Since I recently talked about learning from great writers and books you love, it seemed fitting that we should also talk about learning from books you don’t like.

Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned as a writer are from books that I never finished reading.

Back when I was still working to get my first contract, I wrote a book that opened with two friends meeting for coffee and having an argument. 

I had read in Writing The Breakout Novel by Donald Maass that it was a bad idea to have any scenes where two characters are sitting in the kitchen drinking tea, especially in the first fifty pages. He says:

“They are a pause, a marking of time, if not a waste of time. They do not do anything. They do not take us anywhere. They do not raise questions or make us tense or worried. No wonder they do not hold my attention.”

-Donald Maass Writing The Breakout Novel Workbook

But I wasn’t doing that, was I? My characters were drinking coffee at a coffeehouse and they were arguing. It was interesting, I was sure of it.

The story was compelling enough to get a request for a full from a small publishing house. I was so excited about this, as I should’ve been. Getting any kind of request should be celebrated.

After the initial excitement, there was a lot of waiting. I spent my time working on a new manuscript and building relationships with other writers in the various groups I belonged to. When I saw another writer had just signed a contract with the same small publisher who was considering my manuscript, I reached out to say congratulations and share that they were currently reviewing my full manuscript. She asked if she could read the first chapter, to which I said, “Sure!” and sent it over. I then waited for her to read it, declare it AMAZING, and tell me that she just knew an offer would be coming my way soon.

This isn’t what happened. 

Instead, she replied that she didn’t think the opening chapter was effective. She actually found it rather boring that they were just sitting there having a conversation and thought I should consider starting the story elsewhere.

I felt indignant over this response. They were having an argument not a conversation! And it was important to the story! Boy, was she going to feel stupid when my book was acquired and went on to become a bestseller…

Again, this is not what happened.

After having my book for six months, the publisher passed. I received the form rejection letter (which felt like insult to injury) in the mail, and I went through a period of grief. Lots of crying, lots of doubt that I would ever be published, and lots of ice cream. 

A few months later, I was reading a book by an author who I generally liked. I liked her enough that I had picked up some of her older books, and one of those books was hard for me to get into. “It’s boring so far,” I told my husband. “This whole first chapter, all these women are doing is sitting in the bar complaining to each other.”

Lightbulb moment.

Finally, I could see the truth: the first chapter of my book was boring too. Even if it was an argument. Even if it was important information. Even if it was coffee, not tea, and Starbucks, not the kitchen. The reader didn’t know enough about the characters to care about them and therefore couldn’t understand why the argument was interesting. Like that author had told me, I had started my book in the wrong place. 

It’s always easier to see mistakes other writers make, isn’t it? Even though I’d read in a craft book not to do what I did, even though another writer told me it wasn’t working, I still didn’t understand it until I was the reader and it was somebody else’s book and characters.

Paying attention to why you put down books is an excellent way to improve as a writer. I have a special section in my writing notebook where I jot notes on things I didn’t like in books, many of which ended up in my DNF pile.

Here are some notes from recent reads:

• The author keeps hinting that something big is coming, but I’m 30% of the way in and so far every “twist” and turn is predictable. I’ve lost faith that we’re building up to anything truly surprising.
• I know this is an enemies-to-lovers trope but I just do not believe the conversation these two are having (who talks like this?) plus I think he’s a jerk. (As an aside, I gave up on this book after reading two chapters. But when I went to an event of this author’s, somebody in the audience asked if she was going to write more books with these two characters because they’re her favorite. Obviously this reader disagrees with my assessment!)
• I have a hard time swallowing that this character is an accidentally famous painter. I just don’t buy that anyone can be hugely successful as an artist despite not caring about being an artist and putting in zero work after the painting is done. (I did finish this book.)
• Lots of pretty language … where’s the plot?

I’m not trying to be mean with my notes. I’m trying to understand what does and doesn’t work for me as a reader so I can grow as a writer.

As I mentioned above, just because something doesn’t work for me as a reader doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing to do. My mom hates books that jump around in time, which is really common in historical fiction right now. But I love when authors do that, so long as it’s easy for me to track where in time we are.

Or I really struggle with most books that are classified as “literary fiction,” but my dad tends to love those. While you can’t write a book that everybody will love, you should at least write one that you love.

Do you take notes on books that you don’t like?

(Please be considerate and professional in the comments and don’t mention any books by name in a negative context. Thank you!)

Stephanie Morrill writes books about girls who are on an adventure to discover their unique place in the world. She is the author of several historical young adult novels, including the Piper Sail Mysteries and Within These Lines, which was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, as well as a YALSA 2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Stephanie also encourages the next generation of writers at her website, GoTeenWriters.com, which has been on the Writer’s Digest Best Websites for Writers list since 2017. She lives in the Kansas City area, where she loves plotting big and small adventures to enjoy with her husband and three children. You can connect with Stephanie and learn more about her books at StephanieMorrill.com.