What keeps you reading a good book?
I'm at 33,000 words and I hope my story is still compelling and interesting, but I worry, at times, that it's become trite or technical.
When you're reading a book that interests you, what keeps you reading when you're more than halfway into the book?
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8 comments:
I care about the character(s). I can sense that they are going to get what they deserve, bad or good. And I want to see how it happens.
If I get that far, I have to finish just to finish. But what makes books exciting for me is when the something happens. You know, something has to happen in the book to make it a book. How is the character going to respond? What's going to happen to his/her life?
Here's what a don't like (i am taking the negative here) I really hate when they set up this big event and then halfway through it fizzles and dies b/c they have set up even more things. Does that make sense? I also like to feel like I know the character and have him/her respond to a situation in a way that stays true to who they are.
Clear as mud?
I always look for an ending that either brings the whole book together or has a great ending.
I agree with above, and for me it's the story. I have to really care what's going to happen to the characters by then, or it's just not worth it. It's rare, but I have taken books back to the library because I really didn't care what happened to the characters. AND it has to have some kind of tantalizing potential... I don't already know what's going to happen (yawn), and I don't know that all characters will always turn out just fine (too safe), and it has to be on the edge of fantastical, like I would want it to happen to me. That's what keeps me reading; really caring what happens in the story to these unique, true to form characters I'm invested in. Hope your question wasn't rhetorical =)
As a Steinbeck fan I love when characters have struggles large or small and don't always see or get to the light at the end of the tunnel. Feeling their struggle is a nice reminder that life isn't always perfect and won't always end up perfect no matter how hard you try. So pretty much I like a story that is depressing. It makes me feel better about my sometimes pathetic existence.
For me, I have to really care about the characters. They have to be real; flawed but likable at the same time. I also agree that there should be a good build up and resolution. End with a bang...not a fizzle! I know you're doing great!
If there's any type of romance involved you want to keep the reader interested in wondering if they will actually hook up. I'm a huge Jane Austin fan obviously. I love a romantic plight. Keep it juicy baby! :)
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