I DNFd a book at 90% complete

When I mention time jumps as a form of lazy writing, what I really mean is that these abrupt leaps in the narrative timeline often rob the story of necessary depth and emotional connection. I've often found that when authors use time jumps excessively or without clear purpose, it can feel like they’re skipping the hard work of fleshing out story events or character development. From my experience as a reader, pacing is one of the most essential elements that keeps me invested. A well-crafted story balances detailed moments with smoother transitions, but when time jumps are used as a shortcut, it disrupts that balance. Personally, one such book had me hooked until the final 10%, but a sudden shift forward in time left me confused and disconnected from the characters’ immediate motivations. It almost felt like a plot hole or a missed opportunity to deepen the story. I remember a few acclaimed novels where time jumps were effectively used, like in literary fiction or mystery genres, but even then, they always served a greater narrative purpose—building suspense or revealing information slowly. The key difference is intentionality and execution. Otherwise, as a reader, it can feel dismissed or unearned. For authors struggling with narrative pacing, my advice is to critically evaluate whether a time jump truly advances your story or if it just fills a gap you weren’t ready to write. Often, fleshing out scenes—even if intense or complex—engages readers more than skipping ahead. For fellow readers, it’s worth sharing your opinions on time jumps because it can spark interesting conversations about storytelling techniques. In summary, my decision to DNF at 90% was tough because I wanted to see the story’s conclusion. However, the disruptive use of time jumps felt like a narrative shortcut that undermined my connection to the book. If you’ve experienced similar frustrations or have examples where time jumps worked brilliantly, I’d love to hear about them. It helps us all understand the nuances of storytelling better.