| Today I want to discuss the elements of a | | | | away. It will give you a direction to work in, and |
| bestseller. Obviously, not all bestsellers can be | | | | not only will that give your story momentum, it |
| considered great literature, but what most of | | | | will keep you writing. |
| them have is a story that keeps you hooked and | | | | Probably the most important component of a |
| wanting to read more. The way they accomplish | | | | bestseller is believable characters. Not all best |
| this is by keeping the story moving. It's important | | | | sellers are well written, but they do have a |
| to keep the reader in the action, and that's | | | | magical way of connecting in an intimate, personal |
| exactly what you'll notice when you're reading a | | | | level with the audience. This is accomplished |
| bestseller. | | | | through characters that the reader can relate to. |
| Let's take, for example, the Twilight series. | | | | The author Peter Rubie, once wrote that "the |
| Whether you love them or hate them, you have | | | | story is not about what happens, but the |
| to admit that Stephenie Meyer is pretty good at | | | | character to whom it happens." You might have a |
| keeping the reader caught up in the story. She | | | | good plot, but if the reader doesn't care about |
| throws in little bits of suspense here and there to | | | | the character it happens to, your have nothing. |
| keep the reader hooked. And it works. Even | | | | Make your characters feel like real people. Give |
| though nothing too bad ever happens to any of | | | | them thoughts and feelings and flaws. Make them |
| the major characters, there is always the threat | | | | people that your readers will like and understand. |
| of something happening to them that looms over | | | | Use your story as a way for your audience to |
| the story, keeping the plot moving. That's what | | | | get to know your characters gradually. If you put |
| you want to do in your story. | | | | everything you know about a character right in |
| Keep in mind, though, that your readers trust | | | | the beginning, a reader is going to wonder: "why |
| you, and it might not be the best idea to keep | | | | should I care about this character, anyway?" |
| foreshadowing action without ever letting it occur. | | | | Think about it this way - when you make a |
| This can become frustrating for your readers | | | | friend, you don't find out everything about them |
| after awhile. So plan some kind of action for your | | | | right away. Little pieces of their lives unfold |
| story, and write towards it. I once heard | | | | naturally over time as you get to know them. It |
| someone say that you should always be writing | | | | works this way with characters, too. |
| toward your climax. So it might be a good idea to | | | | Happy writing! |
| figure out what your climax is going to be right | | | | |