Wednesday, August 2, 2017

IWSG Post What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?

I look forward to the first Wednesday of every month, as that’s the time we write our IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) posts. This online group of writers gives me/us the chance to discuss everything related to writing, which would bore a non-writer to tears. As most of the other writers are in the same boat as me: going through writer’s blocks, facing rejection from agents, harassment from our characters, seeing deadlines whoosh past, getting overwhelmed with edits or first drafts, grumbling about the slow response or lack of response from editors and  agents, or low sales, it’s nice to discuss it with people who will nod in understanding, maybe even add their bit to it.

Credit for creating this amazing group goes to Ninja Captain Alex J Cavanaugh (author of the Amazon Bestsellers: CassaStar, CassaStorm, CassaFire and Dragon of the Stars). IWSG has gone from strength to strength. It has published few anthologies, has a website full of amazing writing information and now finds its place in Writer’s Digest 19 Annual 101 Best Webites for Writers and has hosted its first twitter pitch contest on 27th July. Quite an amazing feat for a group that has been around just for a couple of years.

The August IWSG question is: What are your pet peeves when reading/writing/editing?

While reading I hate it when a writer breaks the golden rule of show but don’t tell. I reviewed a book a few days back and the author indulged in a lot of telling throughout the book. Another pet peeve of mine is when a writer sticks to a stereotypical plot where I have guessed what will happen next. This bugs me no end. This too happened last week when I reviewed a book for the newspaper. And another peeve is when the authors repeats the same thing again and again. This happened in the book which I mentioned as having a stereotypical plot. I was just waiting to finish that boring book, write my review and be done with it.


I am looking forward to reading what your pet peeves are while reading/writing/editing are.

21 comments:

  1. Thanks, Rachna!
    Sounds like you are reviewing all the wrong books.
    Telling is something that we learn not to do - slowly. It's taken me a while to wean myself from it.

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  2. I think the problem is that sometimes we need to do some "telling" because not everything needs to be described, to be "shown." Figuring out that balance though can be tricky. :)

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  3. I don't like predictable plots either or ones that drag.

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  4. If we know what's going to happen then there is no reason to read the story, right?

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  5. I'm always fighting the boring/being predictable side of writing. That is my number one drafting/editing goal. No one wants a cliche book to read. We want to be surprised. I like it when I surprise myself:)

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  6. Sometimes, it hard for writers to see that they are telling. It took me a while to notice this.

    I don't like predictable plots either. I like to be surprised. :)

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  7. Writing is not an easy task, and I know how much re-writing has to be done. I'd say the books you mention weren't given enough editing attention.

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  8. I like a few twists and turns in a plot or it does become too predictable. Hope your next read is a good one.

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  9. Hi, Rachna,

    I agree! If you can guess the tale of the story, why bother reading it. We all enjoy a good twist... and how we feel when these words escape our lips..."WOW! Never thought about that! or, WOW! I didn't see that coming!"

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  10. Repetition made my list of pet peeves too. Especially when it seems unintentional.

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  11. I don't like predictable stories, either. Twists are much more interesting.

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  12. I can't tell sometimes if the plot seems stereotypical or contrived just because I've read so many plots and know what to expect. =) It's definitely a hazard of the profession, eh?

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  13. I agree with Madeline - some telling is OK, but seems like you got a telling dump. Tedious reading for sure.

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  14. Sounds like no fun at all. I hope your reading proves to be more fun than what you've shared here. Thanks for being a person who reviews. All readers should.

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  15. I've noticed more telling in lieu of showing in several books I've read recently, but in most cases, it worked for me. I kind of like it when writers break the "rules," especially when they do it well. :D

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  16. I think the more we write, the pickier we get with what we read (as well as TV shows and movies). I know I have! LOL!

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  17. Your peeves fit into mine regarding lazy writing. Check it over, get creative, and stop patting yourself on the back.

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  18. The beauty of a book or story lies in making it look credible and should be able to surprise the reader till the end. Not able to find many compelling reads like this except for a handful of writers!

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  19. I can almost picture a cut and paste the author used for the repeats.

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  20. I don't really have "predictable plot" as a pet peeve, because as a writer, I'm trained to dismantle any plot, so I can very easily see where most of what I read is headed. :-)

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