7 Things Your Readers Want to See in Your Books

Used by permission of Ashley Lamar, Closed The Cover (www.closedthecover.com)

•The opening paragraph should be thrilling! Please, do not open with descriptions of the weather or the location. Do not open in the middle of a scene or a conversation. Do not open with a flashback. Readers aren't as concerned with the opening sentence as much as they are with the opening paragraph. We'll give you a paragraph to tell us why we should continue reading but a full paragraph that tells us how gray and cloudy the evening sky was or opens in the middle of dialogue that we can't follow isn't going to do it. Instead introduce your characters thoughts or dreams, set up a mission or purpose, or open with action.


•Don't tell the reader everything. I don't mean the "show don't tell" idiom although that's a true philosophy that should be followed; rather I mean to allow the reader to question the story. Give the reader ample opportunity to be curious and wonder about the who, what, where, when, why and how's of the story. It doesn't have to be a mystery novel to allow a reader's curiosity to flourish! Does your main female character have conflict with another minor character? Let readers wonder about their history for a while. Why are there hard feelings there? Hint at it but don't tell us outright. Let curiosity keep readers reading!

•Well-developed multi-dimensional characters. If you want your readers to know and love a character then you must know and love your character yourself! It doesn't have to be included in the novel but you, as the author, should understand your character's childhood, hobbies, talents, passions and dreams. You, the author, should know how many brothers, sisters, aunt, uncles and cousins your character has, when their birthday is and their favorite color. Sure, it might sound a bit mundane and pointless but when you know your character that intimately they will appear more authentic in your book and capture the heart of your readers.


•Accuracy! This is especially important if you are writing historical fiction or mysteries. I once read a historical fiction novel that referred to World War I beginning in 1908. Think about that for a second... If it was an alternate history then perhaps that would be acceptable but it is not acceptable in a historical fiction novel. If you are going to include facts in your book then it is your duty and obligation to make sure the facts are accurate. I will immediately stop reading any novel that is inaccurate when it comes to historical details. The same applies to mystery novels - any information or clue that is used to identify the perpetrator had better be accurate. Do not include forensic science if you can not accurately portray that science.



•The book should have a great cover. Every reader has heard the adage, "Don't judge a book by its cover" but all readers do it and some aren't even ashamed to admit it. Don't spend weeks, months, years working on a novel and then just slap some horrible graphic on it and think readers will be enticed to read it. They won't. Readers look at the cover before they read the synopsis. If the cover is anything less than stellar readers will have doubts. It's a harsh truth. Oh, and PLEASE, unless it's an erotic novel keep your characters clothed! Better yet, don't put characters on the cover. I say this only based off of a recent conversation with book-reading friends who have all agreed a symbolic cover is better than a character cover.



•At least a little bit of predictability. Do you remember the theme song to that tv series, "Full House"? It started out with, "Whatever happened to predictability? The milkman, the paper boy, evening TV?" That truth still applies. Yes, you can be creative, take liberties and try to write an unpredictable novel but give readers some predictability. Consider the Song of Fire and Ice (Game of Thrones) series by George R.R. Martin, he broke away from predictability when he beheaded Lord Stark and later killed other prominent characters in the "Red Wedding" scene. He also has maintained some levels of predictability with battle victories, the lives of children and other magic. When the novel is entirely unpredictable it becomes overwhelming and readers will be turned off.



•An ending that fits the novel. I have heard from many authors who said that at some point during the writing process the characters took on a life of their own and the story ended in a way that even the author didn't expect in the beginning. That doesn't happen with every author but it does happen to some. If it happens to you, let it. There is nothing worse than reading 400 pages of a great novel only to have a terrible ending that feels forced and disconnected. This happens when an author tries to force a story to fit a preconceived ending idea instead of letting the story tell itself. Don't force the story and if the ending doesn't fit - change it!