What turns you off of a story quickly?

[Wicked_Nightmare]

(I'm a bit unsure if this is the most fitting forum, but it seems a solid bet.)

Is there anything that, as a reader, makes you toss a story aside, almost certainly to never return?
It might help to collect some of these grave pitfalls that will kill a reader's interest.

If you want to ruin your chances I'll finish reading your story, open with an excessive information dump. If you front-load too many details at once, reading becomes a chore as I find myself waiting for the actual story to start.

The times I did read through an excessively long introduction, I had trouble attaching the descriptions to the characters and remembering what they were like.

Two questions to ask yourself are:
Does the reader need to know this?
and
Does the reader need to know this NOW?

Dumping a lot of superficial information on the reader wastes words, and even if the reader needs to know, most things can be explained as they become relevant, or shortly before.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Endless description of what everyone looks like and how big the tits and dicks are. Back click quicker than you can say big dick.

 

[LadyVer]

Besides an info dump and too much description, protagonists who are under 30.

 

[someoneyouknow]

Besides an info dump and too much description, protagonists who are under 30.

What if no age is given and you have to infer?

 

[ZaraMaldona]

Yes, the info dump.

"She was 5ft 5in tall, with large but perky tits and a firm, round ass." <-- I swear I've read this exact sentence a hundred times. OK, not really. Dozens? Or maybe just once and I'm imagining things.

 

[LadyVer]

What if no age is given and you have to infer?

That wouldn't be erotica, at least on Lit.

 

[sr71plt]

these grave pitfalls that will kill a reader's interest.

Here we go again. Which reader of the hundreds of thousand of readers here? Or were you thinking there was one universal reader with one set of likes and dislikes?

 

[LadyVer]

Yes, the info dump.

"She was 5ft 5in tall, with large but perky tits and a firm, round ass." <-- I swear I've read this exact sentence a hundred times. OK, not really. Dozens? Or maybe just once and I'm imagining things.

Hundreds, thousands.

 

[hashtag45]

As a reader, I don't mind the info dump as much.
But if the story is meant for a female audience:
The one-sided male pov. Too much emphasis on action and proving one's technique while neglecting the 'feelings' part and the body language. In my opinion, a good erotic story needs a bit of both

 

[Carnal_Flower]

God, here we go again, with you pulling your typical attitude.

You're twisting her words.

The full quote is:

Is there anything that, as a reader, makes you toss a story aside, almost certainly to never return?
It might help to collect some of these grave pitfalls that will kill a reader's interest.

I think it's rather clear. She's asking us for our opinions. Our varied, unique opinions. She's not saying there is only one universal reader, in fact just the opposite.

She's soliciting viewpoints. Suggesting we collect them and note them. The "a reader" is merely a shorthand for who's opinions are being collected--a reader's vs. a writer's.

Such a dick.

Here we go again. Which reader of the hundreds of thousand of readers here? Or were you thinking there was one universal reader with one set of likes and dislikes?

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, there I go again, because this lame topic comes up time and time again. The reading and writing set here is humongous and what readers are looking for varies extremely widely. Why can't folks just look for what they want--it can be found here (even apparently in the taboo themes)--and leave everyone else the hell alone? A question like this wouldn't be asked at all if the poster wasn't trying to impose his/her own likes/dislikes. I don't give a rats ass what either the OP or you think should be included in stories here. I write what I want and read what I want and let the rest take care of itself--it quite likely has an appreciative audience, even if it isn't me.

 

[RockyRoll]

Not that this is English class or that I have a red pen in hand, but excessively bad grammar and spelling will cause me to hit the back arrow immediately. I understand the occasional typo, but I think you can tell when you're reading someone who doesn't grasp the language. I also lose interest when a story starts with too many stats and measurements of the characters, because I'm not a tailor.

 

[coochiebarber]

(I'm a bit unsure if this is the most fitting forum, but it seems a solid bet.)

The times I did read through an excessively long introduction, I had trouble attaching the descriptions to the characters and remembering what they were like.

Two questions to ask yourself are:
Does the reader need to know this?
and
Does the reader need to know this NOW?

Dumping a lot of superficial information on the reader wastes words, and even if the reader needs to know, most things can be explained as they become relevant, or shortly before.

My Last story was posted yesterday and in that story, I haven't described exact physical appearance of any of my characters. So far none of the readers have pointed it out, so I guess, describing physical characteristics of the characters are not necessary.

 

[Wicked_Nightmare]

Not that this is English class or that I have a red pen in hand, but excessively bad grammar and spelling will cause me to hit the back arrow immediately. I understand the occasional typo, but I think you can tell when you're reading someone who doesn't grasp the language. I also lose interest when a story starts with too many stats and measurements of the characters, because I'm not a tailor.

Yeah, I don't really like numerical measurements either. Generally not a deal breaker for me, but I do prefer descriptive words to exact measures myself.

 

[Wicked_Nightmare]

My Last story was posted yesterday and in that story, I haven't described exact physical appearance of any of my characters. So far none of the readers have pointed it out, so I guess, describing physical characteristics of the characters are not necessary.

What do you consider "exact?" If you at least gave them general descriptions, I wouldn't be surprised at the lack of complaints.

 

[HeyAll]

I always get turned off by writing that tries too hard.

For instance; "The wind blew a gust which matched the cold air and the orange sky as the sun went down behind the mountain top.'

I run like the wind when I see that.

 

[Hypoxia]

1- Wall of text.
2- Shitty editing.
3- Data dump.
4- Second person.
5- Stupid premise.

 

[coochiebarber]

What do you consider "exact?" If you at least gave them general descriptions, I wouldn't be surprised at the lack of complaints.

I haven't even described them in general except beautiful and strong. No height, eye color, hair length/ color. No weight, tits size (big, ample), dick size (Thick, long?), no cloth color except one instance.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

Hmmm, well that explains why no one likes to read your stuff. Maybe you should pay more attention.

As usual, you twist things and take them out of context.

The OP is friendly and inquisitive. Soliciting a multitude of opinions, take it for what it's worth. No one's imposing anything or asserting anything has to be one way. No one's picking on anyone else. She's not asserting her likes/dislikes over anyone else. No one's saying what "should" be included or not.

Apparently you object to voicing dislikes in erotica and writing in general. (?). This is a place for discussion. Discussion means good and bad, pro and con, distinctions and opinions on writing styles. Anything is up for discussion.

Of course, you can always jump up and down like a baboon, scratch your nuts, and stamp your feet in a tantrum that people are actually discussing writing. Me write. Me write what me want. Me writer.

You're an ass.

Yes, there I go again, because this lame topic comes up time and time again. The reading and writing set here is humongous and what readers are looking for varies extremely widely. Why can't folks just look for what they want--it can be found here (even apparently in the taboo themes)--and leave everyone else the hell alone? A question like this wouldn't be asked at all if the poster wasn't trying to impose his/her own likes/dislikes. I don't give a rats ass what either the OP or you think should be included in stories here. I write what I want and read what I want and let the rest take care of itself--it quite likely has an appreciative audience, even if it isn't me.

 

[oggbashan]

I'm a speed reader.

I'll have read several hundred words, sometimes the whole story, before deciding that a story is not for me.

Things that make me less interested:

1. Second Person POV.
2. Wall of text with no dialogue at all.
3. Poor spelling, frequent typos, bad grammar.
4. Numerical descriptions of bodies - 36-22-36; D-Cup; 10 inch prick.
5. Confused writing with incoherent plotline.
6. Weird names that I can't pronounce 'Zxyrtz inserted his fourth tentacle into Jrpstq's middle orifice' or 'Dhjortz swung his magic sword and decapitated Mgvqhoz'.
7. Fan Fic when I have no idea of the people the story is about and have never seen the show/movie.

BUT - If the author is telling an interesting story line with believable characters I would overlook any or all of the above.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

Here we go again. Which reader of the hundreds of thousand of readers here? Or were you thinking there was one universal reader with one set of likes and dislikes?

Just so.

Example; I'm probably the most easily turned off reader there is - incest, gay males, blood, females over about 35, poor grammar, the already mentioned info-dump about physical characteristics, females acting like sluts when they'd have no reason to be aroused or interested, unpleasant marriages, cardboard characters, anything furry, vampires... the list of reasons to slam a short shut is long. (On the positive side, I rarely finish a story so I rarely rate anyone, which is good because I've maybe given someone else a 5 once.)

But that doesn't help the OP. He's not writing for me and everyone has their own list of No; and clearly, for many people, my Oh Hell No is their Yes More Please Yes Oh Yes. There's no average reader, just random masses of kinks and fascinations.

There are only two ways to write:

1. Write what you like. Unless you completely suck, someone out there will probably like it.

or

2. Figure out what target audience you want to write for, and write what they like. This is how you go on to make money and it's really the only motivation to think about a question like the OPs. In which case, watch your ratings and comments and get into conversations with any fans you pick up, and learn.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I rarely read LIT stories, because almost all of them suck. That said, almost all commercial fiction sucks, too.

Take Cornell Woolrich. He has a huge reputation for noire. He published plenty. But here's the problem with Woolrich:


I'm reading THE BRIDE WORE BLACK. I know the plot. But the plot and the writing have no logical connection or relevance. Its the chronological account of a beautiful female serial killer. The whole thing reminds me of trash in the garbage can. You got egg shells and potato peels and used Kotex and empty cereal boxes, and the trash bag is all they have in common.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

I presume you're not asking about content, because that would be a useless survey. You're asking more about technical style in a genre you've already decided you are comfortable with.

This is probably along the lines of info dump.

Too many characters with too many names tossed at me at once is certain to make me click away. If I'm having to keep Amy, Joe, Sue, Bob, and Bobby Sue straight for a page, forget it.

Related is starting a story in the middle of something with no explanation. It can be fine, as long as it doesn't go on too long, but when the writer blathers on making no acknowledgment of me the reader I'm not going to be inclined to stick around for them to notice me.

Yes there are myriad readers with myriad tastes.

Nevertheless, no one advocates turning in something with horrible spelling and grammar, and mistakes on every single line. A story generally has a beginning, middle and end. Asking about technical writing issues can be very productive--unless you take the caveman approach, I guess. Me write what me want.

(I'm a bit unsure if this is the most fitting forum, but it seems a solid bet.)

Is there anything that, as a reader, makes you toss a story aside, almost certainly to never return?
I might help to collect some of these grave pitfalls that will kill a reader's interest.

If you want to ruin your chances I'll finish reading your story, open with an excessive information dump. If you front-load too many details at once, reading becomes a chore as I find myself waiting for the actual story to start.

The times I did read through an excessively long introduction, I had trouble attaching the descriptions to the characters and remembering what they were like.

Two questions to ask yourself are:
Does the reader need to know this?
and
Does the reader need to know this NOW?

Dumping a lot of superficial information on the reader wastes words, and even if the reader needs to know, most things can be explained as they become relevant, or shortly before.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I presume you're not asking about content, because that would be a useless survey. You're asking more about technical style in a genre you've already decided you are comfortable with.

This is probably along the lines of info dump.

Too many characters with too many names tossed at me at once is certain to make me click away. If I'm having to keep Amy, Joe, Sue, Bob, and Bobby Sue straight for a page, forget it.

Related is starting a story in the middle of something with no explanation. It can be fine, as long as it doesn't go on too long, but when the writer blathers on making no acknowledgment of me the reader I'm not going to be inclined to stick around for them to notice me.

Yes there are myriad readers with myriad tastes.

Nevertheless, no one advocates turning in something with horrible spelling and grammar, and mistakes on every single line. A story generally has a beginning, middle and end. Asking about technical writing issues can be very productive--unless you take the caveman approach, I guess. Me write what me want.

Yo! Shit for brains! Pay attention.

GENRE is what fits in no particular category. Genre is neither fish nor fowl. Got it?

 

[jsmiam]

Me:
Misused words, more then grammar. (ba da boom). I'll forgive a typo and violations of style manuals since I do both frequently, but fair or not, I can't take someone who fails at there \their\they're


Me, but usually a non issue:
- vampires and werewolves and space aliens. I say not usually, because most of the time I can just avoid them to begin with.

Lots o' lit readers:
- certain types of crossing categories or surprise switches. Not all, but some types of switches. So if a story doesn't make it clear via the category, title or subtitle and you surprise certain readers (straight story expected, and male tries gay sex, for example, or in my case, normal story turns vampire story without warning) then you may turn off off readers, and more annoying than them just stopping reading, some will turn troll and/or stalker too.