Michael

:)T

I wouldn't call it outdated. Even the worst of writers of past centuries wouldn't have called it an "undulating tree branch." Besides, I have issues with the image of tree branches poking at blood orchids -- which are SMALL -- in the first place. The blood orchid would die. Like. Be literally ripped apart.

Generally in fiction what I hate is when writers don't think about their metaphors and images.

It's terrible in sex scenes, as Tatiana points out.

Talk of "love" in high school. Call my a cynic. I just don't buy it.

Anyways I hate it when a character is suddenly changed for the better, because bam they are in love. A Character is supposed to be human like and even love cannot stop all bad habits i mean. If a bad boy who smokes, drinks, does drugs and swears way to much just randomly because a good boy, who gets good grades, does not smoke/drink/do drugs and whatever else just because they are in love it is highly unbelievable in my opinion.

I also hate it when Characters become good looking, i mean seesh why cannot we just have ugly people sometimes. I'm aware we as humans would rather read about pretty things I am guilty of this but sometimes It's just refreshing to have a not so beautiful but engaging character that you fall in love with anyway.

Also, it's when one thinks true love is about passion... it's not just about that. Love is about being happy with the person you love... about being a person they can trust, and someone who remains in their life as a source of welfare, happiness and good.

Also, like you guys have said, it's how someone usually screws up the sex scenes... just like I commented myself. I honestly think there's a difference between a sex novel and a romance novel. A "sex" novel is (in my opinion) a romance that has such low quality that it only passes off as cheap **.

I've seen some pretty good romance novels, and fictions on this site too, that, even though they're not bad, they have some good room to improve.

Anyway, Dios Los Bendiga,

Gabriel El Jibaro

A pulsating, throbbing, baby-making piston.

Michael

baby-making piston... I like it ;)

But I don't think my story is consumed with them. I do hate stories that drag on after the big ending (which is usually a wedding or wedding night) and go into 20 more pages of fluff. A good epilogue will work nicely, but don't bore me.

I've actually stopped reading books for this reason.

There haven't been a lot, and none on this site.

It may have been a book by Lisa Jackson (I think...) Her books seem to drag a lot and are weighed down by A LOT of descriptions (personal opinion here).

-Sally Can Wait

I think that normally, kids (Or adults,) Don't randomly look at each other and automatically think, "Lyk, omg, that's my soulmate."

Or if they do, they don't actually believe it.

It's completely unrealistic. I think that Romance Stories shouldn't be straight drama, should have some conflict, some hilarity, and some taste.

(Any story without a good sense of humor is flat. It's the truth.)

I would agree that dragging out the ending is a sure fire way to bring down a story. If it's finished then let it be, we can imagine the characters futures ourselves.

I've never written a pure romance story before. I would say that romance is always a part of my stories but i don't like it to overtake them because there's only so far they can go ;)

ANNA KARENINA.

Now, don't get me wrong, I recognize that Tolstoy's novel is as much about Levin and Kitty as it is about Anna and Vronsky but come ON! the social commentary after Anna's death is in.fu.ri.ay.ting.

I agree with you. Romances that are just completely unrealistic don't interest me. In a real relationship there will be ups and downs, because life is not all sunshine and flowers.

Something else that really makes me cringe in romance stories are really bad terms of endearment. 'My love' is all and good if you're writing a story set two hundred years ago, but who really says that in this day and age?

Nothing, in my opinion, ruins a romance story. With one exception: The only thing that ruins a good love story...is if you have no romance it it.

OMGsh!

I hate it when everyone ends all happy ever ever! Make the ending happy if you want but please, letting everyone get what they want is just lame. SOrry but that just annoys me when the ending is like "...and they all got exately what they wanted, no problems, just peace and love

A more realistic ending would go something like this.

"The two of them snuggled in bed. They both knew there would be many challenges in the years to come. For now, they have each other, and their togetherness makes tomorrow's obstacles feel so much smaller."

1) Botching grammar and spelling. Even if you're writing about a teenager, you don't get the right to kill that stuff. It's what makes writing good.

2) High school romances: they're so typical you need to make them atypical. I can't tell you how many times its one popular meets and unpopular or whatnot. Whey can't people START with a romance thats 2/3 years old. Show what happens when you're that far in. How you stay in love. How does cheating happen? OH gasp, cheating, the perfect lovers wouldnt' do that. but a lot of people aren't perfect.

3) Yes, I'm guilty of writing about beautiful ppl. But I would like to see some people like me. Okay looking, a tad overweight, but can still get laid (well...at my grand old age of 22...anywho). Haha, just kidding. But they can still find someone to be with. Also, what about just falling out of love with someone. It's not always, the first person I love I marry.

4)And a tip: when you write, read it outloud. It really lets you know if something's written so people can understand.

5) And the ever popular sex scenes: I like them. But I like sex. soooo, i'm a bit biased. But they do have to have some taste and class no matter how 'hot and heavy'. People have sex. It's a fact of life. So don't just avoid it 'cause you're uncomfortable with it. You can hint at it, or describe a little more if you're comfortable with it. Don't be afraid to say 'nipple!' It's okay! We won't be appalled...just don't say 'quivering member'...like in 10 things I hate about you.

And another thing, a lead up into any makeout sequence is always bad (being left alone for a while, being in a room with the other person for a long while, wedding scenes, etc.).

I think there really should be some kind of antagonism in Romance stories...it gets really boring if characters are a complete Mary-sure and the leads go all mushy mushy like there's no tomorrow [not that its bad]but it needs some dramatic tension and you know...general mishaps

I don't think I really made sense but hey thats just me

Now, I don't mean to be a party pooper, but with a few stories I have read on here, the original endings have been what you might call, the opposite of a 'happily ever after'. The writers of these stories, have then recieved thousands (maybe a little exaggeration) of reviews saying how terribly disappointing the ending is.

Personally, I want to know what happens to the characters at the end of the story, and if the writer was to carry it on, instead of rounding it off, who knows, it could go on for seventy chapters more.

I have no idea how my story (We'll Make Them So Jealous) is going to end, but I can almost ensure my readers it will be rounded off. I truly loathe sequels.

As for the one thing that ruins a romance story, in my opinion, is the lack of pensioners.

I want old people.

Cindy woke up slowly, stretching her arms. The sun was shining through the window, signifying morning. Smiling, she nudged Michael. He groaned and sat up lazily, and upon seeing her began to kiss her, tongues touching.

Ewww!! Morning breath! Maybe I'm just an idiot but that seriously grosses me out. I don't even want to read anymore of something when that happens! Brush your teeth first!

Terms of endearment, if overdone, make me want to gag. "My love" being the main one.

When the girl in the story is weak or gives up her ideas/morals/beliefs just because she's in love. It's a cop out for the author so as not to realistically deal with the problems. Weak anyone annoys me so that also includes the guy. Giving into her every whim just because its love is not attractive & makes for a very boring plot line.

Also, when the physical or personality description is lumped together in one large paragraph. That screams 5th grade to me. We all felt the need to carefully explain how beautiful, strong, unique, popular, etc. the girl is in the very first LOOOONG paragraph. I believe we should slowly find out about the character through their actions, memories, or other people's eyes. It's more exciting this way to me.

Sex scenes are all right with me. For me though, it's the way the author leads up to it. I don't like sex within the first few chapters, whether or not the couple has been together for years. Like foreplay, I like to build up to the actual moment. A story that uses vulgar language isn't a good read to me unless the situation calls for it. And the characters shouldn't just jump into the sack when they decide to have sex, or it's over too quickly. I like when the tension builds up beforehand.

Everyone's answers pretty much cover it though. The opinions here are really helpful.

I think this depends on the story. Sometimes they get together quickly, but the problems come afterwards. It depends on what the story is about. But of course, it shouldn't be unrealistic.

The descriptions...hahahaha omfg, I can't count how many people I've seen doing that and bashed in my moments of nicotine-lack.

"My name is Mary-Meredith McOhsogorgeous. I'm 15, tall, blonde, blue eyed, and boys faint on the street when they see me." Oh yes, the only thing lacking from this description (read: Ad) is the phone number.

What I wanted to add: Stories without atmosphere and stories that sound like blahblahblah in my head.

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