Writing Blog

20220829 Writing Peccadillos

August 29, 2022, 10:30am

So... some weirdo has read everything I wrote and completed in the years 2018-2020. I am not sure why she decided to start at 2018 but it was her call. So she ended up reading, all up, 238 pieces, amounting to just under a million words. She now has the 2021 folder (!) but already she has noticed some interesting things about my writing.

* My characters do a lot of shrugging.
* My characters murmur a lot.
* My characters drink a lot of varied drinks, but (with only very, very few exceptions) not one ever drinks coffee.
* With two exceptions, all my MC female protagonists have long hair (yes, that is my personal preference, but...) when it is mentioned.
* Only one of my MC protagonists had a blue collar job.
and, finally, but far from least
* Police are not portrayed in a positive light. Like, ever.

This was really interesting feedback from someone who is going through everything and, so, is an external and unbiased judge. I think as writers we should all be aware of the sorts of things we tend towards and, maybe, try to shake things up a bit so if we do get Constant Readers (^TMStephen King), they won't be annoyed or have an idea of what's coming or turn it into a drinking game.

This is a list of things I really do need to be aware of, especially as I edit them before submitting.