Constructive criticism from readers to authors

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The Innkeeper

The Innkeeper

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Rural western Canada
I am a pretty voracious reader and I read about 300 books or so a year, fiction/non fiction in @ variety of genres.

I just wanted to express a personal pet peeve from those of you who write dystopian. Apocalyptic, SHTF, TEOTHAWKI, patriot fiction. Nothing kills a story for me quicker than to be reading along and encounter a totally gratuitous graphic sex scene. I’m no prude, I enjoy sex, but if I wanted to read porn I’d buy porn. We are adults we can get the picture without lengthy explicit passages about adolescent fantasies.

Maybe that’s what it takes to make a book sell, but it ruins them for me.

Rant over, and not directed at any specific author.
 
And those who don't know the weapons, procedures, and ranks ( like uncovered Marines saluting indoors or a Navy Lt. is O3 and Navy Captain is O6 )
 
I get many compliments on my stories because they contain no swearing or sex.
But I get many who complain about something else of course!:)
When I mention specific guns in my stories they are guns that I personally have fired at some time in my life. After being a gunsmith for many years this part is not a problem. I often do not say specifically what gun it is because most people don't really care I don't think. A gun is a gun, so-to-speak.
 
hiwall said:
I get many compliments on my stories because they contain no swearing or sex.
But I get many who complain about something else of course!:)
When I mention specific guns in my stories they are guns that I personally have fired at some time in my life. After being a gunsmith for many years this part is not a problem. I often do not say specifically what gun it is because most people don't really care I don't think. A gun is a gun, so-to-speak.
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That is why I've purchased just about everything you've written (at least under the one pen name that I know!) I enjoy reading your books because they tell a story that engages the reader without embarrassment. :thumbs up:
 
BugoutBob said:
I am a pretty voracious reader and I read about 300 books or so a year, fiction/non fiction in @ variety of genres.

I just wanted to express a personal pet peeve from those of you who write dystopian. Apocalyptic, SHTF, TEOTHAWKI, patriot fiction. Nothing kills a story for me quicker than to be reading along and encounter a totally gratuitous graphic sex scene. I’m no prude, I enjoy sex, but if I wanted to read porn I’d buy porn. We are adults we can get the picture without lengthy explicit passages about adolescent fantasies.

Maybe that’s what it takes to make a book sell, but it ruins them for me.

Rant over, and not directed at any specific author.
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Right on. And... there are books I stopped reading because of the language. The "f" word doesn't add a thing to the story and I don't know why some authors are compelled to use it and use it frequently. I can go through a book that's ladened with profanity, mark out every curse word, and the story doesn't change. Just leave out what my Granny always called "potty mouth" words. That's my rant.
 
hiwall said:
I get many compliments on my stories because they contain no swearing or sex.
But I get many who complain about something else of course!:)
When I mention specific guns in my stories they are guns that I personally have fired at some time in my life. After being a gunsmith for many years this part is not a problem. I often do not say specifically what gun it is because most people don't really care I don't think. A gun is a gun, so-to-speak.
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I don't even know what you have written. Is some of your work in the library here?

Edit: Yes, I just looked!
 
I have to agree, gratuitous sex and profanity ruins the book, movie or TV series. If you want the graphic details go to a porn site. If you need profanity listen to rap music. I only watch videos (no theater / cinemas) and I will fast forward / skip over all sex scene's. I gave up reading several SCFI authors when they started shifting into the porn industry or the foul mouthed ignorant fan group.
 
Like extreme graphic violence, gratuitous sex scenes and extensive cursing in all forms of entertainment; I see that as a a writer lacking in talent trying to make up for it in another cheap ways. Not worth my time or mental energy. Definitely not worth my money.
 
As a different perspective I have had reviewers of my books say that they are not realistic because of no swearing. And to be honest that is certainly true.

But we all hear enough of that in real life---we don't have have to put up with it in our reading too.
 
hiwall said:
As a different perspective I have had reviewers of my books say that they are not realistic because of no swearing. And to be honest that is certainly true.

But we all hear enough of that in real life---we don't have have to put up with it in our reading too.
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I have always found your stories to be 1) Very entertaining, 2) Realistic. 3) PG rated. Worked in construction and facility maintenance, I already know all the words. I one had a freshman coach make a statement that caused me to rethink my profanity. After letting loose a long string of swear words the coach simple said to me, " I would not have in my hand what you have in your mouth". I learned to curb my cursing after that. Now hit my thumb with a hammer, I think you may hear a few words of a profane nature.
 
hiwall said:
As a different perspective I have had reviewers of my books say that they are not realistic because of no swearing. And to be honest that is certainly true.

But we all hear enough of that in real life---we don't have have to put up with it in our reading too.
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it is no doubt a tough balance to maintain. I think there can be times when it could add authenticity but it is too often overdone.

I recall reading a murder mystery, I don’t recall the name or author, and I don’t think I even finished it ... hard boiled NYC homicide detective on the scene of a horrific murder scene ... he said the victim had “piddled himself” ... now the scene could have used somehin* stronger than piddled.

Having said that I do appreciate your stories an$ not having to worry about stumbling across gratuitous sex or profanity
 
Thank you, Bob, for bringing this subject up. If the outline goes out of it's way to mention graphic sex and violence, I pass it up. If it isn't mentioned and I download it, find it includes the graphic stuff it gets deleted. Kind of follows why the two authors being talked about are both that I read. Actually, I've read everything they have on Amazon. hint hint
 
robin416 said:
Thank you, Bob, for bringing this subject up. If the outline goes out of it's way to mention graphic sex and violence, I pass it up. If it isn't mentioned and I download it, find it includes the graphic stuff it gets deleted. Kind of follows why the two authors being talked about are both that I read. Actually, I've read everything they have on Amazon. hint hint
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I don’t know if I have read everything but if not I am getting pretty darn close.
 
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hiwall said:
I get many compliments on my stories because they contain no swearing or sex.
But I get many who complain about something else of course!:)
When I mention specific guns in my stories they are guns that I personally have fired at some time in my life. After being a gunsmith for many years this part is not a problem. I often do not say specifically what gun it is because most people don't really care I don't think. A gun is a gun, so-to-speak.
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The problem with mentioning specific model weapons or brand name jackets etc... is that if the reader does not automatically recognize it and know what it is/looks like it will jolt them out of the flow of the story.

There is no benefit to mentioning an obscure object or brand (other than for the author to brag about their knowledge) but there is a big downside if it disrupts the reader's focus.
 
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It does not bother me if the author does not identify the make/model of a weapon, unless the story is about specific people in history or pop culture who used specific guns. Like if you are going to write about Dirty Harry don't give him a .38 snub nose. It does however drive me nuts when they get the manual of arms wrong. Like cocking the hammer back on a striker fired semi-auto. It's bad enough that I can't watch a movie or a TV show where they get it right.
 
Sentry18 said:
It does not bother me if the author does not identify the make/model of a weapon, unless the story is about specific people in history or pop culture who used specific guns. Like if you are going to write about Dirty Harry don't give him a .38 snub nose. It does however drive me nuts when they get the manual of arms wrong. Like cocking the hammer back on a striker fired semi-auto. It's bad enough that I can't watch a movie or a TV show where they get it right.
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I'm the same way about medical shows/books. I find myself yelling at the television or considering putting down the book when the characters misuse medications or, worse, make assumptions that just because a person worked in a hospital once that they are capable of performing brain surgery. Most- in fact, almost all - nurses could not perform surgery, for example, yet many authors assume they can. Very distracting!
 
hiwall said:
Doc, anyone can perform surgery - -the only problem is that the patient almost always dies:)
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That may be true, but not just anyone can shoot 300 rounds from a lever action in .45 colt without reloading. :D
 
As a published author, I appreciate hearing that there are still readers who dislike graphic sex scenes and the usual torrent of vulgarity and cursing that add nothing to the story. Unfortunately, those of us who try to write stories without hardcore sex and violence are often accused of being too vanilla.

The love story shown in my avatar is extremely mild, but then the story is meant for folks who prefer plot to shock. If you grew up in the fifties and sixties, I invite you to read samples and reviews from my novel, "In Dreams", on Amazon and other bookseller websites, and maybe you would find it more to your liking that the usual X and R-rated books.
 
I am glad I saw BuboutBob's note on changing his name to Innkeeper or I would have been a whole lotta confused as I was re-reading this thread!
 
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