The Mighty Pen Writing Club discussion

Or, "What Not to Wear," the writing edition

Right now one of my writing pet peeves is present-tense narratives. For some reason, they just sound weird to me

I don't like present tense, either, unless I'm reading some really weird literary piece of flash fiction (because then it's short and I don't have to bother with it for very long.)

My biggest BIGGEST pet peeve, though, is generic fantasy worlds. After having read something like 200 fantasy novels, I just cannot take the generic bad-copy-of-Tolkien world any longer!

I like Tolkien himself, but it does seem like everyone wants to imitate him (i.e) really long, complex tomes about elves

However, I say that and I wonder if I'm a Tolkien copycat, because my elves/faeries are pretty similar to Tolkien's (in behavior and culture) and I do mostly high fantasy... hmmmmm!

Jillian -always aspiring- wrote: "There's nothing wrong with having influences (whether it be Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, etc.) as long as you never seek OUTRIGHT to model your own story from another's. That's just wrong an..."

I agree wholeheartedly! And that's exactly the problem I have with the Inheritance series. >.<


My biggest pet-peeve is definitely using too many big words. :P
I mean, we get that you have a great vocabulary and all, but eventually it starts sounding like some ridiculous textbook. We lose the heart of the meaning in this maze of unreadable words and a need to sound "amazing".
Please, use language that's a little closer to the every-day, thank you!

The only "language" stuff I don't like is bad language-- but like REALLY bad language. Like "f bombs". I just don't buy the whole "it's in character!" thing. Like, you can't find anything else for them to say besides the f-bomb? I don't know, maybe that's just a personal me thing. Other language doesn't really bother me so much, it's just *that* word in particular--just seems crude.

Oh, I definitely agree. I hate it when the characters use bad language too! I mean, what's the point? Like when I read Inkspell I was really turned off by how Farid kept using the B word. It just takes away from the character and the book as a whole.

hahha yeah. It just sounds...weird. Like my favorite authors are the types that would probably never *dream* of using bad language - although when I read a biography of Tolkien, I was surprised to find out that C.S. Lewis dropped the f-bomb on him (they were having a conversation about Tolkien's newest Middle Earth book, and Lewis was like 'not another *FBOMB!* dwarf!"

:D

Hey hey, that's what Rick Riordan did in PERCY JACKSON! (and other authors do it, too - :D)

I actually have a character who is supposed to be kind of crass, but right now all I do is just say "he swore/he cursed" - even my little crass MC would never think to use the F-word! haha

Yeah, exactly. And the "slips" don't have to be spelled out, you know? Like when the author writes "he cursed" that could mean different things to different people - I don't ever want to spell it out for the readers if I can help it!

my biggest...con, with writing is attitude.
Its very hard to force myself in front of a computer, sit down and write my story.

And on swearing: I try not to. It often interrupts the flow of my story.
Most stories I write are YA.

But there is just one im working on, which is a realistic fiction that ive typed some bad words into.
I have mentioned that somewhere else. Its a story about an abusive relationship, and the wife tries to run away.
That one would be an adult story.

But in the YA story im writing, my main one about the detective-Im pretty sure ive typed some swear words.
When I go back and edit, they will probably be taken out.

Amelia (Imagination in Focus) wrote: However, I say that and I wonder if I'm a Tolkien copycat, because my elves/faeries are pretty similar to Tolkien's (in behavior and culture) and I do mostly high fantasy... hmmmmm!

I doubt it! There's nothing wrong with being inspired by one of the greats! I think there's a huge difference between taking inspiration and just being lazy. :-P

thank you :D

Like when I do reviews (on the reading side of it) I only dock points/stars if there's f-words, or unless there's like loads of lesser cuss words. But a few even spaced out I don't really mind.

sometimes it just fits to swear at that certain part. you can't get around it.

I think you can. I mean after all, you're the writer. I personally don't buy the whole "ohh it's in character so they have to use the F-word!" That's too explicit, I think. Plus, a lot of people just don't like bad language in books, and so when I write, I try not to annoy/upset my "imaginary" readers :P

Oh, i never drop the f-bomb.

Just cr*p and sh*t and bas*erd and the like.

yeah, my MC in my dystopian is a little colorful like that, but even he draws the line ;)

I use cr*p all the time (in my opinion it isn't a curse word, but I'll star it out for those who think differently) , and sometimes sh*t slips out, but only when I'm stressed out and don't notice.

Okay, one thing I really, REALLY don't like (and I wish there was a memo sent out to authors to get them to stop this)

Writing in text-speech. To me, it doesn't seem authentic at all, it seems seriously uneducated.

text speech?



like OMG LOL and WTF????

I usually hate reading in third person.

you hate reading in 3rd person?
I lvoe reading third person.

Most of my books (exclude 1) are written that way.

So are mine!
I'm kinda wary of doing 1st person, because if you don't get the narrative right, you're stuck with an annoying main character (like BELLA or that girl from BRIGHTLY WOVEN) :P

I like 3rd person omniscient, too, because I like disclosing what all the main characters are thinking

Booklover23 wrote: "you hate reading in 3rd person?
I lvoe reading third person.

Most of my books (exclude 1) are written that way."

when I was in fifth grade I read a short story written in third person, maybe I should try reading it again. or maybe I'm confusing persons............

i usually write in 1st person because i usually only have one Main character.

I also like writing in 3rd person, because then what you write is not limited to just one person.
You can write whats happening in other characters minds, whats going on around the character ((that (s)he cant see))


In my novel, im about to write a scene where a famous criminal escapes from jail.
The whole book has been about solely the detective (MC), and now im skipping across Europe and writing about the criminal and how he escapes form jail.
For the record, Sylvester Amsterdam (the criminal) is my favorite character.
What do you think of that name? Sylvester Amsterdam.

I think that sometimes when i try to write in 3rd person i get too confused so thats why i usually dont write in it.

Booklover23 wrote: "I also like writing in 3rd person, because then what you write is not limited to just one person.
You can write whats happening in other characters minds, whats going on around the character ((tha..."

That is one thing I like about writing in third person.
Is your story posted on Goodreads? If so I would love to read it.

NO, I dont plan on posting the detective one on goodreads.
Maybe when I finish and if (when) it dosent get published, i might.
But that wont be anytime soon.


I have 2 others though. Look under my writing topic.

Ok

I DID get 3rd person confused with something else! It is writing in the present tense that I'm not a big fan of..........

I hate when i have a scene in my head that i want to get to but dont know how to get there in the story yet!!

I absolutely hate it when characters do dumb things...or if they go for the stupiest character to fall in love with when they have an awesome one in front of them.....it's depressing....I hate it...*sobs*

I so agree Catherine....I have that problem all the time!!! It's annoying!!!

Oh I also hate when teen characters get knocked up. There's too much of that in reality I don't wanna read about it too!

I know!

Ya like I was reading this really good book called Girl in Translation and she was doing so well! She got accepted to Yale and she had the guy and then...ugh. I understand y the author did it cuz I guess it had to happen but I just wasn't a fan :-/

Hate present tense too but for some reason I lately seem to be unable to stop using it! Also, using too long sentences irritates me too. It tires people out, I think.
And could someone please explain what YA means??? I jst joined an english-speaking group and I am not too familiar with some of them...
Text speech annoys me too. Yet another reason to start whining at the House of Night series...

Catherine wrote: "I hate when i have a scene in my head that i want to get to but dont know how to get there in the story yet!!"

Ditto.
Seriously now, I have a ton of those lovely scenes all prepared and I'm dying to get to them too!

Alkyoni wrote: "Hate present tense too but for some reason I lately seem to be unable to stop using it! Also, using too long sentences irritates me too. It tires people out, I think.
And could someone please expl..."

YA means Young Adult. :)

Writing in present tense consistently is so hard for me! I like the way it sounds sometimes, though, I just can't seem to pull it off very well.

Hope wrote: "Alkyoni wrote: "Hate present tense too but for some reason I lately seem to be unable to stop using it! Also, using too long sentences irritates me too. It tires people out, I think.
And could some..."

Thanks for the definition! Really appreciate it. Kept wondering what it was... *blush*
As for the lovely scenes, tell me about it... all those unused scenes, waiting to be connected to the main story...

Haha, you're welcome. Actually, I didn't know what it was at first either. xD

My biggest pet peeve when I read is bad punctuation. I guess I figure that if you're going to consider yourself author enough to get published, you should get your punctuation right. Otherwise it's not professional. I'm also pretty critical of contrived plots that don't make sense and I agree about the text talk or emails too. I'm not a fan. I'm reading a book right now that has a lot of "like" it in and while it's authentic, it drives me crazy.

I tend to write in present tense.

hahha, present tense drives me nuts. It just sounds weird (in my opinion)

Amelia (Imagination in Focus) wrote: "hahha, present tense drives me nuts. It just sounds weird (in my opinion)"

Present tense is not for everyone.

I don't like first person stories, but I have read some that were pretty good.

Ohh I agree about 1st person. There are times when it's been done well (PERCY JACKSON series, for example: Percy is an excellent narrator - funny but heartfelt) and then (most of the time, I think) you get stuck with a perspective that is limiting, unreliable, and annoying. Like Bella, or that girl from BRIGHTLY WOVEN.

I have a 1st person WIP, but I'm currently not working on it now. My current WIP is 3rd person for that very reason - I don't want just one voice, because sometimes that can get annoying.

Yes! I dont like 1st person most of the time because it feels so limited. Even if you're just focusing on one character at the time, its still nice f its 3rd person because then you can describe the whole scene, you're not stuck with one view

Yeah. My problem (right now) is that I have to rein it in a little--I'll go overboard and start "psyching" my characters - as in commentating on like everything they say and how they react to everything else. It slows the pacing down, but at the same time I'm thinking of all the books I've read where I really wished for more insight into character emotions.
How much info is too much? Not enough?

I think its fine as long as it relates to the plot. If it keeps the story going, then go for it! If its just taking up space then i suggest u do hold back a bit