So, as promised to yesterday, here is some of my general (hopefully constructive) criticism on stories I’ve seen here on Substack. Please take this with a grain of salt. It’s not like I’m the Goddess of Good Writing, pronouncing judgment from on high. This is entirely subjective, after all. Also, I’m not going to give specific examples because I don’t want anybody to feel called out. So, without further adieu, here are some of the most common weaknesses I’ve come across in Substack fiction.
Too much exposition, especially when it’s only tangentially related to the plot. This is a big one I’ve noticed, and part of why I sometimes lose interest in otherwise very good serials. I’ll admit that this is partly a matter of taste. I’ve come across many fantasy readers who like all the extra worldbuilding, but IMO it can bog the story down too much.
Character behavior that feels like it’s driven by the plot rather than the other way around. It’s especially bad when they’re about to do something extremely dangerous or stupid for no reason the reader can discern.
Too many characters, to the point that they’re difficult to tell apart. Especially if their names are similar. Often the problem is that too many people are fully introduced at the same time.
Pulling punches. I see this one more in serials, where I can tell people have gotten attached to their main characters enough to not want bad things to happen to them. While I can understand the impulse, it tends to kill a lot of the suspense when you can tell the main characters are protected by plot armor.
I have to head out, but I hope this is helpful. Or at least sparks some discussion. I’m not trying to pick on anybody. After all, I’ve probably done all these things at least a few times.