I follow a number of blogs, newsletters, and websites, most of them about writing and marketing (and my beloved New England Patriots). One of them, written by Sandra Beckwith (you can find her here: https://buildbookbuzz.com/). gives great tips. One of the many she listed in her free newsletter was several ideas for those of us writing blogs. I know non-writers get tired of writers only offering writing tips and talking about writing, so to mix it up, I’m doing what Sandra suggested: bonding with things I don’t like.

In other words, vent about things that make me crazy or go GRRRRR. I did one a few weeks ago about a poorly written recipe, where I was told that I had to refrigerate my vanilla ice cream mixture for several HOURS in the middle of the recipe. So I have a few more things that really, REALLY annoy me.

Photo by Mavluda Tashbaeva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-screaming-10483524/

The first is (okay, kind of book related) helpless females (we call the use of that a ‘trope’; like hero’s quest, lost love, etc.). Hey, not that I could fight off a professional fighter, but I might be able to get in at least one good hit (you know where). I could do something. Characters, whether in movies, books, or plays that are totally helpless just annoy me. I get it, not all women are brave, but I can’t stand simpering females who curl up or have the vapors. Girl, do something!

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-tank-top-3812746/

Stupid acting in horror movies is another annoyance. Ain’t no reason to look in a dark basement where you could be trapped. Same with going into abandoned houses or dungeons or places where monsters hang out. (It’s done too often.) You lock that door, tell your friends you’re going home, or just get the hell out of there. I get it, then there won’t be a story, but use something more original than stupidity. Cue that for overdone angst too. I never understood people agonizing over going to the prom, or making the cheer team. Now I’m not downplaying people who suffer with anxiety disorders, just venting about a character who lives for angst to the exclusion of almost everything else. Too tedious.

Those cheesey signs people put around their homes:

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/home-is-where-the-heart-is-quote-decor-with-lavender-161001/

Live, Laugh, Love. This house runs on Love. Too sickly sweet. But the worst: signs that say “kitchen” or “Eat” or other such dumb saying. Obviously everyone knows what a kitchen is and where it is, and that you eat there, so please, get rid of them. (Same goes for coffee mugs: Cat Mom, Best Dad, or sad sayings. I make an exception for a pic of your furbaby or children. That’s cute.)

In my books, there are no helpless females (not that they don’t get into bad situations and need a little assistance), there is no drawn out angst (although Wystan worries about breaking and how to fix Excalibur throughout the book), and there are no insanely stupid decisions (okay, Meg and Sharisse in Sirenz and Sirenz Back in Fashion is debatable because they make a deal with Hades and messing around with Greek gods never ends well).

If you find something annoying in my books, tell me. Let’s chat about it. A book can’t please everyone, so I’m curious if something annoys a reader. Or, tell me about another book, movie, play that has some aspect that grinds your gears (like there’s a death in EVERY Disney movie.)

And don’t forget! I’ll be doing a giveaway of a signed copy of The Excalibur Vow with a sword bookmark in time for someone to gift it as a Valentine’s Day for a fantasy book lover. (Or, if you buy one from Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Walmart, Amazon or wherever, I will happily send you a signed bookplate and paper bookmark. Just contact me through here.)

So, stay subscribed to my blog/newsletter because that’s the only way you can win (48 contiguous US states only, and no previous winners.)

Till next week… If there’s something you want to see me address, drop me a line.