forum Character Pet Peeves

Started January 07, 2018 by Lexi

tune

Are there any pet peeves you have when it comes to characters you're reading?

A super whiny character that is dependent on other people kills me every time.

Any character that is declared super powerful that for some reason is almost always sidelined so there can be a plot. If you're not going to put the power to use when needed and/or are always writing them out so there can be a story (especially if the reasons for removing them are flimsy) then why did you make them?

Bonus failure points if it's the Main Character that's victim of this.

When very energetic characters jump in at any given time and ruin the moment just so the author has a longer story. This is especially annoying when it's about to be a confession that's been waiting to happen and the characters jumps out of nowhere and stops it.

Dark and brooding characters that are dark and brooding for the sake of being dark and brooding.

When characters have literally zero development or have development that literally makes no sense. Like if something about them changes with no reason for them to have a change like that. Orr if there is just so much development that the character from the beginning is basically not the same character that the story ends with.

Female characters who have a lot of potential but become supporting characters. This typically happens with characters that have magical powers, a female character will have really powerful magic but it's used to support the main character (usually male).

Dickhead love interest who's only redeeming feature is that they have a tragic backstory and are attractive. Their "redeeming" usually involves doing a 180 for whomever is unlikely enough to be their punching bag without any actual atonement

That character who may exist to be a pervert who borders on the line of sexual harassment for "comedy" or to being some kind of foil for the bland as bread harem MC

Girl that won't stop reminding about how stronger and smarter she is than the other girls

The character who only exists for the writers to say "Haha. You silly fans and those stupid fanfics. Look at us, we're so self-aware." (Typically a teenage girl bc how dare teenage girls have interests)

Girl characters who "aren't like other girls" and reject all feminine things because it's too girly. I love seeing a badass girl who still wears pink and applies makeup before murdering someone. Also this isn't a character thing but a lot of (straight) enemies to lovers stories are just really toxic and abusive and I hate them.

• 'chosen one' teenage main characters. no explanation, just stop with chosen stuff. pleaseee

• abusive lovers who are somehow super amazing in everyone else's eyes (or at least one person) because they have a tragic backstory and they havent done anything to improve themselves.

• might get arrested for this one but the "I hate everyone but you" lover dynamic is gross to me. it creates an environment where the other partner can't talk to anyone without their significant other just wanting to demolish everyone else. just problematic and a manipulative relationship.

however person B showing person A that not everyone sucks and to improve on trust issues can be a nice arc.

however person B showing person A that not everyone sucks and to improve on trust issues can be a nice arc.

(omg this one is so good, I haven't think about something like this. I want to read a book like this asap :o)