McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
What makes people put down a book (goodreads)
Snowleopard:
I hate what I might call 'set-up' characters.
Characters that are set-up to die, change things, etc.
If I can tell that then I get angry and put the book down.
Writer who hasn't done their research homework.
Cozy mystery writers who make out cops to be blithering idiots in order that
their heroines/heros can save the day. I really hate this.
Writer who can't make up his/her mind about who a character will end up with romantically.
Decide already.
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: Snowleopard on July 22, 2013, 08:14:43 AM ---I hate what I might call 'set-up' characters.
Characters that are set-up to die, change things, etc.
If I can tell that then I get angry and put the book down.
--- End quote ---
I'm not sure I see what that's a distinction from, though. I don't know that I can think of there being much point to characters who don't have some story function.
--- Quote ---Writer who can't make up his/her mind about who a character will end up with romantically.
Decide already.
--- End quote ---
Writers whose characters never even consider "all of the above" as an answer to such dilemmas. Considering it and ruling it out as not for them is one thing, but not acknowledging it possible is just infuriating.
Snowleopard:
Re: The first one, Neuro.
Yes, all characters have functions but in this one book - it was so blatantly obvious that
a certain character was just being set up to be killed that it annoyed me - I guess because
she came off like a paper target. No real depth to her.
LizW65:
One of the main things that will make me put down a book is overt preaching by an author--even if I happen to agree with it. I really dislike political/religious tracts masquerading as fiction.
As for supposedly intelligent characters behaving like idiots in service of the plot, it really depends on the skill of the author. In the right hands, it can be a lot of fun: one of the most entertaining series I've read recently features what pretty much amounts to a Parody Sue protagonist.
OZ:
I definitely agree about the preaching. Guaranteed to make me put the book down. The comic book industry has gotten particularly annoying in this respect. At least IMHO.
It is partly because of humor that I said none of the things I hate are absolutes.
I find it especially annoying when a character is set up to be especially sweet and charming just so that the villain can look nastier when they kill them.
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