I mentioned a writing pet peeve in a recent book review, and some were curious about it. I have more than one. 🙂 So I thought I’d share them and see if others thought the same as I do.
Let me say first that I am an avid reader and love books and authors. I have great respect for authors, especially while trying to become one myself and seeing what’s involved.
I know writing is hard work. Plus we’re only human, and typos and grammar errors and other mistakes will filter through no matter how many people edit a manuscript.
But I share these in the hopes that any author who sees them will take them as constructive and not nit-picky criticism. I’m avoiding grammar and punctuation issues because there are tons of articles about those.
Conversations left hanging. Character A asks a question, and before Character B answers, the author fills in a lot of description, explanation, or backstory. A sentence or two is fine, but sometimes it feels the characters are just standing there in awkward silence waiting for the narrator to finish. In the book review I mentioned, the character wasn’t conversing but was asked to step up and give her presentation. Then there were seven paragraphs, partly backstory, partly description of the room and people, before the character spoke. The point of view was from this character, so it felt like her audience was just waiting and watching while all these thoughts ran through her mind before she spoke.
Characters with similar names. One book I read had a Kari and a Kali–a difference of only one letter. In another (from one of my favorite authors), two characters had two-syllable names that started with “Sh” or “Sch” and ended with “field.” One was a good guy and one was a bad guy. I had to keep going back to the first few chapters to remind myself which was which.
Describing multiple reactions at once. Sometimes I’ll see a character’s reaction or expressions with multiple adjectives: for example, “Her pale blue eyes reflected sorrow, grace, and fear.” First, this seems like telling, not showing. Second, how does anyone show that all at once? I could understand surprise turning to fear or something like that, but not several different emotions simultaneously.
Foreign phrases without translation, even common Latin ones. Sometimes you can get the gist of what is meant by the context, but it still takes the reader out of the story if they have to puzzle over an unfamiliar phrase. It does help that you can highlight a word or phrase in the Kindle app and get the translation. But that still takes the reader out of the narrative for a bit.
Overly technical terms. I was very disappointed in a recent article about counseling which used words like “vivify.” We’re often told in writing instruction not to use words the average person wouldn’t know. I got dinged on a manuscript critique for writing “in the midst” and “portend.” I was told, “You wouldn’t say, ‘I was in the midst of. . . ‘” But I say that all the time. This can be a little difficult because a word we think is common might be unfamiliar to others. But generally we need to consider the audience and avoid academic or technical terms (except, perhaps, in science fiction where the term is going to be explained).
Overused plot devices. It’s okay if a character learns vital information by eavesdropping on a conversation, but that shouldn’t happen repeatedly in the same story.
Overused plots. I’ve read that there are only a handful of storylines, and all the books written reuse them in different ways. That may be true. But it seems that a lot of books will have the same basic plot at one time. Lately I’ve seen a lot of books where the main female character has to go back to her hometown or estranged family for some reason (usually the illness or death of a parent) and encounters the boyfriend she left behind.
Giving modern sensibilities to historical characters. It took hundreds of years for society to come to certain understandings.
Modern phrases or slang in historical fiction. I know many historical fiction writers who diligently research language usage in their time period, so there are sources to check for that kind of thing.
Inaccuracy in spiritual truths. One author fussed with me when I said in a review that her book was inaccurate in its partial sharing of the gospel. She dismissed sharing the whole gospel in a book because, she said, one would have to write at a fifth grade level to do so. I’ve read a lot of Christian fiction over the last 40+ years, and I’ve seen the gospel explained in a tasteful and natural way. That’s supposed to be part of the Christian life, so it’s not being “preachy” to explain the gospel.
I agree that not every Christian book calls for a full gospel presentation. It depends on the type of story and characters and the author’s purpose. A Christian story doesn’t require that someone become a Christian during the plot. Often it’s the Christian characters who need to learn or grow in the story. But what is there concerning the gospel or any other spiritual truth should be accurate and not misleading. I go into this more in The Gospel and Christian Fiction.
Probably the inaccuracy I see most is when Christian characters urge a non-Christian to just start praying or doing Christian things, as if they’ll eventually become a Christian that way.
Older books re-released under new titles. It’s maddening when you buy a new book from a favorite author only to realize you read it a long time ago under a different title.
How about you? Do you share any of these pet peeves or do you have others? I’d love to hear them, but please frame them constructively and kindly. Also, I’d like to avoid grammar and punctuation issues in this discussion.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
Not sure that I even know what all those fiction-writing terms are Ms. Barbara, but from your descriptions, I think they would peeve me too.
I guess most of these would apply to fiction writers than nonfiction, except the last one about gospel and biblical accuracy. But even we nonfiction writers tell stories.
Outstanding, Barbara — I agree with you across the board!
Y E S
Y E S! I agree 1000%!
What a fun post! I can’t imagine you ever telling pet peeves in an unkind way. I notice things in writing a lot, and honestly I feel like that’s a helpful thing in keeping our brains young (at least that’s my theory!). I don’t think I’ve noticed the hanging conversations so much, but that makes me think, and hopefully avoid that in my writing. The multiple reactions thing is interesting; I don’t think I’ve thought of that. Just this morning I read in a book, “I was shocked, but not surprised.” That seemed kind of contradictory? In general, I don’t like descriptions posed as “She shook her rich chestnut hair” etc — just seems too affected to me.
AMEN on the foreign phrases. I remember being frustrated with those when I read as a child — and no easy translation source back then! You know I hear ya too on the current sensibilities plastered over a book written in the past.
Yes on the similar names! I recently read a 1000-page book and was groaning as I met Gwenda, Griselda, Godwyn … even though some were major characters, each time I’d have to pause momentarily to think who that was.
The technical/language issue is interesting. I don’t think the terms you used were too difficult at all. In fact, when I was teaching, one of the things I’d like to do would be to throw in a “big word” now and then to the kids. I figured they would figure it out from context, and it would help grow their vocab. I agree though when a book throws in a truly unknown word, it’s annoying.
You and I need to have lunch over this topic 🙂 Enough for now; enjoyed your thoughts!
I wish we did live close enough for lunch! Re the “rich chestnut hair”–I keep reading over and over in writing blogs to tuck details in here and there and not have an “information dump” of description. I’d guess that’s what that writer was trying to do.
“Shocked but not surprised” does sound contradictory. If it’s a matter of degree, I’d think it would be the other way around.
I was floored when a professional dinged me for “in the midst.” I hear that all the time, and it’s certainly not hard to understand. Maybe “in the middle of” is more modern? Or maybe it’s like “whilst”–I cringe at that, but I don’t know if I should. I’m thinking it’s British, but it might not be.
When I’m reading someone like C. S. Lewis, I expect to find words I’m unfamiliar with. And I like learning a new word sometimes in reading. But I feel if a book or article is written to everyday people, it should contain everyday words. “Vivify” and “salvific” might be ok in academic journals–but who really says that when they’re trying to reach someone with scriptural truth?
Love this, Barbara. I am right with you, as a writer and an avid reader. I read a book not too long ago set in the WWII era by a very popular author, who had someone comment “That’s above my pay grade”, which was like nails on a blackboard to me. Too many authors flippantly use today’s colloquialisms where they do not belong.
Also the too many reactions at once, in a “telling” structure; so few modern authors truly have the skill of “showing” emotion. I guess that’s why I stick to the (old) classics.
We watched a WW2 movie last night where a Nazi officer said, “Game over.” I could not believe the writers inserted that! As far as I know, that’s a modern video gaming expression.
I think we are all noticing the lack of quality editors in books today. There are authors I’ve followed for years and I’ve noticed that the early books in a series written well over a decade ago are tight and well constructed. However, more recent releases, not ghost written but by the actual author, lack the tightness of the original writing. I suspect it is the lack of a quality editor that challenged the author to fix mistakes and not just publish and move on to the next novel.
I loved this, Barbara. I had to smile at your point about characters with similar names because that is probably the main reason I’ve never read the Lord of the Rings books. I LOVE the movies, but all those similar-sounding names in the books are a lot. I know I’m missing out on some really wonderful literature, though, so maybe I’ll try again sometime. One pet peeve of mine is when fiction authors repeat phrases, especially ones with adverbs. I may have mentioned this in our writing group once, but I have a novel that used the phrase “sniffed appreciatively” several times. Ugh. An editor should have caught that! 🙂
I do agree with you, Barbara. The two that bother me the most are using similar names and books and movies that use the same plots over and over.
Now that you mention it and I think about it. You’re right. And I agree.
Visiting today from Anita’s
Yes, yes, and yes. I share those same pet peeves too! And more, too, if I’d think about it. 🙂 I wonder how many of those I commit in my own writing as well…ugh. lol.
This is an amazing resource. Thank you for writing it, and sharing. Lots of food for thought…
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I’ve been mulling over this post for quite some time and I think one of my peeves is story-telling as though the reader has taken a 20 minute (or more) commercial break between chapters…. repeating thoughts or ideas or arguments or summarizing the problem over and over. I find myself skimming over these so much that reading becomes merely page flipping to get to the next plot point. Sometimes I wonder if the author has to reach a number of words and is just repeating to make word count.
Also, it is remarkable how many people in books have green eyes (it’s one of the rarest eye colors, something like 2%).
Certainly agree with you on the anachronisms not only of phrases but sensibilities and societal norms.
Also agree with you on biblical accuracy, whatever the context. But it can show that the author him/herself may not have a solid understanding of what is biblical and what may be more cultural (like “white lies” that even a character who’s supposed to be a believer tells without reflection or repercussions). Going to check out the post you linked.
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Oh I share many of these pet peeves! I have noticed that some authors have their own “favorite” phrase or description and use it constantly. I remember reading a couple of books by a favorite author of mine a few years ago and getting frustrated at how many times a character would “slant her shoulders” when she was defensive or getting ornery in some way. It was just being used too often.
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