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photo c. Grizelda Holderness.[/caption]
What sort of stories do you go for? What is it about a story that gets you hooked? Do leave a comment and say.
The right kind of story is inherently satisfying. It pleases us. For some people this is all about having a story that fits a genre shape – romance and happily ever after being a good example. There’s a feel good factor in a book that delivers in this way.
For some readers (I’ll admit I’m one) a predictable plot is the kiss of death, and a good story is all about being surprised and taken somewhere we wouldn’t have thought of. For some, realism trumps all, and that can mean unhappy endings where those are more realistic, being preferred outcomes.
Do you crave plot twists, and mysteries to unravel? There’s a satisfaction in seeing all the pieces fall neatly into place at the denouement. Or do you like a lingering sense of mystery, ambiguity and uncertainty? Do you feel cheated or rewarded by a really tidy ending to a novel?
Is it even about the plot? You might be more interested in the characters, the mood, the details. Maybe the story is a carrier for historical detail, or for jokes, and those come first while the tale itself is secondary.
There are so many different ways of approaching the idea of a novel, the shape of a story. There are so many things that can be more or less important, and of course not everyone will like all of it. One reader’s treasured find is another reader’s boring pap, or incomprehensible mess.
For me, the best story is character driven, surprising, and original. The author has a strong, engaging, individual sort of voice that I rapidly fall in love with and feel moved to trust. If I get that reaction to the writing style, I’ll happily follow it into any kind of story, any kind of ending. Sometimes I like it when the pieces fall into place, often I enjoy it more when a few things are left dangling and uncertain, but I like some sense of completion, not just a random stopping point.
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