Passing the 'So What?' Test

Why should someone want to read what you write?  Say you're a writer seeking to sell stories.  Obviously, you are pursuing readers, lots of them.  So how do you appeal to them?  What do they want to read?  Above all, you can't have them asking "So what?" as they read through your story.

So let's put ourselves in the mind of the reader.  Most of us like to think of ourselves as virtuous, unselfish, and caring.  But let's face it, when we pick up a story to read, we're set for a solely personal ...