What makes a 'terrible adult novel' so terrible?

Well, it could be the plot. Maybe it's full of holes and doesn't make any sense. For example, the story might jump from one event to another without proper transition.

Yes, it can. If the author goes back and does some major rewrites, fixing the writing issues, like grammar and sentence structure, it can improve. For instance, Ernest Hemingway's early works had some roughness which he later refined.

A terrible romance novel often has flat characters. They lack depth and complexity, just being one - dimensional stereotypes. For example, the male lead is always the brooding, rich and handsome type without any real flaws or growth. Also, the plot can be very predictable. You can see the ending from a mile away, like the couple will always get together no matter what obstacles are thrown at them in a very cliched way.

A terrible romance novel might have unlikable characters. For example, if the main characters are too self - centered or have no real depth to their personalities. Also, a weak plot can make it terrible. If it's just full of clichés like the 'love at first sight' trope without any real development or twists. And bad writing style, such as overly flowery language that makes it hard to understand what's really going on between the characters.

The unknown factor. In the terrible it ghost stories, not knowing what 'it' really is can be extremely frightening. It could be anything lurking in the shadows.

One reason 'terrible fan fiction' is, well, terrible is that the author may not understand the essence of the original work. They might be writing just for the sake of writing, without really having a passion or a deep understanding for the characters and the story they are basing their fanfic on. This results in a shallow and unengaging piece of writing. Also, some terrible fan fictions have pacing issues. They might drag on and on in parts that should be quick, or rush through important parts that need more development.

One factor that makes a terrible fanfiction is bad grammar and spelling. It can be really off - putting when you're trying to read a story and there are so many mistakes that it disrupts the flow. Another is when the author completely misrepresents the characters from the original source. If they act in ways that are completely against their established personalities, it doesn't feel like a proper fanfiction. Also, a plot that is full of holes or is just a jumbled mess can make a fanfiction terrible. For example, if events happen without any logical explanation or connection to each other, it's hard to enjoy the story.

Maybe it has a weak plot or unconvincing character development. Poor writing style could also be a factor.

Often, a terrible country in a novel is characterized by a dysfunctional government, widespread poverty, and lack of basic rights for the citizens. Maybe there's also a breakdown of law and order and a sense of hopelessness among the people.

It could be poor character development or a weak plot. Maybe the romance feels forced and not genuine.