Slightly OT: Pet Peeve in Fiction Writing

[anng]

I read a book this morning and I know people have mentioned pet peeves in website/non-fiction writing, but this one really gets me in terms of fiction writing. It's the one thing I can't stomach.

I'm reading this juvenile fiction anthology and half way through the book, the main character says something along the lines of "I was annoyed by his interruption because I was reading a gripping novel by..."

The author put her own name in that sentence. It just really seems vain to me and what was a tolerable story was overshadowed by the author's vanity.

[karmicwindows]

Adding my name to the story is not cup of tea but it has been done.

Stan Lee is famous for it. he includes himself in a cameo type way in all of his comics, books, and movies about such.

Alfred Hitchcock was the same way.

Some author's like to make themselves a signature of their work. I guess it's all in how you go about it whether it looks cheesy or classy.

[Jonelle]

I think I would tend to find it annoying.

[Kiernansmom]

That's really weird. I would find that jarring.

[Lumara]

Clive Cussler makes one cameo appearance in each of his novels. I enjoy his adventure stories and get a kick out of it. I always look forward to seeing where he will pop up next.

[Mrs. Expert]

I'm generally not a fan of it, either. I love Quentin Tarantino, but I always find his appearances in his films a bit jarring. I think films are different, though, since there are so many characters that need to be portrayed in a real life setting.

I think writing yourself into a story is just vain. My daughter has a book, and the entire premise of the book is a child's love for that particular book. What's to love about a book that talks about itself?

[AG1976]

Yeah, I think it's different in films because Quentin Tarantino isn't playing himself; he's playing a fictional character with a different name. In a book, it's weird. For example, if I was reading a Harry Potter book and came across the sentence "Wow, that Muggle writer J.K. Rowling is quite good!", I'd be pulled right out of the story...LOL.

[CJWrite]

I've actually never seen this. It would be really weird though, and I think it would pull me right out os a story as well.

[Del S]

I think if it's done in a tongue-in-cheek way, as I've seen it done before, it can be amusing; Stephen King's done it, talking about himself in a disparaging way through a character's eyes.

OTOH, if it's "oh AUTHOR NAME's latest book is so incredible, I have to shout about it from the rooftops," then yes, I can see where it'd be jarring and annoying.

[anng]

Originally Posted by Del S

I think if it's done in a tongue-in-cheek way, as I've seen it done before, it can be amusing; Stephen King's done it, talking about himself in a disparaging way through a character's eyes.

OTOH, if it's "oh AUTHOR NAME's latest book is so incredible, I have to shout about it from the rooftops," then yes, I can see where it'd be jarring and annoying.

Stephen King always makes cameo appearances in his movies. I've never had an issue with that. It actually becomes a game for us to see who spots him first.

In this case, the author is a no-name for all intents and purposes. She's going self-published through Amazon and honestly, if she was a big name, I think I could tolerate it a little more, but for an unknown, it's just vain IMO.