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If there's no summary, and improper formatting (text walls, text alignment on the right), chances are I'm not even going to start.

I know there are some people wondering why I want to read a summary before the story, because I'm always asked why every time I mention that. Well, I'm a pertty picky reader, and I'd like to know what I'm getting into before reading. One advantage to having a summary is that you can get a reader interested in your story right away.

In regards to improper formatting: I have a 22" screen with IE on one half and Microsoft Word on the other, and text walls are a pain to read (split screen and full). A lot of people are deterred from reading a story if there are text walls, so before you post your story, preview your post to make sure it looks right.

So there's my answer, what's yours?

I can't read a large amount in one go, especially on an internet page. So, large amounts of paragraps, or long sections of a story that are all at once, I'm automatically deferred from it.

Bad sentence layout.

if I start to read something that doesn't flow well I tend to drag myself through it.
I say drag because sentence structure is something that needs work and i something I'll comment on at the end.

the other thing is when there's a lack of varying vocabulary, the same words for everything, and starting ever action with the characters name.
"Jack ran over to the phone. "hello I need a taxi" Jack said quickly. Jack needed to use the phone for a taxi because he was in a hurry. Jack didn't like being in a hurry."

So many time that their name can be replaced with He, Him or maybe just rearranging the words a little so Jack popped up in the middle instead of the start.

if someone just
doesn't know how to write.

i know, that kind of sounds mean,
but if run-on sentences,
poor punctuation,
improper grammar and
no use of capitalization
run amok, then i won't
even bother.

Instant character description or 'dark, I-don't-know-where-I-am-or-what's-happening-and-I'm-running-around-confused' openings.

Length is a definite factor. Unless I've specifically agreed to read and critique someone's writing for the long-haul, I don't normally like having to read more than a few pages. (This obviously doesn't hold for when I'm reading novels for pleasure.)

Text walls make me abandon hope. I also hate seeing really badly formatted pieces or stories with atrocious grammar. If I have a print copy of something, I can just mark their grammar all to hell with a red pen, but it's not as simple to point out mistakes over the internet.

Cliche dialogue will also turn me off, as will people saying "aye" in a fantasy setting. I've avoided reading whole books just because I skimmed through and noticed characters saying "aye" too much. Call it residual damage from reading the Inheritance books.

Whats wrong with 'aye'? XD Just a question dont worry I'm not getting at you (^_^). I personally, being Scottish, use 'aye' almost daily as a slang substitute for 'yes/yeah'.

Depending on the book and setting It can add to the feel of the book, say one of your characters has a Scottish accent, something that fits well in a fantasy setting and 'ye olde' languages for commoners. would it still put you off? I've read a book written entirely in glaswegian XD was pretty funny when I geot into it. The auther was Christopher Brookmyre incase you wanna look it up razz the book was called "A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away"

The only time I have a problem with the use of 'aye' is when it is used improperly. Of course, anything used improperly will make me stop reading.