7 Reasons Why Readers Will DNF Your Book

I recently had DNF moment. And I realized it was because the author told the full backstory between the main characters in the first chapter. It left no mystery. And no “questions”. I am still reading the book, but I find myself losing interest because I already know everything about the characters.

I sometimes wonder why DNF is so dreadful. I bought a book but didn't finish it. Would it matter that much? I still bought it

I read "The Road" my freshman year of high school - I did finish it because I had to - but I HATE that book. I can remember one action sequence, one or two bits of imagery, and one slightly disturbing scene, but talk about SLOW!!! Omg, I hated it so much that I was falling way behind in my group cuz I didn't want to waste my free time reading that boring book! 😅
Apart from a book being too slow/boring, I'll also drop it if it's too graphic (there are some images I don't want in my head), and yes, if there's too many events or people to keep up with cuz I have a bad memory as it is, so if I keep having to go back to refresh it, I'm just gonna put that book where it belongs: IN THE TRASH!!!

My biggest DNF reasons are: facile or poor execution, characters that are too full of themselves or the "bestest ever", or the author giving stupid level of plot armor without giving readers a wink as to how ridiculous that is so we can all laugh at it together.

What makes me dnf? A.D.H.D. 😢 Every book is a struggle to read. If audio book I can finish.

Internal conflict is anything that gives the Self of the character away.

What’s funny is writers like Stephen King and George RR Martin violate some of these rules constantly. Multiple or layered objectives, even side tracks can work if they are INTERESTING as long as they relate IN SOME WAY to the truth of your characters.

My reasons tend to be
1) doesn't hold my attention/pacing is slow enough l just get bored.
2) characters make extremely stupid decisions
3) worldbuilding makes no sense
4) Prose is too unclear (pretty prose is different from unclear)
5) I can't figure out what's going on
6) An insane amount of typos or weird grammatical choices that make it hard to read
7) B O R I N G

Thinking back, my reasons are usually 1) I just put it down and then forget it or don't have time, but I still want to read it in the future (I also do it with anime and games unfortunately, but sometimes I do go back to something even after a few years!), 2) There was a cringe or hard to read scene, sometimes I skip it and sometimes I still reading, 3) I've just had enough in all types of ways so I officially leave it. That could mean a lot of things, but mainly that I'm bored.

!WARNING I DO NOT USE PUNCTUATION SO SORRY FOR ANY HEADACHES CAUSED! i as a reader with dyslexia and ADHD find it crutial that books have good pacing (meaning fast but not annoyingly fast pace), good writing style (this is not encouraging you to change how you write, just to help you understand that sometimes the style just isnt what someone likes) and good font (and font size)

I once was writing a story which took part in ten chapters, one for each death (murder mystery based on Clue). I was going along very well with the first four chapters, setting up the stage (if you will), introing the characters, and had the first three deaths done. All the characters (including the hidden killer) were reacting so well, and the mystery was deepening. Then, I had the main protagonist talking with one of the others (the smartest character, I might add), and suddenly I realized that the crime had been solved. I was horrified. I put the story aside, because I couldn't figure out how to rewrite it where the smart character didn't figure it out that quickly. I realized, the only way I, personally, could do it was to make the smart one the third victim instead of a later victim. That threw off my personal flow, and I still haven't gotten back to that particular story. My roommate (another aspiring writer) still laughs to this day over how my character solved the crime against my will. Showed me I was not in charge of the stories I write. The stories were writing themselves. I had to work with what they gave me to take parts out, choose which go in what order, and try to organize what I'm given for the best story available.

It's humbling to find out I'm not a writer, I'm a medium.

I put a book down when it is poor written. The author must show on the very first page that he controls the language and not the he is driven by it. And then I do want a new story. Not old wine in new "whatever you call this in English".

I spy with my little eye, "To Kill a Mockingbird" on your shelf 💗 Great info as always! I have DNF'd books whose protagonists were fighting things that I deeply feared happening to me; just things I didn't want to think about.

One thing I really can’t stand that happens mostly in romance novels but sometimes in other genres too, is when two characters have a major falling out that has a big impact on the plot, and it’s just because of a stupid misunderstanding that could have been easily resolved if they had just talked to each other. It also makes me want to DNF a book when the plot is driven by supposedly intelligent characters making really stupid decisions.

So, when you went on to talk about too much density in writing, I felt that. This is an excerpt from a story I'm working on, is it too much? Too complicated or flowery? I'm a very poetic person at heart and this is just my style, but I would like some honest feedback, whether I agree with it or not any criticism is welcome. 👇

You've betrayed him.

Varro's pulse synchronized with the thundering hooves of his steed crashing against the underbrush, caught in a frantic waltz of torment and betrayal. His features twisted into a grimace as he envisioned those ashen eyes, tainted by the shards of a broken trust swimming in tears of bloodshed. 

They will find you.

He clenched his teeth as his nails sliced into his palms. The pain of their sting was dulled by the phantom blade his chest would soon embrace, releasing his soul from the agony its mortal cage would endure, rendering the bitter kiss of death a sweet salvation.

Although no measure of pain could compare to the weight of his tidings that crushed his heart in a vice-grip. No blade could cut deeper than the piercing glare of those calculating eyes, penetrating the darkest depths of his soul. 

I can't lose you too. . .

Oh, and here's another excerpt I really like, but would like some feedback on. Excerpt 2: 👇

Caspian exhaled a captive breath, his heart racing the seconds that siphoned the fading embers of his existence. A shudder rattled his bones as he became the target of that piercing gaze, like crystal balls peering into the unfathomed depths of his soul.

What makes me DNF a book is painfully bad grammar and writing. The plot can be awesome, but if they fail to show more than tell, then I'm not very interested. For instance, and a real example from an audio book, the "the kiss started off fine, but turned fire engine hot". I'm not quoting it verbatim, but that's just terrible in my opinion. The author didn't even go into depth of how that kiss became hot, and their description is just bad. What does fire engine hot even mean? Smh. It's irritatingly terrible.

For hindi readers

Read my Mysterious Story in Pocket novel

Faded Secrets
—Devang

One memorable time I DNFed was because I hated how badly the main character was being treated. I get what the author was trying to do, but it was too much for me. Harry Potter was mistreated, too, but at least he had allies! This girl didn't even have the backing of her supposed mentor, and I just couldn't...

I would contest number 6) Deviating too much from the main characters we care about. Sometimes it's true, but I can think of a few books and shows off the top of my head where one or two of the side characters became fan favorites, even eclipsing the main character by a large margin, and their side plots became the best parts of the story.

My DNFs are either: 1. I can't get into the first 10 pages or 2. There was a plot twist that I saw coming, then the novel looked like there was no way, that would undermine our book, then did the plot twist and UNDERMINED THE BOOK AND MADE ME THROW THE BOOK OUT THE WINDOW AAAAAHHHHHH

I disagree on the fear of the DNF. I dont care if people DNF my books and leave reviews saying so and why. That is grade A marketing and will get me more sales. one persons yuck is another's yum.

also you make bold claims you cannot deliver on. I find that interesting as a veteran author. But i guess that means your videos are for the ignorant or underinformed. I just hope they don't get their hopes up only for reality to slap them back out of the false bubble you gave them. I think you give great information that i generally agree with but you should make sure you tell them to manage their expectations. The bold claims are just not needed and it makes those of us who know better lose respect for you and you drop in creditability.

But this is just one person opinion who is really nobody to you so feel free to ignore me. I usually just watch without commenting but i was moved to say something. I wanted to be honest but I also dont want to upset you.

Abbie explains things so well. The mean she is a writer.

I mostly DNFed Haruki Mursksmi's book, one time I was reading Kafka on the shore when the cat just started talking, that threw me off so I decided to dip out. Nope

I will literally DIE before Abbie doesn't mention internal conflict in a video

Cormac McCarthy's books are obtuse. People still read the hell out of him. Same with Kurt Vonnegut, Tolkien, Lovecraft, Shirley Jackson, etc.

Really useful tips. I think the 2 biggest reasons I'll DNF a book, movie, or TV show are: I don't care what happens, or I'm not enjoying the reading / viewing experience. If I either care what happens to the characters or I'm curious about the solution to the problem /puzzle / mystery, I may finish it even if the storytelling experience is choppy or not my usual cup of tea. And if the storytelling style is enjoyable and the characters are a fun hang, I may finish it even if I don't particularly care what happens. But if it fails on both counts for me, I'm out because there are too many other stories out there that I may enjoy more.

On the topic of the second: one time I read a book that seemed pretty good at first, but not only was it directed at children, but it suddenly became super political with little to no warning. I ended up finishing it because it was a smaller book, but it honestly disgusted me.

the biggest example of point 2 is Gal☆Cleaning! holy moly what was that one scene

Who else thought dreamnotfound when you first saw this?

Many thanks.
But what was horrible occasional musical sound in the background? Really off-putting and annoying!

The one and only book i officially DNF'd was some fantasy book. Don't remember what jt was called, but about halfway through the plot twist was that the mysterious, masked stranger that was having relations with the FMC, was actually the bad guy? But he wasn't actually bad, just pretending to be bad?

So all those moment where there was suspense in almost getting caught, meant nothint because they were never in any actual danger.

I felt so cheated and i did not want to finish it after that

Thanks for these pointers! I’m knee-deep into writing my second fan-novel, and I’m hoping to correct the mistakes I make in my first book.

My reasons for dnf are 1) boring
2) I don't like the personality of any of the characters
3) too many characters... I have a book that I want to finish, everyone says it is "the best book", but I am 5 chapters in and every chapter has introduced about 4 to 7 characters ( that I do care about) but it is too many to keep track of and I can't figure out who the main character is!

On DNF-ing because it's not your type of story: If you never DNF for this reason as a reader, you're probably never taking any risks, meaning you'll have a hard time finding new writers and new genres that you might love. You should definitely have a DNF rate above 0%. On the flip side, for a reader to find you, they'll probably have to take this risk, and some of these risk-takers will DNF you for this reason. But if we all reread our ten most favorite books forever, very few readers would ever find you...

Momentum-killing flashbacks

honestly, the reading interests of others is too often romance or mystery. i'm more interested in the reading interests of people who don't like that

Does revealing that the MC’s best friend as the main/actual antagonist by killing their partner count as a bad surprise?? 😭

Maybe they DNF because they DNGF anymore...

I DNF books because it wasn't the book I needed at that time and have gone back months or years later forgetting I had already started it and then finishing it 😅 so #7 makes so much sence to me on deep level

Thank you, Abbie …. as always! :)

Love the "Unputdownable" word.

I will only DNF a book if I don't like the MC and care about them. I need to care about the characters. For example I find Feyre in Acotar extremely annoying, illogical and unrealistic, so I'm really push through but it's hard. And others LOVE her so much for some reason XD

Is there a thing to have too much internal conflict?👀

I recently DNF a final book in a trilogy because the SOLUTION to one of the two main problems didn’t sit well with me for the FMC. It deviated from the progression of this character gaining power, becoming herself again after the loss of her identity just to have a big piece ripped away and the story continued as if that didn’t just happen. It wasn’t as if it was boring, it just felt like there should have been a better solution and like a build up was just let down on the FINAL BOOK.

If the MC makes an out of character decision for the sake of conflict. For example if a highly intelligent character makes a dumb choice without any cause or preestablished notion that they are weak in this area. It makes my so angry. 'Fourth Wing' Violet is a prime example of this. I did finish it for my girlfriend's sake.

Number 5 is what made me want to drop my writing major in college. I said that I thought that writing that's overly dense and hard to understand is bad writing. My professor pushed back and said that that is the only GOOD type of writing (AKA "literary"). I said no, if I can't understand what a paragraph means the first time I read it, then I probably won't want to read any more of that book. She said, "Oh, so you want reading to be easy? You don't want it to make you think?" I was so over this pretentious BS by graduation.

I've DNFed four sci fi books this year because the opening chapters were immature and shallow plots and lines of dialog.