What Makes A Good Story Great?

I really enjoy reading great stories whether, they are fact or fiction, which might then make you wonder what makes a great story. In my opinion,
there are several criteria to keep in mind when searching out your next fabulous read.

1. The author engages the reader from the very get-go. It doesn't have to be a dramatic sentence, but one which is well-crafted followed by another two or three will pull a reader in like a hummingbird to nectar.

2. The author keeps the reader wanting more by planting just enough details the make the plot intriguing. A reader doesn't want to get bogged down in endless prose. Interaction between the characters is a must. Lengthier explanations may come later after the reader feels that he or she has wisely invested his or her time in the story thus far.

3. I love to read adventurous westerns such as author Mary Connealy's work just as much as I love the softer, more subtle action that takes place in author Cathy Marie Hake's books. A great story isn't necessarily defined by suspense that raises my blood pressure but instead is characterized by carefully woven subplots that make the story more dimensional. Regardless of genre, I love it when authors do this, which is an element that I am trying to better develop in my own writing.

4. Speaking of making a story more dimensional, the characters themselves need to be believable. I've often encountered stories with good premises only to discover, once I've begun reading, that the story flickers and dies a quick death in my interest level. One reason for this is due to the lack of weaving subplots together, as was discussed previously. But another reason is that the characters are too agreeable, too predictable, or outright boring. I read once on author Rachel Ann Nunes's blog that an author needs to spend some time getting to know one's characters. On paper, we call this doodling. In our head, it's called daydreaming. When the author can not only visualize his or her characters but conduct meaningful conversations between them inside his or her own head, those conversations are much easier to transcribe on paper. I know this sounds crazy, but it really works. The characters come out sounding like real people.

One author whose series I enjoyed very much is J.K. Rowling, not for her Harry Potter plot so much as for her uncanny ability to make her readers feel as if they had known the character she was just barely introducing into her story for quite some time. I don't pretend to know her exact writing routine or technique. However, I was very much impressed with her ability to make each character, no matter how seemingly minor, important to the story.

Also, the main characters need to change in a major way, usually for the better. The author needs to show a moment of courage, of facing one's enemies or of sacrificing something of personal worth for something else of much more value.

5. An ending that satisfactorily ties up every loose end is invaluable, unless, of course, the author's intention is to leave the reader wanting more for a sequel. Again, the reader needs to feel that he or she has invested their time (and possibly money) into the book wisely. The characters are not the only entities who should have experienced a change of heart. A personal growth should have taken place within the reader as well at the conclusion of the story.

When all of these elements are in place, you have the fixings for a fantastic story!