Your writing pet peeves

[EmeraldSky]

What turns you off when reading, and why? Do cliche characters drive you up the wall? Overdramatic storylines make you throw the book at the wall/click away? Plot holes make your head spin?

For me, this is what turns me off when reading (and to an extent, playing a story-heavy game like an RPG):

No set up--Dropping your characters in medias res can work, so long as you go back and explain how the characters got to that point.
Taking forever to get the story started--if you introduce the characters in chapter one, and they haven't even started on their epic adventure by chapter 7, I'm putting the book back/clicking away from the story.
Insta-romances with the sole point of getting the preferred pairing in the bedroom--if there's going to be a romantic subplot, I would prefer the two characters fall in love at a reasonable pace, have respect for each other, and healthy boundaries.
Constant violence and action--give the audience time to breathe with a moment of levity or two.
Unlikable/annoying characters--give me at least one character to cheer for.
Too much description--I don't want to know the entire history of your world from the get go--just give me relevant info as the story requires.