What turns you off form a story

[theInmara]

So I'm curious, what is one or more things that either immediately turns you away from a story or drives you to drop it over time. It could be any nitpicking thing.

Any bigoted prejudice that the author obviously holds, and tends to work into their story. If we catch a story reinforcing bad stereotypes without eventually dismantling them, we'll throw the book against the wall if we can. Usually because we give it a chance and hope that there's a reason the baloney is in there, so there's a certain amount of investment we've made that sparks resentment for the wasted effort.

I played the role playing game for a few years. That's what turned me OFF from them. Still tend to include them in games and stories, but often go for the more obscure types unless they're the main villain.

We had a similar experience. The Vampire the Masquerade framework for vampires has seriously repulsed us.

We generally prefer them the way that you do, Charles.

But, there's one exception for us. What We Do In The Shadows. Turning them into gay comedy just works for us, apparently. Still don't want to be one, ever, though. Vampires just aren't for everyone. They aren't inherently desirable, interesting, or cool. Nothing is (except dragons ?).

 

[Carrigan2121]

I would kill to read a decent male-female vampire romance webnovel

 

[Santaisblue]

The mc being a hypocrite or the dialogue not feeling like it's a person talking. I can get behind anything else.

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

1) The author being a dumbass while interweaving the narrative. Current example is that one bunny to bunny-girl story. World-building is fine. It's a shitshow if you type it out and then casually mention that none of it matters, all in the same breath. The dwarven political mini-arc means nothing if the author will bitch about how they are making a story for themselves and that positive vibes are going to make them keep at it; while keeping the MC and narrator completely detached and blase towards it too!

2) Ignoring your own synopsis and promise as to how a story will even be about. This is just slapping anyone who are wasting their time.

3) Hypocrisy that is not in vein with what has already been shown. Its not a hypocrisy (no matter how much a reader might bitch) if the nuance of the action has already been explained. It gets a bit iffy for a reader if it is being explained at the moment that the action is being taken.

They need to make sure that the inner feelings of the author themselves has been put into writing about a character. If it's not explained then it will feel like it comes out of nowhere since we can't read the author's mind and it hasn't been typed out! It ruins the moment and whatever future the story might have by throwing a poorly executed narrative. Yes, enough that I give up on it. Why? Because then I get the feeling that the author will just pull something out of their ass at any point in the future. So, why bother continuing?

4) Over-explaining daily necessity (notice how I didn't say life). Are the characters dying from dysentery by chapter 2? No? Then why the fuck should we care and read about them wiping their ass (taking a drink, groping their stew ladles while cooking, opening and closing doors)?! You can easily add these actions during a scene. But something else needs to be progressing the story in the meantime. Which is why I didn't say daily "life" as that is a genre in of itself and appropriate material to expand on mannerisms of characters.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

But, there's one exception for us. What We Do In The Shadows. Turning them into gay comedy just works for us, apparently. Still don't want to be one, ever, though. Vampires just aren't for everyone. They aren't inherently desirable, interesting, or cool. Nothing is (except dragons ?).

WWDITS is weird. When it misses, it is almost painful to watch, but when it hits, it hits it out of the park over the next one and into the stands of the one half a mile away... And it USUALLY hits but man do those misses hurt to watch...

 

[melchi]

Having an unlikable MC is prob the biggest red flag.

Bloated or unclear writing style is a close second.

 

[RepresentingDesire]

Perfect mcs are boring.

A clear and simple narrative is as boring as the above.

 

[ThisAdamGuy]

When a story has a legitimately good setup for an interesting plot and/or conflict, but constantly shoves it onto the backburner so it can focus on the romance.

Pretending like kissing hunky love interests is as important as/more important than saving the world.

Stories that try to pass off toxic and abusive relationships as good because the abuser is sexy.

Characters with no flaws or weaknesses.

Characters with flaws that the author refuses to acknowledge as flaws so it can pretend the characters are flawless.

Characters who blatantly ignore opportunities for character growth because the author has decided they're already perfect and flawless.

Basically, this book.

 

[LesserCodex]

Hypocritical characters, unless the author has them grow and change on that and the fucking bullship pull up power from their ass, like seriously, give a reason for it how hard is that?

 

[theInmara]

WWDITS is weird. When it misses, it is almost painful to watch, but when it hits, it hits it out of the park over the next one and into the stands of the one half a mile away... And it USUALLY hits but man do those misses hurt to watch...

Yeah, we're pretty sure we've only seen the good parts shared with us by our girlfriend. It definitely looks like one of those comedies that will miss so awkwardly on occasion. Thanks for the warning!

 

[Gray_Mann]

People inserting modern morals into a world that clearly has little in comparison with what is considered "modern" today. Even worse, is when they go out of their way to have the MC parrot the nonsense.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Hypocritical characters, unless the author has them grow and change on that and the fucking bullship pull up power from their ass, like seriously, give a reason for it how hard is that?

Ah yes - actually, I would say "Main Characters that never seem to grow or change at all, or worse, who backslide or regress instead of progressing" (unless it's a comedy and that is the point ... but even then it gets tiresome)

 

[fcures]

When they don't stop yapping

 

[Alski]

When they call futa x female "girls love"

 

[Dark_Phoenix_Zaetyk]

Misunderstandings that drag too far, useless side characters,old cliches and righteous fools.

 

[MatchaChocolate69]

Millennial writing, Marvel-style dialogues, jokes every two sentences, inability to take things seriously, lack of conflict or significance, conflict resolution without serious consequences (no losses, nothing changes, everyone, including the antagonists, is happy).

 

[Gray_Mann]

Millennial writing

What is Millennial writing? I've never heard of that term before.

 

[MatchaChocolate69]

What is Millennial writing? I've never heard of that term before.