy, trancelike state while drawing or painting or origami, unless you are Robin McKinley writing Shadows, in which case your are given special dispensation...Julia Gandrud (aka JuliaLikesFrogs)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09599474074805067799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-38249808912604487022015-08-17T15:53:17.958-04:002015-08-17T15:53:17.958-04:00I can overlook a lot of things as long as the stor...I can overlook a lot of things as long as the story is a page turner, but the one thing that really makes me want to throw a book through a plate glass window is an ending that isn't an ending, but a jumping off to set up the next book. Every book must have a complete story - beginning, middle and an ENDING. Trilogies are fine, but finish the story then lead me into the next book because I refuse to buy the next book if the first one does not END.<br />Thanks for asking!Yolanda Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6867175237347201962015-08-17T15:39:42.175-04:002015-08-17T15:39:42.175-04:00And that should have been "my biggest pet pee...And that should have been "my biggest pet peeve as a READER." :)Juli Page Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361796103582463439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-29108884479535526502015-08-17T15:38:47.595-04:002015-08-17T15:38:47.595-04:00One of my favorite quotes is from Tom Clancy: &quo...One of my favorite quotes is from Tom Clancy: "The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." When it doesn't is my biggest pet peeve as a writer. No matter what career or hobby a character has - a veterinarian, a clinical psychologist, a rock star, whatever - the author should do his/her homework and learn all they can about that particular subject before writing. And it's not just experts in those (or any) field who can tell if the author skimped on research. It's very easy to tell if an author just made stuff up to fit into the story. That'll make me stop reading immediately. Get the facts straight or don't write about it.<br /><br />I'll also stop reading if there are a lot of typos, useless dialogue tags or head-hopping. But I won't even pick up a book if the hero is described as "alpha." There's nothing appealing to me about rude, arrogant, sexist jerks.Juli Page Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01361796103582463439noreply@blogger.com