#2 Pretty Scars
Not a pet peeve that will cause me to chuck a book at the wall, but it is one I roll my eyes at. This pet peeve is directed at physical flaws, that aren't flaws at all.
We all have things that we don't like about our apperence. It seems to be part of our nature, but these "flaws" are like the skinny girl at the party complaining about how fat she is. It is also a way for a writer to cop out when it comes to giving a character some flaw. This flaw seems to crop up the most in fantasy and urban fantasy.
The attributes that can hint at having Pretty Scar syndrome are as follows:
* The character goes on and on about how much they hate this physical flaw. Not once, or twice but constantly. They think about it a lot and go on about how awful it is and how it sets them apart from others. Angst probably is up ahead as well.
* It is often tied to some tragic back story. It from when their parents died, someone tired to kill them, they messed with magic (or similar depending on the genre) beyond their control that backfired, or it shows that they are the last of a clan/race/family or similar.
*If possible they try to hid this flaw due to fear of being ridiculed about it. They are then often tormented for trying to hide the flaw if it is obvious. People may try to get a peek at this and will go to ridiculous lengths to do so for no other reason then to be mean to the character.
* The flaw actually has perks. They get special powers, super strength, or such because of such a thing. It has no real drawbacks either. Scars don't hurt ever, no real side effects will occur, and besides bully's no one has a problem with the flaw.
* The love interest likes the flaw. Not simply okay with it, but actually likes it. Which leads to the last and biggest one.
* The flaw when described sounds pretty and doesn't sound like a flaw at all.
These kinds of Pretty Scars are often odd hair or eye colors, markings/tattoos, scars that make men look rugged or are under clothing for women (bonus points if scars have unique shapes). They are missing limbs that are replaced with silver bound limbs that have super strength, blindness that is compensated with hearing so perfect that they basically 'see' better then normal people, and I'm sure there are others. Despite constant angsting from the character the flaw never has any real drawbacks and when it comes with a power, is needed at some point in the story. This character will reach a point that they will need their flaw to help them out and they will dwell on it for a moment going "never thought I'd be thankful that I had this scar/limb/etc." but they will continue to angst later about it still. Their love interest not only won't mind, but often will tell the character that the flaw is beautiful or some other such compliment depending on the gender and flaw.
Make me gag.
Solution:
If you are going to give a character a physical flaw don't cop out on it. Don't make it a blessing in disguise, or describe it as beautiful while having the character angst about it. A huge improvement would simply have the character be okay with the "flaw" and spare us the whining. If they must complain about it, then don't make the so called "flaw" super special and awesome. I think this is half the problem I have with characters with awesome super powers that only whine about them. Give your character a reason to hate this flaw besides the fact it's supposed to be a flaw. Make the flaw a hindrance, or have it simply be a part of who they are. It's like trying to claim a character is so beautiful it's a problem for them. I have no sympathy for such a character. In fact I might side with the bad guys on that one.
We all have things that we don't like about our apperence. It seems to be part of our nature, but these "flaws" are like the skinny girl at the party complaining about how fat she is. It is also a way for a writer to cop out when it comes to giving a character some flaw. This flaw seems to crop up the most in fantasy and urban fantasy.
The attributes that can hint at having Pretty Scar syndrome are as follows:
* The character goes on and on about how much they hate this physical flaw. Not once, or twice but constantly. They think about it a lot and go on about how awful it is and how it sets them apart from others. Angst probably is up ahead as well.
* It is often tied to some tragic back story. It from when their parents died, someone tired to kill them, they messed with magic (or similar depending on the genre) beyond their control that backfired, or it shows that they are the last of a clan/race/family or similar.
*If possible they try to hid this flaw due to fear of being ridiculed about it. They are then often tormented for trying to hide the flaw if it is obvious. People may try to get a peek at this and will go to ridiculous lengths to do so for no other reason then to be mean to the character.
* The flaw actually has perks. They get special powers, super strength, or such because of such a thing. It has no real drawbacks either. Scars don't hurt ever, no real side effects will occur, and besides bully's no one has a problem with the flaw.
* The love interest likes the flaw. Not simply okay with it, but actually likes it. Which leads to the last and biggest one.
* The flaw when described sounds pretty and doesn't sound like a flaw at all.
These kinds of Pretty Scars are often odd hair or eye colors, markings/tattoos, scars that make men look rugged or are under clothing for women (bonus points if scars have unique shapes). They are missing limbs that are replaced with silver bound limbs that have super strength, blindness that is compensated with hearing so perfect that they basically 'see' better then normal people, and I'm sure there are others. Despite constant angsting from the character the flaw never has any real drawbacks and when it comes with a power, is needed at some point in the story. This character will reach a point that they will need their flaw to help them out and they will dwell on it for a moment going "never thought I'd be thankful that I had this scar/limb/etc." but they will continue to angst later about it still. Their love interest not only won't mind, but often will tell the character that the flaw is beautiful or some other such compliment depending on the gender and flaw.
Make me gag.
Solution:
If you are going to give a character a physical flaw don't cop out on it. Don't make it a blessing in disguise, or describe it as beautiful while having the character angst about it. A huge improvement would simply have the character be okay with the "flaw" and spare us the whining. If they must complain about it, then don't make the so called "flaw" super special and awesome. I think this is half the problem I have with characters with awesome super powers that only whine about them. Give your character a reason to hate this flaw besides the fact it's supposed to be a flaw. Make the flaw a hindrance, or have it simply be a part of who they are. It's like trying to claim a character is so beautiful it's a problem for them. I have no sympathy for such a character. In fact I might side with the bad guys on that one.
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