The "Wow" Factor...
I've been told my books lack a "Wow" factor. I'm not even sure what that means.
Is it larger-than-life characters? Well, okay, I'll cop to that. My characters are regular people-sized, with regular people's problems. Despite my love of opera, grandiosity doesn't really suit me.
Do they mean "Wow" in the way Fifty Shades of Grey wowed clueless vanillas who think fuzzy handcuffs are edgy? That's a kind of wow I can do without.
So... I got nothin.' Anyone want to explain it to me? I'm all ears!
Is it larger-than-life characters? Well, okay, I'll cop to that. My characters are regular people-sized, with regular people's problems. Despite my love of opera, grandiosity doesn't really suit me.
Do they mean "Wow" in the way Fifty Shades of Grey wowed clueless vanillas who think fuzzy handcuffs are edgy? That's a kind of wow I can do without.
So... I got nothin.' Anyone want to explain it to me? I'm all ears!
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I agree with Kathryn on all the things she said. I know nothing about the writing and I'm not sure whether there is a definition for a "wow factor" or not, but I read an article where it says that "the wow factor is a twist in the tail. It is the one part of a story that hits the reader unexpectedly between the eyes..."
For what it's worth, I don't think that your books lack any wow factors. They are very character driven and that's what I enjoy the most.
I've only read By Chance and Once a Marine so far, but I liked them both and one of the things I liked was their regular-people/ordinary-life vibe, which I find pretty compelling.
Kathryn R. wrote: "Well, I'm sure you're not all ears. ;-)Sometimes Wow can mean the characters behave in an unexpected or unpredictable manner that is still well-motivated and believable. Have readers ever been s..."
I noticed some GR reader reviews that said my books lack a "wow factor." *shrug* If it'd only been one person, I wouldn't have paid much attention, but when several people say the same thing, it's time to take notice.
Lucette wrote: "I've only read By Chance and Once a Marine so far, but I liked them both and one of the things I liked was their regular-people/ordinary-life vibe, which I find pretty compelling."Aw, thanks! Different strokes, I guess! :)
Natālija wrote: "I agree with Kathryn on all the things she said. I know nothing about the writing and I'm not sure whether there is a definition for a "wow factor" or not, but I read an article where it says tha..."
Hm. I don't do enough of the "right between the eyes" thing, I guess.
Cat wrote: "Hm. I don't do enough of the "right between the eyes" thing, I guess. "Thank goodness! Bad advice on how to wow your readers :)
Jen wrote: "Glitter! Your books don't have nearly enough glitter in them. :P"Guess I should write about a glam-rock star next, huh? ;)
Hmm. Well, that's one of those criticisms that could mean anything at all and really depends on a person's taste. For example, when it comes to me and what gives a book a 'wow factor', I generally think of literature I've read, like Deathless or Fortress of Solitude, where there are scenes of such power and beauty that tears come to my eyes and my breath is taken away and I almost feel like I can't stand being in my skin during those moments. It's usually an epiphany or a moment of character growth so strong and wonderfully conveyed that I feel like I'm growing, too. Often those scenes make up for other parts of a book which were less fantastic. (Though Deathless is pretty much just amazing in its entirety.)
I have to admit that while I love romance, enjoy reading and writing it, when I think 'wow factor', I don't usually think of romance books. So, if it is romance readers complaining of lack of wow factor...I don't know what to make of it. It could be anything from they didn't get a sense of true passion between the characters to they didn't find your style of writing breathtaking. Who knows?
Everyone is different and everyone loves different things. It seems you've got a lot of readers who appreciate your books, so this is probably a situation of "can't please all the people all the time". :)
Sometimes Wow can mean the characters behave in an unexpected or unpredictable manner that is still well-motivated and believable. Have readers ever been surprised by a character's actions or an event in your books?
Also, consider the source. Who said your books lack a "Wow factor?" Is it someone you know and trust to give an honest opinion? Just a thought.