by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Sometimes I like to drive to uptown Charlotte to have lunch with my sister, who works up there. We usually go to the same few restaurants, so I was excited to see an article in the entertainment section of the newspaper that was all about lunch options in the city.
I was less excited when I saw that there was no mention of what the parking was like at these restaurants. Even when I pulled up the restaurants’ websites, I frequently couldn’t find mention of what the parking was like.
This is an area where parking can either be expensive or nonexistent. Some restaurants have their own lots. Some pay their diners’ parking fee. But you want to know what you’re getting into before you go over there. The restaurants and the newspaper weren’t thinking like diners.
It’s just as important for us to think like our readers. What questions could they have when they read our book?
Who are these people again? If you’ve got characters who have been offstage for a while, consider giving them an unobtrusive tag.
Who are these people again, part 2. If you’ve got characters with similar names (that either start with the same letter or sound alike—Sally and Molly for instance), consider changing them up for the sake of clarity.
What’s happening here? Can readers follow your plot? Are there so many twists and turns that a reader might have to keep going back in your book to reread sections? If so, consider writing in some short explanation or reminders as to what’s going on.
Why is this character suddenly acting like this? If you’ve got a character who previously seemed shy/easygoing/friendly/reserved and they suddenly start acting completely different to help the plot along, there needs to be a good explanation for the change (introduction of some backstory or a scene that shows the change).
This wouldn’t happen in real life. We usually count on readers to suspend their disbelief sometimes. But repeatedly asking them to suspend it, or asking them to suspend it on something really big isn’t going to work.
Why is this character being so stupid? It’s frustrating when a character we like and respect does something dumb just to further the plot. Either think up sound reasons why the character would behave this way (they’ve been tricked, they think they’re safe doing what they’re doing, they believe they’re meeting their friend in the creepy alleyway), or else figure out another way to get the plot where you want it to go.
Everything was so complicated—and it wrapped up a little too neatly. Either brainstorm alternate endings for your book…coming up with a list of as many as you can imagine (from the clever to the absurd) or consider leaving room for a sequel to the book.
What ended up happening to that subplot storyline? Did it fall through the cracks? Double-check for loose ends. Did you introduce anything that needs to be wrapped up?
I know what’s going to happen next. This might be a good time to consider a plot twist…something unexpected to make the plot more complex or to add depth to a character.
This book is too intense/too goofy/too…. If the book seems too intense, can you write in some lighter moments? If the book is too campy, can you write in something that’s more serious or thoughtful or sweet?
Nothing is happening in this book. I’m getting bored. Do you have too much exposition? Too many scenes without conflict of some kind? (Conflict can even be represented by two characters who rub each other the wrong way…it doesn’t have to be something huge.) Too much description of setting? Did you lose your way in the middle of the book? Were you trying to bump up your word count and added too much flab (consider taking it out and writing in a solid subplot that can tie into the main plot.)
As a reader, what bugs you most? As a writer, do you try to read your manuscript as one of your readers would?
Sort of a road map for our readers. I like it! Excellent points to keep in mind. I’m curious though, how was the parking? ;)
Elizabeth – You’re so right about how important it is to think like a reader. We really do have to do that or the reader simply won’t believe/get into the story.
I once included a character in a story because, of all things, I liked her name. But a beta-reader pointed out to me that she did nothing, added nothing and really didn’t need to be there. So…gone she went. I used her name elsewhere and the result was much better.
Heather–It was nonexistant! Ha! We ended up going to the same place we usually do…
Ah, parking. When we went to Arizona to watch our daughter compete in the IronMan, their website had everything except where to park for the event. Luckily, our daughter knew the venue, so we weren’t totally lost.
As for reading like a reader. As a writer, it’s hard to read ANY book like a reader. It’s great if you have someone to be a ‘first reader’ (my other daughter helps me that way), but keeping all the questions you’ve brought up in mind helps.
Also, when you finish writing the book, you should print it out (I gave tips on that on one of my recent blog posts) and let it sit for a bit so you can TRY to see it with fresh eyes.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
Ah, my pet peeve. When I’m reading a book and start yelling, “No, you idiot! Don’t go in there alone!” When an otherwise sensible person goes into a dark basement alone and armed only with a rolling pin or something, even though she knows evil lurks below, I go nuts.
Too many twists and turns bother me. Sometimes a story just needs to tell itself in chronological order. And I like a few loose ends as this leaves the door open to a sequel. Just as in real life, some people will die, some will go to jail, and some will simply walk away. It may not be fair, but that’s often the reality.
Some great tips here for keeping everything straight! Characters acting stupid is one of my big pet peeves when reading…nothing else (besides just bad writing) pulls me out of the story more.
Like your blog. Good content. Every author will benefit from remembering that readers are the final arbiter in whether what is written is worth reading.
I recently read a book that had characters popping up after being absent for a while and it was a bit frustrating to try to put them back in the story myself. Would have been so much better for the author to have done that for me.
Thanks for the great list of questions to keep in mind as I work on my own stories.
Margot–Our characters have to pull their own weight, don’t they? Good for you for ditching the one who wasn’t!
Stephen–I like to see room for a sequel, too. I love reading series, though.
Bluestocking–It’s awful, isn’t it? I usually give up on a book then.
Terry–Lucky that your daughter knew where to go! Not knowing where to park is so frustrating, especially in a city. I end up going around and around the block, watching out for the many 1-way streets and the kamikaze pedestrians we have in Charlotte…
And…good point! After we *try* to think how a reader might view our book, it’s a great idea to either pass it along to a beta reader or use tricks like printing the doc to see some of the places we need to fix.
Don’t think I’ll ever have to worry about too much exposition!
Stupid characters bug me in books and in movies.
And parking! There needs to be an app for that.
For me, as a reader, I HATE when books build up a relationship that MIGHT be developing with two characters and at the end of the book, have that relationship not happen. Don’t build that up then!!
For me, as a writer, I try to make sure I can read as a reader by taking a few week break from a story or book I’m writing and go back to it after I’ve had the chance to separate from it mentally. Plus, reading books in the genre I have just finished writing helps my perspective as well (only do this after I’m done though).
It bugs me when characters are suddenly re-introduced and I have to pause to try and remember who they are again. Sometimes I wish, in books with a lot of characters, that there was a list in the front with their names and a brief description, kind of like what they do in plays.
Awesome list here, as always, and definitely something to refer back to during both the writing and revision processes!
Alex–Yes! A parking app. We need one!
Nicole–That’s frustrating, for sure. I’d think they either need to indicate that the relationship is beginning or that it *will* begin for the next book in the series. Taking a break from a book is a great way to see it with fresh eyes. I try to read my genre in between books (like you do), although I can read a different subgenre while I write cozies.
Barbara–Oh, me too! There has to be an explanation that makes *sense* why a formerly rational character would do something like that. Makes me give up on a book.
Laura–Agatha Christie used to write in a cast of characters at the beginning of her books and I loved it!
Sharon–Thanks for coming by! Yes, it’s so true–the readers’ opinions are really all that matters.
Maryann–That *is* frustrating. And I think it’s even more frustrating with ebooks because it’s tougher to flip back and figure out who the characters are.
“Everything was so complicated—and it wrapped up a little too neatly.”
My biggest pet peeve!
I also like little reminders about who a character is. It doesn’t take much, but it smooths out the reading considerably. And I don’t like having to work hard when I read.
Great list. GREAT post. Thanks!
As a reader rather than a writer I couldn’t agree more. Especially the name thing.