What do you hate in a story?

[GforGraham]

I'm in awe of those who can go on and on for 10, 20, 30 chapters and admit they haven't written the ending and have no idea what's going to happen next.

However...I never read them.

A well-crafted Lit page or 2 leaves me smiling most times.

rj

That makes for a long boring story as it meanders along. You should have an idea at least of an endpoint. Something the main character is aiming for, and how long he should take to reach the target. It would take a very impressive writer to keep you reading if he has no idea about his own story.

My own first story here is currently 5 chapters loaded with #6 about ready to launch. I see no more than ten more chapters to reach the end point, they are already roughly mapped out. Don't have to be greatly impressive as the reader does not need to suffer an endless story.

 

[le_kitty]

That makes for a long boring story as it meanders along. You should have an idea at least of an endpoint. Something the main character is aiming for, and how long he should take to reach the target. It would take a very impressive writer to keep you reading if he has no idea about his own story.

My own first story here is currently 5 chapters loaded with #6 about ready to launch. I see no more than ten more chapters to reach the end point, they are already roughly mapped out. Don't have to be greatly impressive as the reader does not need to suffer an endless story.

lol, be careful, 'boring' is incredibly subjective. If an endpoint works for you, do it, but let other people figure out what works for them.

Suffering an endless story sounds quite painful... but Google defines story like this: an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.

Though I do get that you're saying stories should have an ending and not be left hanging.

 

[GforGraham]

lol, be careful, 'boring' is incredibly subjective. If an endpoint works for you, do it, but let other people figure out what works for them.

Suffering an endless story sounds quite painful... but Google defines story like this: an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.

Though I do get that you're saying stories should have an ending and not be left hanging.

why does this happen every effing time. This is about your personal likes & dislikes. Dont effing tell me I am wrong.

fed up with jerks policing what I can think.

I never told anyone what they have to think, just saying what I think.

 

[le_kitty]

why does this happen every effing time. This is about your personal likes & dislikes. Dont effing tell me I am wrong.

fed up with jerks policing what I can think.

I never told anyone what they have to think, just saying what I think.

I apologise for offending you.

My philosophy is that if we can dish, we should know how to take. If you give a strong opinion that someone doesn't agree with, you're probably inviting return fire.

 

[GforGraham]

lol, be careful, 'boring' is incredibly subjective. If an endpoint works for you, do it, but let other people figure out what works for them.

Suffering an endless story sounds quite painful... but Google defines story like this: an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.

*******

I apologise for offending you.

My philosophy is that if we can dish, we should know how to take. If you give a strong opinion that someone doesn't agree with, you're probably inviting return fire.

I don't care if someone disagrees, am used to that in real life. I hate being quoted scripture and verse to show my opinion is wrong. Fine to say you think differently and argue your case but definitions vary from place to place and reference to reference.

But you told me I had to let other people figure out what works for them. I only stated my thoughts on topic. Seems the only people who hear what I say have to make certain I am wrong.
Then to be quoted google as scripture, sorry I see this google as being treated like some freakin' god. I guess because it sees and remembers everything you do, it is a freakin' god. Can someone use different search engine, they all point to same things. Shit they even take photos of your property without your initial knowledge or approval. I used bing until found out it was by mirosoft or similar.

Apologies for coming over strongly, but sometimes nerves are hit and I was always on the opposite side and had to suck it up sunshine. All I have left in my life are my thoughts, I just get pissed off sometimes.
and then the site closes for daily maintenance reboot.

Remember even a broken dial clock is right twice a day.

 

[Sammael Bard]

fed up with jerks policing what I can think.

I never told anyone what they have to think, just saying what I think.

People raise eyebrows at how you pen down your opinion and not at the opinion itself.

Thoughts sound better when voiced passively instead of an actively aggressive way. You don't poke egos and everyone goes their happy way. "I think that it should be like this and this" sound way better than "that's shit, it shouldn't be like that".

Like I said in the OP, don't censor yourselves but don't write to provoke either.

 

[GforGraham]

People raise eyebrows at how you pen down your opinion and not at the opinion itself.

Thoughts sound better when voiced passively instead of an actively aggressive way. You don't poke egos and everyone goes their happy way. "I think that it should be like this and this" sound way better than "that's shit, it shouldn't be like that".

Like I said in the OP, don't censor yourselves but don't write to provoke either.

OK OK

What's an OP?

 

[Sammael Bard]

Original post

 

[Daniel_Matthews]

TBH, I've stopped reading newer stories on Lit. I've bookmarked a few stories and authors that always turn me on. I don't have much time to wade through every crap posted here. Earlier, I used to read from Lit regularly but now... I just don't feel like it. To much quantity makes it hard to find a real gem.

The hall of fame is full of chaptered series, and is no use to someone who doesn't have the time to read through all the 20 fucking chapters.

Someone said that Lit stories need a realty check and he hit the problem right on the spot. Virgins don't enter a gangbanging on their first time, take cocks up their pussies and assess and suck dick like a seasoned pornstar.

I guess I'll get what I've paid for.

I've started buying published erotica on Amazon and other websites. I only have three in my collection but they are worth every dime I've spent on them. You can smell their professionalism in every page. Way better.

Gah... I think I've blabbered more than what the topic demanded.

DM

 

[Handley_Page]

One pet hate is "excessively short sentences".
It's all too staccato for me.

 

[NoJo]

That makes for a long boring story as it meanders along. You should have an idea at least of an endpoint. Something the main character is aiming for, and how long he should take to reach the target. It would take a very impressive writer to keep you reading if he has no idea about his own story.

My own first story here is currently 5 chapters loaded with #6 about ready to launch. I see no more than ten more chapters to reach the end point, they are already roughly mapped out. Don't have to be greatly impressive as the reader does not need to suffer an endless story.

I'm the same: If I post a "Chapter 1 of a story, I tend to know how many chapters I want to write in total, and how they'll pan out. But some writers (I think Dickens was like this) can write serials, and, depending on their level of genius, can keep spinning out a story, each chapter opening up new avenues for them to continue. But as I said, that's not my style.

 

[LadyVer]

If it is "a great story" then the sex scenes should be integral and essential.

If they are not, it isn't "a great story".

Generally, that is true. But I'm talking about romance and urban fantasy authors, too many who have caved to the idea that long sex scenes, no matter how boring and stupid, are just what the readers want.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

I never told anyone what they have to think, just saying what I think.

Not really permitted here, in my limited experience. You're expected to qualify everything with "in my opinion" - as if anyone ever posted anything else here - and if folk don't like your opinions you can expect to be asked to apologise for them, or even not state them.

Say what you want, ignore those you can't stomach, and hope for the same courtesy back. Good rules to live by... but not widely embraced here.

 

[legerdemer]

Things I hate in a story:

-shoddy grammar and sloppy spelling; if the story line is meh, it's easy to put it down, but it saddens me when a really good story is marred this way

- I really hate, with a vengeance, when an otherwise good writer obviously manipulates their readers for the punchline and votes - this happens more often than not in the Winter Holidays contest, where people go for the "awwww, that's so beautiful effect.

And just in case anyone has any doubt, this is all my not-so humble opinion, and I claim the right to express it.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

People raise eyebrows at how you pen down your opinion and not at the opinion itself.

Thoughts sound better when voiced passively instead of an actively aggressive way. You don't poke egos and everyone goes their happy way. "I think that it should be like this and this" sound way better than "that's shit, it shouldn't be like that".

Like I said in the OP, don't censor yourselves but don't write to provoke either.

Yeah, crap. Write plain blunt statements that state what you believe, without qualification. If people don't like it they can ignore it or hopefully debate it, but whining that someone's honest opinions must be peddled with soft-soap is a significant insult to a person's right to express opinion at all. This is what political correctness has bought us - everyone's supposed to bow their head and simper instead of speaking clearly, and ideally never actually voice an opinion that could possibly offend anyone. Because gosh, someone might get the vapours, oh dearie me.

Screw that. Speak your mind, if you have a mind to speak. I'd rather be loudly wrong - that can be a learning experience - than whisper truths in an endlessly apologetic, whinging voice.

All in my less than humble opinion. Because anything that's not larded with citations and references IS only an opinion.

 

[Rozalin_0123]

Just my thoughts on the topic. Aside from the usual things many of you have mentioned (grammer, sentence structure, "head hopping", etc.) here are a few of my peeves.

Unfinished chaptered stories. This doesn't necessarily mean a 30 something chaptered story that's still going (if you can hold my interest that long, good on you) but I'm more talking about the authors who write a few chapters on a realitively consistant basis only to drop off the face of the Earth never to return. No one wants to get invested in your characters only to not find out where they end up. Any 'Firefly' fan can relate, I'm sure. I know, I know, "real life happens" and "free website" yadda, yadda, yadda. But it doesn't make it suck any less.

Erotic Horror stories without any real element of fear or dread. Just because there is a vampire in your story, doesn't make it scary to me. Show me why I should be frightened or horrified by whatever entity you're trying to scare me with.

Sex scenes with excessive pillow talk. "Oh yeah, baby! Right there! Just like that! God, that feels so good! Now, fuck me harder! No, harder! Harder! Yes. Yes! YES!!!" Ugh! Unnecessary and distracting padding.

Stories that read like the author had recently watched a Hentai porn and decided to put it into words. You know, 38FFF non-human girls saying "no, no, no!" just to be saying "yes, yes, yes!" halfway through. I know this kind of goes with the whole "unrealistic" thing many have mentioned before, but there are some authors who take it to a whole new level that borders on comedy. I can only suspend my disbelief so far.

"Stories" that are more like chapters, or worse yet, a single scene. A single vague setup leading to sex then that's it. No character development. No epilogue. Nothing. Just premise, sex, the end. I "get" that some like strokers. Many I've enjoyed myself. But would it hurt to see more deviate from the overused concept that sex in erotica is the destination and not part of the journey?

 

[Sammael Bard]

Screw that. Speak your mind, if you have a mind to speak. I'd rather be loudly wrong - that can be a learning experience - than whisper truths in an endlessly apologetic, whinging voice.

All in my less than humble opinion. Because anything that's not larded with citations and references IS only an opinion.

Listen, asshole. And listen very carefully.

The indirect meaning of my statement would stand as: Avoid giving gratuitous offence. You risk losing your readers, or at least their goodwill, and therefore your argument. He wanted to be heard without getting his arse bitten off every time he hits submit reply, so I offered him this solution.

Political correctness doesn't mean grovelling or pleading everytime he writes something. It's about striking a balance between the good and the offensive.

You want to write what you want? Fine. But don't whine about how you get attacked every time you insulted someone or the other.

 

[NotWise]

If people don't like it they can ignore it or hopefully debate it, but whining that someone's honest opinions must be peddled with soft-soap is a significant insult to a person's right to express opinion at all.

Oh Gawd, stop whining. If you want to express unqualified opinions then do it, and take whatever consequences there are.

 

[NotWise]

Just my thoughts on the topic. Aside from the usual things many of you have mentioned (grammer, sentence structure, "head hopping", etc.) here are a few of my peeves.

I dislike all those peeves as well! (except that I plead guilty to head hopping).

 

[legerdemer]

Is this a thread about expressing our opinions about what we hate in a story, or about how to express our opinions?

Hopefully none of us are too old to learn better manners, and we're never too old to learn how to communicate more effectively. Whether we do or not, that's on us.

 

[Rozalin_0123]

Is this a thread about expressing our opinions about what we hate in a story, or about how to express our opinions?

Hopefully none of us are too old to learn better manners, and we're never too old to learn how to communicate more effectively. Whether we do or not, that's on us.

This is why I'm adopting a policy of replying only to the original topic in threads and not to the derailments, even if I have something to add to the off-topic discussion.

Edit: Too many good threads get closed over pointless bickering lately.

 

[Predominant]

What I hate in a story?

Superfluous detail for the sole purpose of adding words unnecessary to a stories plot.

Predominant

 

[le_kitty]

So I usually read non-con/reluctance. If I've invested myself, I will for the most part dislike if the female protagonist submits easily or has no spine, especially if the male lead character is an asshole. But for someone to do that and pull it off, is still possible. It's just difficult hence it's rare, and the same onus is on me, but I've read physical submission coupled with emotional defiance done incredibly well. I love cliche's done well or reinvented, but I will not read something that will bore me. So what I dislike is a thin line away from what I enjoy.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Yeah, crap. Write plain blunt statements that state what you believe, without qualification. If people don't like it they can ignore it or hopefully debate it, but whining that someone's honest opinions must be peddled with soft-soap is a significant insult to a person's right to express opinion at all. This is what political correctness has bought us - everyone's supposed to bow their head and simper instead of speaking clearly, and ideally never actually voice an opinion that could possibly offend anyone. Because gosh, someone might get the vapours, oh dearie me.

Screw that. Speak your mind, if you have a mind to speak. I'd rather be loudly wrong - that can be a learning experience - than whisper truths in an endlessly apologetic, whinging voice.

All in my less than humble opinion. Because anything that's not larded with citations and references IS only an opinion.

I went thru a long psychotherapy process. Fifty years ago larval psychotherapists were expected to do it in order to know what real patients experienced. But, for the most part, you learned to say what you mean, plain and simple. You learned to take it, too. I estimate I have zero friends today, because of what I learned. People forgive anything but honesty. In reality most of our critics are right about us. And that's intolerable!

 

[le_kitty]

I went thru a long psychotherapy process. Fifty years ago larval psychotherapists were expected to do it in order to know what real patients experienced. But, for the most part, you learned to say what you mean, plain and simple. You learned to take it, too. I estimate I have zero friends today, because of what I learned. People forgive anything but honesty. In reality most of our critics are right about us. And that's intolerable!

People forgive anything but honesty.

Actually, I can relate to this in a big way. I grew up unflinchingly honest, which in other words, I either admired your work and I could be profuse about it, or I was apathetic, or I didn't like it and I could also be explicit about the why. My unflinching honesty was in everything. It surprised me when my friend said I was very critical. Understanding how people tick has mellowed me out though. And when people say they want your honest opinion, the truth is they do, but if it hurts them, then that's not something that can be undone easily. In any case, honesty is still a big thing for me, but I find there's a lot of value to tact.