Cardinal Writing Sins

Glitched

Moth Mommy
Joined
Jan 5, 2024
Messages
245
Points
133
Make the resident humans or primary race idiots whenever they're encountering or interacting with the protagonist. Bonus points if they are soliders who can't do their job properly and fold like paper.
 

LilRora

Mostly formless
Joined
Mar 27, 2022
Messages
1,349
Points
153
For me probably long misunderstandings.

In general, they can be really funny if they're relatively short and well-written. Ideally if they're resolved in the same scene they're introduced.

Used in a romance for cheap drama spanning fifteen chapters, they're just repulsive (one of the reasons why I don't like Mushoku Tensei).
 

LoneQuack

Active member
Joined
Jun 16, 2024
Messages
120
Points
43
Typically I don't have anything that turns me off but it's hard for something to hook me up. I haven't read a lot of stories, but the latest story I tried was Supreme Magus. Read up to chapter 10 to give it a fair chance but it became harder and harder after chapter 3, so here's what turned me off from that specific story. In the prologue we are introduced to the Mc has his 'tragic' life and wakes up in one unfamiliar world where he dies immediately and goes to another. In his first life he is about 50 but his mental age is closer to 14. Ah everyone's my enemy I will kill them all! Kinda vibe. Then no one questions the ability of a three year old to form complete and perfect sentences, his big brother was a giant asshole without the correct backing and the cherry on top would be the inconsistent language of the people. You can't point out how the language is not advanced for Authors inside the world and then proceed to give a random hunter surgical terms as if it were common knowledge.

Sorry for going on and on about something that wasn't asked in the thread. So, to summaries, I guess logical inconsistencies both within and outside of your stories lens, especially early on (because later on you can at least bullshit your way out).
 

LesserCodex

A milf enjoyer who lives in your walls.
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Messages
217
Points
103
Giving an unreasonable power-up with no prior build-up.

I've read stories where the Mc struggles and suddenly because of the plot gets some bullshit powerup with no build-up or mentioning that makes him overcome the situation, like where did it come from? You never even hinted at a power within him, he just says some shit and then boom! He OP now and starts clapping his cheeks. Like seriously it takes me out of it.
 

Major2501

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2023
Messages
114
Points
83
Characters having literally nothing wrong with them, making them perfect. I like to give my characters all kinds of flaws whether they be physical flaws, personality flaws etc. They're not all "all knowing" and have to improvise like anyone in the real world would have to when necessary. None of them are afraid to say "I don't know." Overly perfect characters really put me off, especially when I'm reading them.
 

BearlyAlive

I'm not savage, you're just average
Joined
Oct 13, 2021
Messages
1,968
Points
153
Terrible grammar and misspellings. I can stomach grammar issues, but if paired with misspellings or outright using wrong words... You can only read "coitus" as "coincidence" so much before you ragequit.

When the plot twists and turns to accommodate the MC and their stupidity.
 

melchi

What is a custom title?
Joined
May 2, 2021
Messages
2,873
Points
153
Sexualization of children. (1 strike rule for that)
 
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