share your storytelling/writing peeves!

We all have them, those tropes or themes that make us want to throw the (possibly metaphorical) book at the wall in frustration. What are yours?

(Can be any media of course, not just books, as long as it's writing/plot-related! And be respectful of others' opinions, but you all know that c: )

Yay peeves. I probably have a lot of these. XD It's hard remember off the top of my head though, until I actually see one that reminds me...

And uhg, I actually just typed up a bunch, but it was starting to sound really familiar, so I checked that old topic on favourite storytelling elements (where we also discussed our least favourite), and yep, seems I already brought them all up in that one. And I think I said it better in that one anyway so I'll just delete what I had here and anyone can go read that old thread if you're curious. xD

But okay, here's a new one that pops to mind. It find it's a lot more common in movies and TV though, but it's driving me crazy. I hate those plots were there is a guy who acts like a stupid asshole and behaves like a child, loses the girl, but then wins her back in the end for some stupid minor gesture and all is forgiven, even though he hasn't changed at all. Why is this so common? D: I just watched yet another movie that was like this. It's still annoying when you reverse the genders too, though I don't see that nearly as often.

Another one that just popped to mind... not a theme or trope, but definitely a peeve: unnecessary sequels. I'm looking at you, Disney. >.> I feel like sometimes a story is just better left on its own. (Though obviously there are exceptions.)

That's all I can think of at the moment, though I'm sure I have lots of others. I'll post more if they come to me.

Kynale wrote:

But okay, here's a new one that pops to mind. It find it's a lot more common in movies and TV though, but it's driving me crazy. I hate those plots were there is a guy who acts like a stupid asshole and behaves like a child, loses the girl, but then wins her back in the end for some stupid minor gesture and all is forgiven, even though he hasn't changed at all. Why is this so common? D: I just watched yet another movie that was like this. It's still annoying when you reverse the genders too, though I don't see that nearly as often.

Uggghh oh man this. D: Yeah I don't tend to watch the type of film that does this because they tend to be outside my genres of interest but seriously ew. (It's probably because these shows/films are written by heteronormative cis men who don't care about anyone else's perspectives? It reeks of wish fulfillment.) On that note, I can't stand any premise that revolves around an (often lazy and unattractive) asshole male and his young trophy wife who thinks he's the centre of the universe, despite him having essentially no redeeming qualities. It's basically mary-sueism at its worst, only people give it a pass (or just... fail to recognise it for what it is) because the sue is male. :/

hmmhmm, also sort of related, I'm really bothered by stories where the heroine breaks all the gender norms and is strong and badass, but then at the end of the story falls right back into the traditional role she spent the entire rest of the story subverting/escaping. :C I want badass lady protagonists who stay badass.

I... can't think of any other than the one I shared on the other board XD Except for maybe the unnecessary super romance/nude/sex scenes in stories? Although that could just be because I'm an asexual baby and those sort of things just bored me and turn me off haha.

But I really hate it even more when it just suddenly happens! There is like no interactions leading up to it giving you the idea these characters are falling in love. That or it's VERY very short like.. maybe they "accidentally touched hands" omg! And then suddenly the next page/scene now they're suddenly in bed together - it just makes me go what XD Why!? It just seems so forced for the sake of lust/nudity/sex scene what have you.

I just don't even wanna bother with the story after something like that happens, though.

Oh man I feel you so much xD sexysex-related plot points (such as character A really likes character B but it's unrequited blah blah etc) are always sooo boring to me... I just have no personal connection to that whole spectrum of feelings, and thus I can't get at all invested in those characters' Sexual People Problems.

....and it's frustrating because I'll be reading an otherwise great book and suddenly the main character is like 'OH WOE IS ME SO-AND-SO LOVES SOMEONE ELSE' and I know I'm supposed to empathise but instead I'm just like 'yaaaaawn can we get back to the real plot already'

((yes sky together we will fill the void with adorable platonic bonds))

Duskglass wrote:

On that note, I can't stand any premise that revolves around an (often lazy and unattractive) asshole male and his young trophy wife who thinks he's the centre of the universe, despite him having essentially no redeeming qualities. It's basically mary-sueism at its worst, only people give it a pass (or just... fail to recognise it for what it is) because the sue is male. :/

This reminds me of another peeve of mine, again it's mostly in movies that I see this. I'm starting to really hate when they have a lead male who is older, and he gets a super young attractive female, when he is old enough to be her father... and nobody in the story bats an eye, it's treated as perfectly normal and romantic. The age difference usually isn't even brought up. And I'm not trying to say age differences are always wrong or anything, it's just starting to creep me out how common this is. Often this male is very mary-sueish like you said.

And the fact that it's never the other way around. If there's a story with an older female getting with a young attractive guy, then it's always made out to be a big deal, she's a "cougar" or whatever.

And yes Dusk, you're probably right that those films are directed at heteronormative cis men... I do try to avoid them, but often get stuck watching them with other people. x.x And I'm telling you, it's scary how common stuff like this is.

Sky, I hear you about the romances. Actually I can be a sucker for a good romance, but I'm picky, and I hate when it's not done well. Like when it suddenly springs out of nowhere, nope not a fan. I love me some slow build up.

Oh, and this is another movie/tv thing only, but that reminds me, I can't handle watching super heavy make-out sessions on screen. I have to look away. Maybe a weird quirk of mine, but it's just a little too intimate for me... the noises can be awful too uhg. XD;

Ugggh sloppy make outs XD Keep them awaaayy!!

Yeah with big sloppy makeouts and sexysex scenes I just.... feel so embarassed for the characters! And it's hard to watch because I feel like I'm intruding in that character's private business and nooo thank you. (I guess I have this idea that characters deserve some dignity/privacy just like anyone else? If it's not crucial to the telling of the story, don't show it.)

But if the relationship is well written and the stuff they show is kept to fluff then I don't mind. (And I like seeing bromance/ace romance/really close friends, and characters being close to each other in general because cuties)
The general lack of emphasis on significant non-sexual relationships in fiction distresses me greatly. :C There's so much nuance and variety available, and it's so often ignored.