Novel & Drama Flaws to Avoid
Based on a recent Netflix series I have been watching:
Characters explaining the plot to each other
Plot revealed too early
Problems resolved too early
Lack of a solid plot problem
Clichéd dialogue
Repeated dialogue
Repeated scenes
Characters explaining the ramifications of the plot problem
Objects/people who have never been mentioned before suddenly being important to the plot
Culprits being too obvious
Stakes aren’t high enough
Characters explaining what they have to do to solve plot problems
Lack of solid limitations to character skills
Too much use of foreshadowing
Too many romances
Characters being inexcusably foolish
Characters not knowing things they should know or could easily discover
Characters forgiven too quickly
Characters continually state importance of things and people, instead of leaving this to the readers imagination
Characters state when they are in trouble, when this is obvious
Characters either boast about or remind each other of their achievements
Characters state the obvious, especially concerning supernatural powers
Too many subplots
Disappearing characters with no explanation
Flat dialogue
Characters excessively flatter each other
Vital scenes treated as backstory
Repeated plot problems several episodes later
Unnecessary plot problems
Repeated flaws, little evolution
Unnecessary characters
Abuse of coincidences
Refusal to solve bigger plot problems
Characters suddenly remember things convenient to the plot
Pretentious philosophy
Very few shocking twists
Characters fade out of some episodes, then reappear.
