Plots and Things Scott is Not a Fan Of...

In the previous post, I noted that it was important to really get to know of the things the editors and agents REALLY like and don't like in submissions. As I stated, this goes beyond the genres we like, but really the nuances of those genres. So with that said, here is a list of things that I tend to shy away from.

• Band stories - These tend to be a bit stereotypical. Band members are always in the middle of an addiction crisis and we have to have a "fan" who is now connected. 
• Women's Fiction Road Trips - Again, often stereotypical. These are generally women who are running from something and just moving from one place to the next as a plot device to "supposedly" learn something new.
• Dual POV stories - Let me explain. I have no problem when we have shifts in points of view as we often see in romances. This is essential. It is when we have two POV's that seem to be telling their own stories and the readers need to somehow figure it out.
• Separate timeline stories - These are those stories that take place in say the present day, and then a second story is taking place 100 years earlier. 
• I tend to shy away from FIRST PERSON. Does this mean I don't think it should be out there? No. The problem is that so many authors cannot write it well. These stories tend to be all about dialogue and no real depth of character development. 
• Women who give up corporate life to start a bakery Sorry, but people just don't dive into a career they have no clue about. 
• Finding out husband is cheating (or gay) Look, just make her single and ready to move on with her life. Too often this is just a waste of word count.
• Just inserting socially relevant character tropes Inserting the gay friend in the office or the person of color just to say you have it is not worth the time. 
• Psychic paranormal stories This is just an easy way to give the readers an information dump. I get it is considered paranormal, but it removes the conflict. 
• Romantic Suspense Heroes who are PTSD Special Ops Named Duke I think you get the idea here. 
• Over-glamorizing the Middle Ages - If you have really done your history research, you know this is not a pretty time. 

That should get you going for a while. I am sure there is a bunch more, but let me just say this.

I WANT... 

1. Romances that focus on the building of a relationship to the happily ever after.
2. Women's fiction that teaches the reader about thing in their own life.