When I’m outlining a story, I’m first writing for myself. I’m creating this world, this story because it excites me. I want to read it! 

When I write and revise the story, I begin to think about my future readers and I try to predict what they want and would enjoy.

I want to serve them. I think about other books and the reception that they’ve gotten.

I know that I can’t please everyone. For any given book, there will be some who love it and others who will pass. 

As a reader, I choose books based on what I want to get out of a story. And when I’m let down, I can’t help but wonder what the writer didn’t give me or what I’d rather they hadn’t done.

I want my stories to feel like their yours as well. I want to invite you into the worlds in my head and bring you on these adventures with me.

To do that, I know that I must learn from my readers– what you like, what you dislike, what you want to read more of, and what you’d pass on.

This community is a perfect opportunity to learn from each other as readers and writers.

Today, I’ll share what approaches satisfy me as a reader and what I don’t love to see from writers. Then, I’ll pass the microphone to you!

I know that this is a big ask, but it is so worth the effort when a writer has put in the time to create characters that seem to be pulled from reality. 

I want to be able to see and feel who they are, not be told that they are a certain way. I want evidence of their personalities, their shortcomings, and their quirks infused throughout the book. 

There have been stories where it feels like the characters are just slipping through my fingers. I can’t quite keep track of them. They constantly meld together, appear gray and well, forgettable. 

Then, there are the characters who seem to be sitting in front of me, whispering in my ear as the story unfolds- so real that I can connect with them.

Those are the characters that I want to encounter again and again!

Some characters encounter high stakes that remain surface level (a war, an environmental issue, an illness, etc).

Yes, these physical conflicts can have serious consequences for our beloved characters and those around them, but if not paired with strong internal conflict, the external struggles are diminished. 

I love reading historical fiction, many of these have external conflicts that the characters are battling with. I’ve read great books that heighten these characters’ struggles by giving each character their own misbeliefs and hangups that hinder them along the way. 

In the end, whether the external conflict is successfully resolved or not, I am satisfied when the characters have grown, learned, or changed in a way that brings value to their internal conflicts. 

I know that many of the conflicts that I encounter from day to day are self-induced by my inner world.

I want to read about characters who are much the same- blocking their own success and needing to be aware of that before they can move forward.

I want to read about conflicts that are realistic and multi-dimensional.

A story that drags on, that should have wrapped up chapters ago or an abrupt ending- these scenarios are always the worst when the book has been interesting up until the point where pacing becomes an issue. 

Is it that the writer overindulged?

Did they not know how to tie up those loose strings in a satisfying way?

How did their editors not catch that? 

A good book can rise or fall on its pacing. I have changed my decision on whether to recommend a  book based on this problem.

I need a book where the writer has expertly determined when to linger on a point and when to pick up the speed.

I love when the pace of a story matches the events that the characters are encountering.

I feel in time with them- another useful source of realism to add to any genre.

Some people love horror. Others like murder, mystery, and crime.

I’m someone who can’t go too deep into any of that.

Yes, I love reading a bit of tragedy that tugs at my heartstrings and makes those characters feel hopeless for a time, but at the end of the day in our current world where there is already so much heartbreak and tragedy around us, I wonder if some stories take it too far. 

I don’t want a story that disturbs me and leaves me feeling hopeless at the end.

There is such a thing as too graphic, too realistic in some scenarios (I guess that’s why we have content warnings).

I’ll stay away from that field, thank you very much!

Last, but not least, please do away with the “it was all a dream” conclusions.

I’m never satisfied. It never feels like a worthwhile surprise to me.

With every book that I have read with this particular ending, I’ve felt that it was an easy out.

Perhaps, the writer didn’t know what to do next, or how to wrap it up. Maybe they genuinely believed that this was the ideal ending for their story. 

Please, think long and hard before you make the world that your readers have invested in for so long simply a dream. We are smarter than this. 

I’m sure some of you might disagree with me. If you’ve come across a book with this sort of ending that you believe was a success, please send it my way.

I’m happy to give it another go. Perhaps, I’ll learn something new.

A few final words about today’s post: My intention is not to have you second guess your writing skills and compare yourself to other writers. I don’t wish for you to feel defeated by the conversation here.

We are all on our own creative journeys. Our skills will improve over time and for every perceived flaw, there seems to be an exception. 

There is an audience out there for every type of book.

Today’s post is simply a space for us to consider our readers as we write. To learn from other readers’ likes and dislikes and keep this conversation in the back of our minds as we work towards sharing stories that intrigue and inspire others.

Let’s learn from our community of expert readers (that’s you!)

Share what you are looking for (or not looking for) from authors in the comments below!

Talk soon!

Julia