[pwalker8]

This is very much an individual opinion, but as I try various indie writers, I notice a couple of recurring tendencies that can make the a potentially good book just ok, including a book that I was reading last night.

1) The series of scenes book. Basically, the author has some great ideas for various chapters, but just doesn't know how to hang them together in a continuous narrative. Now, there have been some very good books that are mostly a series of scenes, but it's very hard to do.

2) the short attention span narrative. The author jumps between a lot of different characters point of view. Imagine the Wheel of Time series compressed down into one volume. It's possible to do, but it's very hard to keep the reader's interest. There is a reason that most authors either use a primary protagonist or only have a couple. I think that a lot of authors do this because they think they can't have action happening off screen or were told in some writer workshop not to do so, but they have so many ideas for scenes they want to use.

Of course, a good writer can break the rules and a talented writer can get away with it because they have the gift and simply know how to engage the reader. I can also say that I've seen big 5 publisher writers make some of the same mistakes.

What are some mistakes that will throw you off a book?