How to grab readers?

[gmw]

Originally Posted by dadioflex

[...] if you want to write well, read well and pay attention to what you're reading. [...]

I really really hope this is true ... if it's not then I'm #######, 'cos I got nothin' else!

[Democracyman]

I just ordered Jack Bickham's book on writing. Going to study it, I like the breakout novel book, will order that later.

Dan

[Just4kix]

Originally Posted by Democracyman

A trick is to write each chapter end with something dangling, to grab the reader to read to see what happens
in the next chapter.

Dan

Sounds a bit painful

[Democracyman]

I think some chapters can be more subtle than others, as I can imagine you can take this dangler skill too far and turn off the reader.

Dan

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Democracyman

I think some chapters can be more subtle than others, as I can imagine you can take this dangler skill too far and turn off the reader.

Dan

I don't know that I'd categorise the ability to cut off a mid-scene as a skill. The real skill is in writing a scene that the reader is going to mind you cutting off in the middle of.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Democracyman

Just curious what techniques are most effective to grab readers? For me when I am reading the most grabbing parts are where I can identify with the main character in
a dangerous situation.

A trick is to write each chapter end with something dangling, to grab the reader to read to see what happens
in the next chapter.

It is all about the emotions generated, right?

Dan

I think the first thing to do is make sure that the story catches your interest. If you sit down to write a story and it doesn't inspire or interest you the author, then it's not going to catch the interest of anyone else either. And all the other tricks and techniques in the book won't amount to a hill of beans without that interest on the part of the author.