I mentioned a writing pet peeve in a recent book review, and some were curious about it. I have more than one. 
So I thought I'd share them and see if others thought the same as I do.
Let me say first that I am an avid reader and love books and authors. I have great respect for authors, especially while trying to become one myself and seeing what's involved.
I know writing is hard work. Plus we're only human, and typos and grammar errors and other mistakes will filter through no matter how many people edit a manuscript.
But I share these in the hopes that any author who sees them will take them as constructive and not nit-picky criticism. I'm avoiding grammar and punctuation issues because there are tons of articles about those.
Conversations left hanging. Character A asks a question, and before Character B answers, the author fills in a lot of description, explanation, or backstory. A sentence or two is fine, but sometimes it feels the characters are just standing there in awkward silence waiting for the narrator to finish. In the book review I mentioned, the character wasn't conversing but was asked to step up and give her presentation. Then there were seven paragraphs, partly backstory, partly description of the room and people, before the character spoke. The point of view was from this character, so it felt like her audience was just waiting and watching while all these thoughts ran through her mind before she spoke.
Characters with similar names. One book I read had a Kari and a Kali--a difference of only one letter. In another (from one of my favorite authors), two characters had two-syllable names that started with "Sh" or "Sch" and ended with "field." One was a good guy and one was a bad guy. I had to keep going back to the first few chapters to remind myself which was which.
Describing multiple reactions at once. Sometimes I'll see a character's reaction or expressions with multiple adjectives: for example, "Her pale blue eyes reflected sorrow, grace, and fear." First, this seems like telling, not showing. Second, how does anyone show that all at once? I could understand surprise turning to fear or something like that, but not several different emotions simultaneously.
Foreign phrases without translation, even common Latin ones. Sometimes you can get the gist of what is meant by the context, but it still takes the reader out of the story if they have to puzzle over an unfamiliar phrase. It does help that you can highlight a word or phrase in the Kindle app and get the translation. But that still takes the reader out of the narrative for a bit.
Overly technical terms. I was very disappointed in a recent article about counseling which used words like "vivify." We're often told in writing instruction not to use words the average person wouldn't know. I got dinged on a manuscript critique for writing "in the midst" and "portend." I was told, "You wouldn't say, 'I was in the midst of. . . '" But I say that all the time. This can be a little difficult because a word we think is common might be unfamiliar to others. But generally we need to consider the audience and avoid academic or technical terms (except, perhaps, in science fiction where the term is going to be explained).
Overused plot devices. It's okay if a character learns vital information by eavesdropping on a conversation, but that shouldn't happen repeatedly in the same story.
Overused plots. I've read that there are only a handful of storylines, and all the books written reuse them in different ways. That may be true. But it seems that a lot of books will have the same basic plot at one time. Lately I've seen a lot of books where the main female character has to go back to her hometown or estranged family for some reason (usually the illness or death of a parent) and encounters the boyfriend she left behind.
Giving modern sensibilities to historical characters. It took hundreds of years for society to come to certain understandings.
Modern phrases or slang in historical fiction. I know many historical fiction writers who diligently research language usage in their time period, so there are sources to check for that kind of thing.
Inaccuracy in spiritual truths. One author fussed with me when I said in a review that her book was inaccurate in its partial sharing of the gospel. She dismissed sharing the whole gospel in a book because, she said, one would have to write at a fifth grade level to do so. I've read a lot of Christian fiction over the last 40+ years, and I've seen the gospel explained in a tasteful and natural way. That's supposed to be part of the Christian life, so it's not being "preachy" to explain the gospel.
I agree that not every Christian book calls for a full gospel presentation. It depends on the type of story and characters and the author's purpose. A Christian story doesn't require that someone become a Christian during the plot. Often it's the Christian characters who need to learn or grow in the story. But what is there concerning the gospel or any other spiritual truth should be accurate and not misleading.
Probably the inaccuracy I see most is when Christian characters urge a non-Christian to just start praying or doing Christian things, as if they'' eventually become a Christian that way.
Older books re-released under new titles. It's maddening when you buy a new book from a favorite author only to realize you read it a long time ago under a different title.
How about you? Do you share any of these pet peeves or do you have others? I'd love to hear them, but please frame them constructively and kindly. Also, I'd like to avoid grammar and punctuation issues in this discussion.
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