Your greatest likes and dislikes while reading.

[rmb1983]

I am a chef by trade.

I am also a writer. One might call it still a "hobby" at this point in my life, but it is something I plan on crafting into a successful endeavour. I do expand into a variety of topics and genres, but my writing mainly revolves around high fantasy. I plan on one day sharing a story that's been rattling around in my head for the better part of two decades.
As such, I'm looking for feedback. What sort of character development do you most enjoy? Hate?
Story themes, structure, even general clichés.

 

[DenSomKastade]

If you want to be a good writer you should write about things that you like, not what other people like. Most often people don't know how the characters developes and that something that keeps the book interesting. Good luck with your writing!

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

When the story draws most of it's humor from insulting the main character your supposed to like. I HATE THAT.

 

[FC Groningen]

Clear tunnelvision and a crowbarred in love interest.

 

[DingoDoom]

Like: When characters act like real people or somewhat sane
Dislike: When characters act like complete morons

Wheel of Time, I really like the series (mostly the lore), but some of the characters in the novels are just plain irritating. Case in point, mostly female characters actually. It is almost as if Robert Jordan just can't write about the female gender are the gender itself is so baffling to the guys they just don't know what the hell to do around them.

Most the the central female characters (Nyneave, Elayne, Egwene) just come flat out irritating or infuriating when I read about them. The guys? Well they have their stupid moments but definitely not as much. It is just opinion but I find most female characters in books to be weak, pathetic, manipulative, and sometimes just plain outright stupid.

 

[rmb1983]

If you want to be a good writer you should write about things that you like, not what other people like. Most often people don't know how the characters developes and that something that keeps the book interesting. Good luck with your writing!

Perhaps "feedback" was a poor choice. I'm merely curious.
If I could fast-forward to the whole of it being on the shelves and know that the entire world unanimously despised it, I wouldn't change anything.

Clear tunnelvision and a crowbarred in love interest.

Dear reader: Avoid my books. Despite the distinct lack of crowbar usage in their world.

 

[rmb1983]

Like: When characters act like real people or somewhat sane
Dislike: When characters act like complete morons

Wheel of Time, I really like the series (mostly the lore), but some of the characters in the novels are just plain irritating. Case in point, mostly female characters actually. It is almost as if Robert Jordan just can't write about the female gender are the gender itself is so baffling to the guys they just don't know what the hell to do around them.

Most the the central female characters (Nyneave, Elayne, Egwene) just come flat out irritating or infuriating when I read about them. The guys? Well they have their stupid moments but definitely not as much. It is just opinion but I find most female characters in books to be weak, pathetic, manipulative, and sometimes just plain outright stupid.

He definitely has an issue with female characters. His character development is fantastic, but his female characters are just so pathologically absurd in nearly every moment they come into play.
That being said, the male characters (especially the pivotal ones) are some of the most enjoyable ones I've ever encountered; it's easy to relate to them, and they all have their own share of flaws that balance out any strengths quite nicely.

 

[CodeOrange]

My likes:
Whatever doesn't abuse my dislikes.
A novel that brings something to it's genre.
Something that isn't just self-gratifying nonsense.
Social-commentary & meta discussion can make way for instant classics.

My dislikes:
Anything that fails to follow the 5 basic elements of writing (unintentionally).
A story that is textbook (ie basic and boring)
A story that attempts to be "edgy" and "deep" by being confusing and overly convoluted. Bonus points if its there to hide it being textbook. (Inception, although not a book is the archetype for this)
Stories that are are great, when viewed on their own but are unfairly judged just because it feels like its been done before (eg a detective novel that should be considered a masterpiece, but is compared to other detective novels written before it)
Literature bullshit (its unintentionally symbolic of something, which makes it better than what it actually is)

 

[Gsmoove]

Top 3

Likes: Characters that evolve over time, Good Action (not necessarily fighting) and carefully written dialogue.

Dislikes: boring political rambling, characters having to act stupid in order for the plot to continue and lazy descriptions of locations.

Good luck with your writing. Since I'm also attempting to craft a fantasy epic; I like threads like these because it allows a good exchange of ideas and philosophies, steel sharpens steel after all.

 

[lolmynamewastaken]

i dislike dropping the book on my face when lying in bed *Shakes fist at bourne trilogy*

okay, seriously, i don't like books with too much description of scenes, i understand that quite alot is needed but it does tend to just loose me if it goes on for more than a page or so. also having a load of characters and skipping between their perspectives and never really giving anyone much to do, looking at you the davinci code, its just feels schizophrenic and twatish.
good luck though, hope it all works out.

 

[LordGarbageMan]

I like writing that's more about characters than ideas. I respect books that try to convey ideas but I just find them sometimes boring, and enjoy more fluid writing. Unique characters. Nobody likes cliches, and I loathe cliched characters. Makes me want to punch babies. As far as what cliches specifically, I guess I don't know them well enough to name them, but read posts about anime on the forums, and people always complain about that shit. Switching perspectives is awesome in my opinion, if it's done well. Fucking love that shit, adds a lot of depth.

 

[the spud]

I hate it when the sentences go on and on, until, by the end of it, you have totally forgotten what the sentence was about.

Also, dumbass love interests.

 

[tehfeen83]

I'm a writer myself, though I mainly write horror/comedy and I write for the screen. You mention that you mainly write high fantasy, so are you looking for what character development/themes/arcs I enjoy or don't in that genre, or just in general?

 

[manic_depressive13]

Like: When characters act like real people or somewhat sane
Dislike: When characters act like complete morons

Wheel of Time, I really like the series (mostly the lore), but some of the characters in the novels are just plain irritating. Case in point, mostly female characters actually. It is almost as if Robert Jordan just can't write about the female gender are the gender itself is so baffling to the guys they just don't know what the hell to do around them.

Most the the central female characters (Nyneave, Elayne, Egwene) just come flat out irritating or infuriating when I read about them. The guys? Well they have their stupid moments but definitely not as much. It is just opinion but I find most female characters in books to be weak, pathetic, manipulative, and sometimes just plain outright stupid.

I agree, the premise was fascinating, but the characters, especially the females, were all so goddamn unlikeable.

OT: I'm not sure. There's no one thing I don't like. Perhaps unnecessary sex scenes. Bad characters, but that's so broad it's not very helpful. No one sets out to write a bad character, sometimes they just turn out like that. The one thing I hate is writing dialogue without quotation marks, but I wouldn't expect to see that in a fantasy epic. It's more characteristic of those pretentious post-modern novels, where everything is deep and nothing is explained.

 

[rmb1983]

Top 3

Likes: Characters that evolve over time, Good Action (not necessarily fighting) and carefully written dialogue.

Dislikes: boring political rambling, characters having to act stupid in order for the plot to continue and lazy descriptions of locations.

Good luck with your writing. Since I'm also attempting to craft a fantasy epic; I like threads like these because it allows a good exchange of ideas and philosophies, steel sharpens steel after all.

Likewise for luck.

I was hoping that the thread could also serve that purpose.

okay, seriously, i don't like books with too much description of scenes, i understand that quite alot is needed but it does tend to just loose me if it goes on for more than a page or so. also having a load of characters and skipping between their perspectives and never really giving anyone much to do, looking at you the davinci code, its just feels schizophrenic and twatish.

Those two things are definitely a crux for a lot of writers. Scene description is something few manage to do wonderfully; most are either lazy and far too brief to give the reader a good image, or so long-winded that the only thing you can think of is that damned "This is the Song that Never Ends".
Jumping between characters is also finicky, but can add quite a bit when done well. Sadly, most writers fall into the trap of leaving a cliffhanger with one character and boring the bejeezus out of their reader with insignificant events from all the other characters for a stretch.

I like writing that's more about characters than ideas. I respect books that try to convey ideas but I just find them sometimes boring, and enjoy more fluid writing. Unique characters. Nobody likes cliches, and I loathe cliched characters. Makes me want to punch babies. As far as what cliches specifically, I guess I don't know them well enough to name them, but read posts about anime on the forums, and people always complain about that shit. Switching perspectives is awesome in my opinion, if it's done well. Fucking love that shit, adds a lot of depth.

I like clichés, to an extent, but it all depends on the delivery (whether it's satirical homage or simply just an element of the story).

My biggest hatred is any, and I mean ANY mention of the main character being the chosen one. If theres even a hint that they are somehow some special, unique little snowflake then I lose interest real fast.
A character who gains power through wits and skill is perfectly fine, one who is just destined to be the only one who can blah blah blah can fuck right off.

Oh and make it so no characters are safe. If you can kill off the main character and pick up the story using someone else then thats just awesome. Thats why I love A Song of Ice and Fire.

Sadly, every story needs its protagonist. Or two. Or nine.

 

[SirDeadly]

Well I dislike it when all of what I just wrote disappears for a start... So now I have to type it again which is not so easy when your fingers are frozen.

Some tips when beginning: Have a clear outline of where your story is going to go so that you know what is going to happen all the time. Of course this outline can change as your ideas progress. Secondly character descriptions are very useful in their development. Draft up what will happen to them, their relations and their personalities. Having a picture of that character is a great way to help with progression.

What I like in a book is character relationships developing and not immediately being how it is at the end. If you're unsure of what I mean then look at the Ranger's Apprentice series or the Night Angel trilogy.

I dislike it when humor is done poorly and when the story isn't engaging. By that I mean when a story doesn't become like a movie in my mind.

 

[rmb1983]

I'm a writer myself, though I mainly write horror/comedy and I write for the screen. You mention that you mainly write high fantasy, so are you looking for what character development/themes/arcs I enjoy or don't in that genre, or just in general?

Just in general, really. Not everyone likes the genre I mostly focus on; it's a matter of curiousity dealing with whatever genre the poster is most familiar with.

Most themes in writing carry across genres, though.

 

[tehfeen83]

My biggest hatred is any, and I mean ANY mention of the main character being the chosen one. If theres even a hint that they are somehow some special, unique little snowflake then I lose interest real fast.
A character who gains power through wits and skill is perfectly fine, one who is just destined to be the only one who can blah blah blah can fuck right off.

Oh and make it so no characters are safe. If you can kill off the main character and pick up the story using someone else then thats just awesome. Thats why I love A Song of Ice and Fire.

Yeah this pretty much sums up what I was going to say. If someone is The Chosen One, or the The Last of His Race, I really stop caring about them. This puts me off reading a lot of otherwise decent fantasy works.