Challenge #2 Finding Interests

[FangedSmile]

For this Week's challenge you'll be engaging in another activity with the desired result of helping you avoid writer's block.
Make a list of things you enjoy writing about/reading. Do you like fantasy? Sci-Fi? Mystery? From there, get a little more in-depth. Be picky about what you like in a specific genre. This is like the Netflix of your writing style. We don't love every book we read, so what do you enjoy?


Next, list what types of characters you like. Do you like younger characters, older characters, or a mix? What types of characters do you find yourself writing about the most? Which characters go well with these?

Why? Because figuring out what you like to write gives you a good insight on what type of story you should write when you're not feeling very creative. You can see what you like, so you can pick and choose and free-write until a complete story is born or you get bored or you are struck with an even better idea that demands your attention. This is because it's much easier to write about something you have a passion for. Even if it's not very original, it's still great practice and you might end up with a story you love.

[B. B. Wolf]

And should we post our results here? Maybe as an example, or just to see what we've come up with?

[FangedSmile]

Good question! Yes, you can post here. You can always post underneath the challenges.

[B. B. Wolf]

Roger that!

[FangedSmile]

Dislikes:
-I'm not really a huge fan of romance novels. Romance as a thing is awesome, but the novels I've read have been kind of stupid and overplayed.

-I don't like books with too much detail. It means I have to try and figure out exactly what the author imagined instead of taking a few key details and making something up myself. I enjoy reading more if I don't have to spend five minutes being taken from the action because the author just absolutely must tell me a long-winded rant about a sunrise. I'VE SEEN A FEW! Tell me how this one is special and MOVE THE HELL ON!!

-I do like reluctant heroes... but only up to a point. If the character spends all their time trying to escape the plot, I wonder if maybe they weren't the write character for this particular plot. Think of a horror game. Sure, there are plenty where you just try to escape, bu5t this most interesting ones are when the characters actually decide to take an stand and figure out WTF is going on.

-I don't like authors who decide two characters will be together because Romance sells. Please think beyond "He is a male, she's female... they're attractive... done?"

-On that note, I hate stories where the main character is adored and loved... just because he/she is the main character. This just tells me the author doesn't know how popularity works.

- I don't like repeated,irritating dialog that always happens between two characters. For example, Edward's constant anti-military speeches to his commander's face, in Full Metal Alchemist. We get it. You don't like your job. But you sure loves those perks, don't you? Also, this is never explained. He joins purposely, it's not like he was blackmailed. So... shut up about it.

- I don't like Twilight. ... I don't think I need to elaborate on that beyond "Pedophile werewolves."

- I don't like books which kill off characters just because the author is trying to be shocking. You can kill off characters, but please try to have a purpose. What does that death symbolize? Was it necessary for the plot? Yes? Good. No? Then don't do it. I read to escape a little, not to be sad. Also, knowing you'll kill off anyone at any time means I stop caring about all the characters. I stop worrying about them and start distancing myself because I don't know if I have time to really appreciate them or if they'll die in the next few sentences.

- Dumbledore was an ass hat. Not a hero. You never leave a kid in an abusive home. No exceptions.

- Stories that are trying to force an opinion on me. Oh, the author hates men. Well, I don't, so don't try to make me. Oh, now you oppose religion? Well, aren't you progressive. Authors need to be progressive and stop generalizing things. Not all guys would rape a girl. Not every woman would abandon their children. You can't generalize people because EVERYONE'S DIFFERENT.

Likes
- Character growth. Characters should learn and grow through the story. Otherwise, why do I care? I want to see them become great, or even evil, just so long as they change to show the story does affect them much like life affects real people.

- Horror that doesn't rely on jump scares.

- Light fantasy.

- Stories where people overcome great odds.

- I like the replacement parent relationship. For example, when an older character starts to look at a younger character is if they were their own child. It's easy to spot and can be very entertaining. That being said, I hate this relationship when it's just used for molly coddling. The idea is a guiding mentor, not a soccer mommy. The characters should be pushing each other to be their best. The one to make the other proud, and the other to live up to how they are perceived. This can even be an actual blood-related parent/child relationship.

- Stories like the Book of Atrus, where the character has to go against what's easy in search for what is right.

- Darker characters who aren't afraid to throw a punch when they need to.

- Animal companions... because FLUFFY.

[B. B. Wolf]

Right, so this helps a lot. I started to do this on a piece of paper and it started looking like some sort of convoluted, alcohol influenced, literary spider web. I'm going to try this one more time here, and hopefully it turns out a lot better! I'll start, like you did, with the dislikes (always nice to end on a happy note).

Dislikes:

-Characters that are automatically good at everything. If there's no challenge, then why are we interested? That's cool if they're physically awesome, let them excel. But when it comes time to handle delicate situations, let them struggle with the fact that, "No, we can't punch this guy until he stops twitching. It's frowned upon."

-Superman. Golly gee willikers! I wish I could fart out a new superpower to deal with my every day problems! Pick a few, and stick with them.

-Multiple points of view. This one is kind of a gray area. I don't mind when it bounces back and forth between a few different characters to tell you some of the story. That's fine. Limit it to two or three, four at the ABSOLUTE most. It's when every single chapter is being told by a new character that irritates me. I'm sorry, who was your main character again?

-Plot bunnies. Ready to introduce this new thing to move the plot along? Cool. Ready to end your story but you're really only half way through so you're going to throw this thing in there that hasn't been mentioned or hinted at EVER before this so you can polish it off in the next chapter? Not cool. Stop being lazy, finish your story the right way. Don't have time/need more space than you have? Bummer, sucks to have enough content for a whole other story, huh?

-To much detail can be a pain. It took me a long time to get through some of Tolkien's stuff just because I really was not worried about the exact positioning of this tree and the exact path it's grain ran. I was even less worried when I realized that there wasn't any significance to it. On the flip side...

-To little detail can be just as destructive. I read a story recently where the only description of the first setting (and the subsequent settings were all equally detailed) was "The office was situated in a huge skyscraper off 5th avenue. It was lush and well lit." ... Well, lush is a good word. I like to think the grass on my lawn is lush.

-Genre. If your story has a genre, put it in that genre. If it's a sci-fi romance, but the tags Sci-Fi and Romance on there. If your story is about evading dinosaurs on an alien planet, then the tags Romance, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Drama, and Comedy should probably not be applied. Your story may include facets of them. That does not mean they are them.


Likes!

-I like well written characters. Whether it's literature or television, a character that I can become emotionally attached to in the first couple of episodes/chapters is a damn good sign!

-I enjoy a certain level of badassery. Call me just another war mongering guy if you like, but some sort of special forces, ninja, huge gun-toting, back flip hatchet attacking character is going to make me reeeeeally happy! Especially when they're up against something at least twice their size.

-Dragons. 'Nuff said.

-Stories that have supernatural elements that have been well researched. I especially like this in Urban Fantasy. Using a spirit from a specific region that does a specific thing? Well, you've caught my interest, now let's see what you've done with it!

-High Fantasy. I really enjoy this genre. My only disappointment is that's it can be really challenging to actually do something new with it. But when it happens, well. Magic!

-Anti-hero's that everyone expects to be a regular hero. You know when you read about that sleazy guy and the only thing you can think is, "This guy needs to be punched?" And then he gets punched? I cheer when that happens. Out loud. In public. With no regrets.

-Space Operas. They're like fantasy novels, but in space!

-Stories that have romance, but it isn't shoved in your face. Recent movie that actually did this really well, Pacific Rim. It's there, you can pick up on it, but we're not falling into anyone's bed, or even immediately going to tonsil hockey. It was nice. Keep it up.

-Characters that have something that set them apart from the 'normal' people. Cybernetic attachments, crazy scars, strangely colored eyes, awkward birthmarks, stuff like that. It's a conversation starter, and it can cause the character to have some interesting flaw/personality traits.

[FangedSmile]

I like it. A lot of yours I even agree with wholeheartedly. I completely forgot about how much it annoys me when a character is good at everything. It makes other characters useless and that's so damn self-absorbed. I like team efforts!

I like it when I can get attached to the characters and really do hate it when they shift to a new character all the time. I used to be guilty of this. I did it because I had too much plot going on and was shoving everything into a condensed place and slowing the story down just to stick those side-stories in there.

Anyway, you've made a great list and fully mastered this challenge. Did you learn a bit more about your likes and dislikes? Can you see how this can be helpful?

[B. B. Wolf]

I can definitely so how it'd be helpful. You can go back over the list and add to it, or clarify things for yourself, and helps you keep yourself restrained in case you accidentally fall into one of those traps. And also reminds you to write something that you would read yourself. I never understood people that write things and then say, "I'd never read it myself, but here you go." I think I'd rather enjoy whatever I'm working on, you know?

[FangedSmile]

I guess sometimes you write what you hate because it'll sell. I'd much rather have fun.