How to Ensure Readers Won't Throw Your Book Across the Room

At our last meeting, my local writing group (shout out to my CityInk storytellers!!) and I were talking about what makes a story unputdownable vs. what makes us not want to finish a book.  And let me tell y'all one thing:

There are some REAL FEELINGS on this subject.

So here's what we came up with. We will DNF (Did Not Finish) a book if:

• The writing and sentence structure are choppy and don't read well.
• There are too many plot points and the story gets too complicated.
• There's an overindulgent death, decision, action, or overuse of language that feels manipulative--like the author is just going for shock value.
• Characters have no redeeming qualities or do not evolve (their story arc is flat).
• There's a lack of plot progression, characters stay in their own heads, or there's too much description.
• Characters do something out of the ordinary and behave in a way that's inconsistent with the person they've been the entire story. 
• On a high level, if it's not an interesting concept or the concept is executed poorly.
• Stories that blatantly copy an existing storyline (such as a fairytale retelling) or common trope but don't do it well. 
• Too much repetition: a piece of dialogue, a character's thought/feeling, or even a description is overused after the author has already driven that point home.

So let's make a pact together as writers.

I, ________________, solemnly swear that I will:

• Be diligent about re-reading my own work (and especially reading other books in my genre) to make sure my writing not only flows well but reads well. I will even try reading it out loud, as some writers find this to be a good indicator. 
• As I'm writing or plotting, I will ask myself if each plot point moves the central storyline forward and chop it if it's unnecessary.
• I will be a good steward of my readers and make sure any character deaths, decisions, and actions are executed (no pun intended) tastefully and won't make them want to stop reading.
• If my characters are baddies, I will show WHY they are the way that they are and then give them some measure of redemption and growth. 
• I will make sure each scene serves a purpose to the central storyline and that a good portion of each scene moves that story forward with meaningful action and not too much description or reflection.
• My characters will remain consistent with the traits I've developed throughout the story. (Unless they have a real-live lobotomy in the middle of the book. Real lobotomies change everything.)
• Before I start writing, I will make sure my concept/trope is fresh, original, interesting, and that my story does justice to the original if I'm doing a retelling. 
• As I read through my manuscript, I will ensure I don't repeat the same bit of dialogue, emotion, description, character reaction, or reflection when I've already well established that information. I will trust that my readers are smart and I don't need to tell them again.

Signed, _____________________________

What are some deal-breakers for you in a story? Have you ever walked out of a movie theater or thrown a book across the room in the middle of reading? Our comments are open to allll your thoughts and feelings! 

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Laurie Tomlinson is the award-winning contemporary romance author of That’s When I Knew, With No Reservations, and The Long Game, currently featured in the Once Upon a Laugh novella collection. She believes that God’s love is unfailing, anything can be accomplished with a good to-do list, and that life should be celebrated with cupcakes and extra sprinkles.
You can connect with her on her Website, Facebook, and Instagram.