What annoys you about writers?

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danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
9,760
60,662
60
Kentucky
Dean Koontz: 2- to 3-sentence paragraphs--drives me crazy.
The Jack Reacher guy: constantly using the word "shrugged" to describe anything Jack Reacher was doing. I found myself hardly paying attention to the story; just looking for "shrugged" somewhere around the bend.
Over-description of clothing: Robert McCammon sometimes does this in the Matthew Corbett books. I absolutely love the series, but don't need to know if Master Bidwell is wearing a beige shirt, wine-colored waistcoat, tan breeches and a black tricorn hat every time he enters the story.
Justin Cronin: Making me care about characters for 200 pages, then completely obliterating them from part two of the book. I couldn't finish The Passage because of boring Part 2. I will fondly remember Part 1 as one of the best short stories ever.
 

The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
I hate it when two main characters have similiar names starting with the same letter.
So you weren't impressed with IT having a book long love interest between Ben & bev? :)

There are a few things about kings style that annoy me, such as:
Spoilers mid book.
Dreamless sleeps, everyone seems to have them.
So many authors as main or supporting characters.
His descriptions of how wonderful a cigarette can be.
 

VultureLvr45

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2012
2,650
13,707
Maryland
It irks me when writers present too much description about anything (my mind needs something to imagine).

When they waste my time with stuff that doesn't matter (my life is busy and futile); I read to escape, to find solutions, and to nuture my soul, please don't waste the time I've given to read what you have written.

Don't like when they use the same characters with different names over and over (unless they are the same in a series). There are so many different people and points of view in the world, why limit yourself to a couple?

Also when the language they use is overly simple, cultural (a page or two to get the 'feel' is fine, but not all), or too technical and difficult.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
59
sweden
It irks me when writers present too much description about anything (my mind needs something to imagine).

When they waste my time with stuff that doesn't matter (my life is busy and futile); I read to escape, to find solutions, and to nuture my soul, please don't waste the time I've given to read what you have written.

Don't like when they use the same characters with different names over and over (unless they are the same in a series). There are so many different people and points of view in the world, why limit yourself to a couple?

Also when the language they use is overly simple, cultural (a page or two to get the 'feel' is fine, but not all), or too technical and difficult.
Your first point: isn't that a balance thing? If it is to much description there is not enough holes for our imagination to work with. And if there is to little the scene and the characters are so loose in the edges that we stop really caring about them. Thats where i think King mostly walks the line without falling too either side. Many Writers do. Someone mentioned Lee Child and his Reacher stories. You can easyly read them but you, at least not i, don't really care about them.
 

Lepplady

Chillin' since 2006
Nov 30, 2006
12,498
65,639
Red Stick
Mostly, that writers whom I find dreadful can still bank like nobody's business.
THIS. Stephanie Meyer writes so poorly, and she's a millionaire. I know I'm no Stephen King, but DANG. Come on! If she can write like that and sell so much, I should at least be getting somewhere.
I mean no disrespect to Twilight fans. I'm just jealous as all get-out.
 

VampireLily

Vampire Goddess & Consumer of men's souls.
Jul 25, 2013
1,469
8,829
New Jersey
THIS. Stephanie Meyer writes so poorly, and she's a millionaire. I know I'm no Stephen King, but DANG. Come on! If she can write like that and sell so much, I should at least be getting somewhere.
I mean no disrespect to Twilight fans. I'm just jealous as all get-out.

This is going to be an awful thing to say but i believe it's true, human beings are such sheep sometimes that they jump on the band wagon just to feel included. Stephanie Meyer is a HACK... the Kardashian's are Talentless....Honey BooBoo is crap. This is why so many truly talented artists and writers have to try three times as hard to be heard.... it's difficult enough wading through all the talent... now everyone has to wade through the piles of sh*t as well. And there's PLENTY of it.
 

Lily Sawyer

B-ReadAndWed
Jun 27, 2009
6,625
15,016
South Carolina
This is going to be an awful thing to say but i believe it's true, human beings are such sheep sometimes that they jump on the band wagon just to feel included. Stephanie Meyer is a HACK... the Kardashian's are Talentless....Honey BooBoo is crap. This is why so many truly talented artists and writers have to try three times as hard to be heard.... it's difficult enough wading through all the talent... now everyone has to wade through the piles of sh*t as well. And there's PLENTY of it.

This why I love you.
 

Lepplady

Chillin' since 2006
Nov 30, 2006
12,498
65,639
Red Stick
This is going to be an awful thing to say but i believe it's true, human beings are such sheep sometimes that they jump on the band wagon just to feel included. Stephanie Meyer is a HACK... the Kardashian's are Talentless....Honey BooBoo is crap. This is why so many truly talented artists and writers have to try three times as hard to be heard.... it's difficult enough wading through all the talent... now everyone has to wade through the piles of sh*t as well. And there's PLENTY of it.
I think you're exactly right. Thank goodness we have true talent like Sai King out there.