This document provides advice for writing books that readers will enjoy. It discusses common reasons why readers dislike books, such as poorly developed characters, confusing narratives, and factual inaccuracies. It also outlines key elements that readers love in books, including a compelling hook, believable story and characters, strong writing style, and fulfilling the promises made to the reader. The document emphasizes the importance of editing one's work and continuing to practice writing.

1. Don’t Cheat Your Reader!
Writing Books Your
Readers Will Love
Larry K. & Lorna Collins

2. Reader’s Prayer
By Sylvia Sikeston, Editor
God grant us the courage to
not buy the Fiction we
cannot stomach,
The serenity to read the
Fiction we can,
And the wisdom to know the
difference.

3. Why We Hate Books
• Badly-drawn characters
• Spear carriers
• Too many characters
• Unclear protagonist
• Introducing key characters
too late in the story
• Confusing POV

4. POV – Point of View
• POV
– 1st
person
– 1st
shifting
– 3rd
person
– 3rd
shifting
– Omniscient
• Be consistent

5. Why We Hate Books – Part 2
• Bad writing
• Too wordy
• Not enough detail
• Poor plotting
• Unresolved endings
• Unresolved plotlines
• Impossible situations
• Cop-out endings

6. Why We Hate Books – Part 3
• Facts known only to the
author
• Historical inaccuracies
• Language errors
– Historical
– Moral
• Author intrusion
– “Telling” details instead of
“showing”
• Preaching

7. What We Love - Basics
1. A Great Hook
2. A Good Story
3. Compelling Characters
4. A Strong Voice
5. Excellent Writing

8. A Great Hook
• Decide where to start the
story:
– Before the beginning
– At the beginning
– In the middle
– At the end
• Name a character
• Give significant plot detail

9. A Great Hook – Part 2
• Give character an
attitude, a secret
• Create a question in the
reader’s mind
• Create a mood
• Create a great sentence,
paragraph or chapter
• Create an intriguing place

10. A Good Story
• Create believable situation
• The larger the event, the
more important your
characters
• Create conflicts between
characters
• Create internal conflict in
characters
• Increase conflict
throughout the story

11. A Good Story – Part 2
• Interrelate scenes and chapters
• Use suspense – withhold
information
• Keep your promises to the
reader
• Make the reader care about
the plot

12. A Good Story – Part 3
• Make it real, make it
believable, make it true
• Build to a climax
• Keep your theme consistent
• Write strong ending

13. Compelling Characters
• Make them believable and
authentic – to you and the reader
• Make them distinct and
identifiable by their actions and
sounds
• Give them clear emotions
• Complete their arcs
• Keep them consistent
• Make them memorable
• Make them necessary

14. Compelling Characters – Part 2
• Give each character an
agenda (What do they want?
Need?)
• How do they react to stress?
• Create fewer, not more
characters

15. Excellent Writing
• Give enough detail
• Don’t be too wordy
• Don’t start the next book
as the finish of this one
• Make sure the mechanics
(spelling, punctuation,
etc.) are perfect
• Use effective metaphors
and similes

16. Excellent Writing – Part 2
• Create “cliffhangers” for
chapter endings
• Give the story a spiritual or
moral dimension
• Write descriptions to
appeal to all the senses
• Use active verbs

17. Writing Basics
• Read, Read, Read
• Write, Write, Write
• Edit, Edit, Edit
• Keep at it!

18. Final Thoughts
“When you speak, your words
echo only across the room or
down the hall. But when you
write, your words echo down
the ages.”
Bud Gardner – Chicken Soup
for the Writer’s Soul