Things you wish authors would stop doing?

There's a quote from one of the codexes from a Chaos Space Marine about how "anyone who laughs at a lasgun has not faced two hundred of them over an open field."

 

I haven't read much of those but that sounds annoying. I did hear this one where the guy was really sweet to this girl but she was an absolute bitch to him. Like the writer went over the top and felt forced with this female character being strong. She still got that poor guy at the end. Hated it.

 

^^ The thing is though, both are natural to an extent. Guys thirsty for girls and vice versa. It's human nature. One person always wants the other more. This is amplified in the early infatuation stage, but that's the stage I think is usually covered by romances (admittedly I don't know much about romances except for a few movies I've seen). Erotica is definitely more about the infatuation stage (I don't know a lot about that either, aside from... nvrmnd). When you get beyond infatuation you're writing about long term relationships, which doesn't generally make for exciting stuff. I guess a lot of romances do go there.

The only time either gets unhealthy is if it's taken to an extreme, if it goes beyond fantasy or role playing and leads into abusive behavior. Is it really abusive though if a submissive hooks up with a dominant? Tough call. Maybe for some it's the only way they can find happiness, like an addict. In fact it might be an addiction. But addiction is often a symptom, not necessarily a disease in itself. There's no getting over it unless the underlying issues can be addressed. And in some cases they can't, or only to a limited extent. Should those people not be allowed whatever kind of happiness they can find?

But I guess that's not what we're talking about with writing about healthy relationships. I'm just thinking my way through it. And of course we can only write with any authority about what we're familiar with.

 

I think most of it is just over the top.
It could be what I'm reading which is my fault but I'm only there for the 'smut' research to make sure my writing game is good.
It's like what you said the other day, I might be seeing to much of it. I could just be burnt out on that storyline.
Everybody can write what they want.

I hope this makes sense and sorry for the short response. I'm at a violin rehearsal.

 

I wasn't really just addressing that to you. I have a tendency to want to think things through and find both extremes, and then the central balance point so I can understand the whole spectrum. And I like to write it in here as I'm thinking through it. Your posts just got me started.

 

It is so annoying when authors shove romance in every story, even if it’s not needed and makes the story worse. That’s my biggest peeve.

Also, when authors don’t do a fair amount of medical research or research about different poisons. Because Hollywood lies! You don’t fall out of your chair when you drink generic poison. And there is no such thing!

 

Yup, the old days of generics are gone; now it's all store brand poisons.


President's Choice, Aldi Select, and my favorite for that final draught, Piggly Wiggly's Simply Done.



They'll take care of that maiden aunt or ex-lover just as quickly as well-known products from Big Apothecary but at a fraction of the price!

 

What’s worse is that writers don’t event bother to research ye generic poison. Cyanide is way different than say, Mercury. Ugh! Like, please. Don’t use poison as a hand wave generic death.

 

Spoken like someone who really knows their poisons.

 

Thank you! I really love learning about poisons and dare I say I do tend to know a lot about heavy metals as deadly weapons.

 

Also, going to add one more topic to this list. The magic disappearing illness. John is dying, but the author doesn’t want his cancer to hinder the story, so ‘forgets’ that he’s sick by chapter 2. Or, just uses his illness at convenient times.

At least try and make symptoms consistent! I understand if he’s on meds or what not, but don’t forget he’s chronically ill!

I know I am not perfect at this myself when it comes to timing symptoms to show up at believable points in a story, but at least I try!

 

Mrs. A and I watched some of the series Chicago Fire. Character A has a neck injury, chronic pain, and a drug addiction from self-medicating for same. The drug addiction is a constant source of tension between him and a couple other characters. Then he gets a miracle experimental surgery and poof! he's a perfectly healthy, normally functioning member of the team midway through the... second season? Anyway, about where I bailed hard.

 

Hahahahahahahaaa!!! That sounds horrible! I read a book once where a character got shot in the leg in a battle. Two pages later, he’s walking around!

 

Years back, I spent months researching Sarin for a book and got to know everything it could do (and couldn't do) as well as other related toxins. If that didn't get me on a watch list somewhere, something is wrong.

 

Yay, that’s great. I bet google thinks I am writing a murder mystery, too. Would you PM me and tell me all about this Sarin? I am very curious.

 

I am soooo tempted by the poison conversation to do an info dump of recent research on Datura and belladonna, but I don't want to poison anyone's mind re: my chosen pastime activities.

 

By any chance do you or did you work in the medical professions?

 

Yea! Belladonna! I researched hat for my Ancient Rome story. Real nasty. XD

 

Actually, no. I haven’t worked in that area. I really did think of becoming a medical examiner or funeral home director a few years ago. I actually went to school to be a paralegal and just graduated with that degree this year. But thank you! It means a lot that you asked!

 

I needed air dispersion so I could wipe out an entire stadium of people at the Olympics.

 

And here I was going to suggest cluster munitions

 

Definitely!

 

I'm happily beasting through the James S A Corey Expanse series, which is excellent ...BUT the authors continually twang one of my pet peeves. They use 'reach out/reached out' in just about every instance where two entities are communicating, rather than simply 'contact/contacted'—or some other more specific term, based on the circumstances.

Aaargh. "Reach out." It's so banal and trendy, and it carries connotations of offering unlooked-for sympathy, empathy, etc. Whereas, in most instances in the Expanse series, the characters are simply contacting each other to relay ordinary information.

Bad habit. Silly bad habit.