Whenever I counsel fiction authors about getting started in self-publishing, and they ask what they should concentrate on to become a success, I always advise them to be great storytellers. If you can’t tell a great story, no amount of marketing will make your book a hit. However, if you can tell a great story, word of mouth could catapult your novel up the charts.
In reviews of my books, you’ll see comments like “couldn’t put it down,” “worth the wait,” and “can’t wait for the next book in the series.” I’m very intentional about my writing, and below I’ll share three of the elements I focus on to keep readers glued to the pages of my novels.
Start Strong
Don’t spend a lot of time trying to perfect your opening line, as some craft books advise. While it’s nice to have a gripping first line, it’s not necessary. No one is going to stop reading a book because of the first line. Do spend time making sure the first few pages capture the reader’s attention.
One way to do that is to start the story in medias res, which is Latin for “in the middle of things.” By doing so, you immediately immerse the reader in the story instead of building up to an interesting point. That creates curiosity and entices the reader to continue so they’ll have their questions answered. Later, you can fill in the details and backstory.
Another way to grab your audience’s attention is to start with a character in motion. For example, instead of having your main character quietly eating breakfast and spending a lot of time inside their head, have them dashing for a taxi as they hurry to work, late for the third day in a row. That creates momentum and potential conflict in the opening scene, and they’re more likely to continue with the story to learn the outcome.
Create Interesting Characters
Characters are the heart of your story. Give them interesting backgrounds and don’t make them too perfect, or they’ll come across as unrealistic. It’s okay for them to have insecurities or quirks, because that makes them relatable and likable.
Make sure their goals and motivations are clear. Are they looking for love? Are they trying to earn a promotion or achieve a lifelong dream? Whatever you decide, show how their desires affect their behavior. If you do a good job writing the main characters, you’ll have readers rooting for their success.
Give them a special skill or talent. This is another way to make a character likable, because readers like characters who excel in some aspect of their lives. I write a romantic suspense series called The Cordoba Agency, and each member of the agency has a special skill—sniper, explosives, techie, knife skills, etc. Throughout the series, each team member gets to show off their skills. So don’t just tell readers your character is good at something, make sure you show those skills on the page.
Use Cliffhangers at the End of Chapters
Author James Patterson is a master at using cliffhangers at the end of chapters, and if you incorporate them into your stories, you’ll keep readers engaged and turning the pages of your novel.
The cliffhanger is essentially a hook that makes the reader emotionally invested and compelled to keep reading to satisfy their curiosity. There are all kinds of cliffhangers. For instance, an action cliffhanger could have the main characters involved in a life or death situation, where the reader is forced to turn the page to the next chapter to learn the outcome.
The cliffhanger could be mysterious. If you’re writing a mystery, one of the characters could find a note at the end of the chapter, which simply reads, “You’re next.”
You don’t need a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter. In fact, I don’t recommend it because your readers could become fatigued. But using them can create an addictive reading experience that hooks your audience until the end of the book.
Conclusion
Telling a compelling story is important for having a successful career as a fiction author. Whether you’re crafting your first story or your twentieth, the key is to hook readers from the very first chapter, create interesting characters your audience finds relatable and likable, and keep them turning the pages with well-placed cliffhangers.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Maya Angelou famously said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” What story are you burning to tell? How will you make sure readers can’t put it down? What other key elements do you believe make a compelling story?
