Thanks to writer and blogger friend Laura Pauling, I came across a great craft book, Scene and Structure, by Jack Bickham.
One of the things that captured my attention in this book is what the author says about the following facts about what readers want in a story:
- They are fascinated and threatened by significant change.
- They want the story to start with such a change.
- They want to have a story question to worry about.
- They want the story question answered in the story ending.
- They will quickly lose patience with everything but material that relates to the story question.
I know as a reader when opening up a book, I’m compelled by starting off with change and the story question — will the main character get what she wants? We don’t necessarily have to know this right away in the opening chapter, but as writers we should present that main desire to the reader soon — while also putting some obstacles to the thing that main character wants most.
As a reader, there are also other things that I want in a novel — for me, I love complicated/flawed characters, fleshed out secondary characters, and a satisfying ending.
How about you? What do you want as a reader?
It’s a great book, isn’t it? I’ll have to reread it.
For me, I just love a good story with emotion, secrets, sacrifice, conflict. But so don’t we all, right?
I agree with all of the above :) And while I might like the writing of a book with a sad ending, I’ll admit I’m more likely to buy and reread books that have happy endings. (I’m such a sucka!)
I agree on all those points.
It’s interesting to see antagonists who have a human side, rather than being all evil. Also, I want realism, rather than having to tell myself that “This would never happen.”
For me, it’s mostly about the characters. If I can care about them, some of the small stuff won’t stop me reading. But the characters have to be pretty realistic and make sensible choices given their situations.
Laura: Love a book that has a secrets because secrets seem to always come to the surface sooner or later.
Tiana: I’m a sucker for happy endings as well so you’re not alone in that respect.
Medeia: I don’t like “all-evil” antagonists either. Love to see the reasoning in their POV. Sometimes they have a right to be mad and evil considering the source.
Jemi: Don’t like cardboard characters. Like my characters rounded out and real — flawed even. I have a thing for really flawed characters. A character who can make things happen despite their shortcomings.
When I pick a book I look for an interesting twisted plot. I read the first page to look for something very very twisted. So basically I look for twisted twisted n twisted.
Prity: Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Ha, twisted huh? Twisted can definitely keep me reading as well. It’s boring when all is well in novels.