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What makes a good readable book?
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- A strong opening: A great book grabs readers on the first page and doesn’t let go until they’ve reached the end of the book. That’s why a strong opening is one of the most important elements of book writing.
- Compelling characters: Most great works of literary fiction have one thing in common: rich, compelling characters. Good characters draw readers in, giving them someone to love, hate, or identify with.
- An absorbing story: When a reader picks up a novel, short story, or other piece of creative writing, they want to be entertained by a good story. From the inciting incident to the rising action to the climax, a great story keeps the reader engaged from the first page onward.
- Sharp dialogue: Good books are filled with sharp, memorable dialogue. Bestsellers contain dialogue that advances the plot, demonstrates your characters’ personalities, and adds texture to the world of your story.
Feb 13, 2018 · A good read is usually the result of many revisions of a bad one. Most serious writers also work with editors, particularly developmental editors who can guide and give advice broadly about what is working, or not, about each draft.
- Aim For High Readability
- Your Words Are Your Tools; Make Sure They Are in Working Order.
- Check For inconsistencies.
- Avoid overwriting.
- Avoid Underwriting.
- Make Sure Your Characters Are More Than A name.
- Show, Don't Tell.
- Sharpen That Dialogue…
- …And Expose That Subtext.
- Drive The Plot Towards Your Reader’s Aha-Moment.
People enjoy books with a high level of readability—books with a captivating story and memorable characters, books we can’t put down, books that stick with us long after we’ve read the last word. As an independent editor, I’ve come across my fair share of readable books, and all of them are well crafted on three distinct but intricately connected l...
Avoid typos, sort out commonly mistaken words such as die/dye or there/their/they’re. Watch your grammar—make sure your nouns agree with your verbs and the personal pronouns fit. If a paragraph begins in the past tense, it likely ought to end in the past tense, too. Figure out where those commas go to help your readers make sense of your sentences....
Writers revise their work constantly. As a result, characters may appear or disappear at random, because chapters were rearranged; subplots remain unresolved, because chapters were cut; and timeline issues may tiptoe in. Looking for inconsistencies and holes in your story is an integral part of polishing your work.
Your style or voice should step into the background to serve your story. No need for a clever metaphor in every sentence, or for an adjective before every noun. Avoid complicated sentences if a simple sentence will get your point across. Avoid inflated sentences and unnecessary introductory or summarizing phrases. Don't be verbose—every sentence ha...
Allow your language to adapt to its context. Using the same words and/or sentence structures repeatedly makes a novel repetitive and monotonous. If the teenage girl and the CEO of a multibillion dollar company have the same voice, we’ll learn more about the writer than about the characters and their relationships. Avoid clichés and create your own ...
As a reader, I want to be able to relate to your characters. I don't have to always like them or agree with their choices, but I want to understand why they say and do whatever it is they say and do. I want to care for them, fear and worry with them. Therefore, your characters need to be recognizable and unique at the same time. They need to be com...
“He was anxious.” Or: “She was happy.” Or: “They were angry.” That’s telling. Trouble is, this does not really tell me what I am to imagine. Is he chewing his nails? Is she smiling as she embraces her newborn baby? Are they raising their voices to a level that could be heard down the block? That’s showing, and it conjures up a clear image in your r...
Dialogue passes on information between characters and to the reader. Dialogue propels the plot forward. And, dialogue reveals the personality of the dialogue partners, as well as their relationship. Avoid repeating small talk, too much clever banter, and uninterrupted speeches. At least two people should exchange information, ask questions, answer ...
People don’t necessarily say what they mean or mean what they say. Every conversation has a subtext. Dialogue is not only about what is being said, but also about how the dialogue partners feel about and relate to each other. Do they like each other? Who has the upper hand? Do they trust each other? Show us in their gestures, glances, body language...
A readable novel provides meaning to the world we live in, which is to say that the succession of events must make sense. Your characters react to these events in ways that are motivated by their psychological disposition. The interplay of events and character behavior moves your plot forward. The writer’s hand should remain invisible. Therefore, p...
- Readability. All authors should strive for clarity, but bestselling authors go beyond simply getting the point across by creating a narrative that’s “unputdownable.”
- Strangeness. “You don’t need fantastical elements” to create a “strange new world” for your protagonist. Introducing your lead character to something wholly unfamiliar to his daily life “adds tension and introduces intrigue” to your story.
- Controversy. Many writers shy from controversy to avoid alienating or offending readers. Bernhardt, however, suggests going all-in: “For every protester, you’ll find five new readers who want to know what the fuss is about.”
- Big Actions with Big Consequences. If your lead misses her bus but then gets right on the next without incident, you’ll lose a reader’s attention pretty quickly.
To help you create that oddly intimate writer-to-reader relationship, I’ve put together the most important standards for writing 1) an excellent story 2) in an emotionally engaging way. Because that’s what defines a great book: stellar storytelling and masterful writing.
- Abi Wurdeman
Jul 15, 2016 · What makes a good book ‘good’? What are the characteristics that you look for in a book? What makes the difference between a book you just ‘enjoyed’ and a book that, when finished, you immediately want to lend to everyone you know? Here are my top ten features of a good book…
Jun 30, 2022 · A great novel is a perfect escape, allowing the reader to explore new worlds and experience other lives. A great novel: Tells a compelling story that engages the reader. Is big enough to justify 75,000 to 100,000 words. Has a good setting. Is well thought out and thoughtfully plotted. Deals with complex issues in an intelligent way.
