How Much Rope?

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

How much rope do you give writer's before you stop reading their stories?

One of the first 5 rules of writing is HOOK THE READER ON PAGE ONE.

So whats up with books and strories that limp along for 50-75 pages with nuthin much happening?

 

[oggbashan]

How much rope do you give writer's before you stop reading their stories?

One of the first 5 rules of writing is HOOK THE READER ON PAGE ONE.

So whats up with books and strories that limp along for 50-75 pages with nuthin much happening?

It depends on the genre and the age of the book. Some works of English Literature take a lot of reading before you get to the activity (or not).

If the writing is enthralling I would persevere even if nothing much was happening. If the writing is bad, I'd probably throw the book despite the hook on page one... but some writers can be bad and still tell a good story e.g. J.T.Edson's Westerns and Arthur Upfield's Australian detective Napoleon Bonaparte "Bony" series. They break many rules of writing yet their storytelling works.

Og

 

[off2bed]

It depends on why one is reading it. If I go to the bookstore just to find something good to read, you'd better hook me in the first paragraph. But if I'm reading it because I have to or because I want to know what everyone else sees in it, I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[midwestyankee]

I stop reading the first time I see the writer use the possessive apostrophe to mean the plural. It's a clear sign of a) a lack of care about one's writing, and possibly b) a disregard for the English language.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm the same way about auxillary verbs. If I spot one, look out!

 

[R. Richard]

How much rope do you give writer's before you stop reading their stories?

One of the first 5 rules of writing is HOOK THE READER ON PAGE ONE.

So whats up with books and strories that limp along for 50-75 pages with nuthin much happening?

It depends on what you're looking for as to 'nuthin much happening.' If the writer is telling me detail about a place or thing that interests me, then 'nuthin much happening' may be very interesting to me. If the writer is telling me detail about a place or thing that doesn't interest me, then 'nuthin much happening' may be 'nuthin much happening and I quit reading.'

 

[snar]

Depends on the author. If it is someone I really like I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, even if I'm not so keen on the start.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

I'm a first paragraph person. If you can't hook me in the first paragraph, you're done. I attempt to draw the reader in with my first sentence and I expect the same from other authors. Recently, I was convinced by friends to read beyond the first paragraph of Twilight. I'm still regretting it.

 

[midwestyankee]

I'm a first paragraph person. If you can't hook me in the first paragraph, you're done. I attempt to draw the reader in with my first sentence and I expect the same from other authors. Recently, I was convinced by friends to read beyond the first paragraph of Twilight. I'm still regretting it.

I'm with you on this. Which is why the only reason I returned to the thread was to see your post.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SCARLETT

Yep. Dont want no long tea times with Reginald and Daphne and their angst about whether to destroy Crotchley Hall because Granny roams about at night with happy feet.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

SCARLETT

Yep. Dont want no long tea times with Reginald and Daphne and their angst about whether to destroy Crotchley Hall because Granny roams about at night with happy feet.

LOL, Crotchley.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Yes, its Reginald and Daphne Pecksniff's ancestral estate.

 

[jomar]

I'm a first paragraph person. If you can't hook me in the first paragraph, you're done. I attempt to draw the reader in with my first sentence and I expect the same from other authors. Recently, I was convinced by friends to read beyond the first paragraph of Twilight. I'm still regretting it.

We had an AH contest awhile ago on this very subject - hooking readers in the first 300 words.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I use some interaction I know people are fools for.

My latest effort begins with 4 college boys arguing about their Spring Break accommodations; the story prior to it had a heated confrontation between a woman and the service manager where she bought her new car; the one before it involved 2 convicts fleeing a prison camp, and the one prior to it involved a teen chopping his arm off with an axe (actually 6 separate amputations).

The beginning should contain the crux of the problem the story addresses. That is, toss the dead cat thru the window into the sanctuary and let the folks start dealing with it.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

We had an AH contest awhile ago on this very subject - hooking readers in the first 300 words.

Can't believe I missed this. I should've been a judge.