How not to write

[andrewducker]

Lewish Shiner and Bruce Sterling put together a primer for SF workshops which has some fantastic examples of what not to write.

The problem with these things is that they make it very hard to enjoy bad SF afterwards. I can no longer watch most Star Trek at all, for instance, nor can I read David Eddings.

Plot Coupons
The basic building blocks of the quest-type fantasy plot. The "hero" collects sufficient plot coupons (magic sword, magic book, magic cat) to send off to the author for the ending. Note that "the author" can be substituted for "the Gods" in such a work: "The Gods decreed he would pursue this quest." Right, mate. The author decreed he would pursue this quest until sufficient pages were filled to procure an advance. (Dave Langford)

Funny-hat characterization
A character distinguished by a single identifying tag, such as odd headgear, a limp, a lisp, a parrot on his shoulder, etc

Comments

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

There's a book by.. Diane Wynne jones, I think, that came out around 94-95 like this. It was supposed to be good. It's in an encyclopedia-style, iirc

[strachair.livejournal.com]

I'm very scared now. I can identify too many of those in my own writing. Thanks for posting it.