Comments on: Hooking the Reader: An Introduction

By: Esther

Esther — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:25:48 +0000

I was just reading this Stein book, How to Grow a Novel, and of course I started with this chapter. Since I’m facing finally getting to begin my second book, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Thanks.

By: Hooking the Reader: Scene Two, Take Five « KayeDacus.com

Hooking the Reader: Scene Two, Take Five « KayeDacus.com — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:51:47 +0000

[...] your book that way. Readers don’t want the mundane, day-to-day stuff. As I quoted from Stein last week, readers are looking for something that they don’t usually experience—they want to be [...]

By: Amy Jane (Untangling Tales)

Amy Jane (Untangling Tales) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:15:03 +0000

I really should do a post of my own about this, but I haven’t found all the words for it yet.

Basically I’ve lately dragged my feet going into *any* novel (even one I’m sure I’ll like) and all I can guess is that I’m afraid they won’t pay off.

But back to what I want:
*clever dialogue
*tension and challenges that don’t get unrealistic (Anne MacCaffrey– aside from her consequence-less sex– drives me *nuts* with taking away absolutely every prop for the poor soul designated the MC that book. I’ve only been able to finish a couple of her books, despite their being engaging),
*a clean wrap-up
*women who are able to be strong without becoming like men. It takes more creativity, I think.

Tie-ins to folklore gain major points from me.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:02:47 +0000

What kind of experience do I hope for when I pick up a book? Let’s see…I want to completely lose myself in the world of the novel. I want to be completely engrossed, so absorbed by the characters, the time, and the action, that I can’t wait to dive back into the book. I want to love the story and the characters and the struggle so much that thinking about the book distracts me when I’m NOT reading…

By: PatriciaW

PatriciaW — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:32:59 +0000

I like to learn about people, places, and experiences with which I’m unfamiliar. At the same time, I like characters I can relate to because we have something in common. I like emotion, no matter what the genre. I want to feel the emotion of the story as opposed to being told about it. I want to experience the story.

Those comments relate to all genres but I particularly enjoy romance. In romance, I want to fall in love, hit a snag, and find my happily ever after through the characters.

When I can lose myself in the story, it’s a good read.

And for once I can say, “Go Big Red!” (Cornell made the NCAA basketball tournament.)

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:04:06 +0000

I want to be so completely swept into the story that I lose all track of time. And if it’s a mystery or suspense I don’t want to have it figured out in chapter 3. I’m reading Robin’s newest one right now and not breezing through it because I had it all figured out in chapter 3.

And I was on the winning side of one of those triple-overtime losses. SOOIIEEE PIG PIG PIG!!!

By: Kaye Dacus

Kaye Dacus — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:03:29 +0000

Can I just add . . . I love that picture of the goldfish and the hook. I’m thinking of making it my wallpaper on my computer at work!

By: Eileen Astels

Eileen Astels — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:19:04 +0000

I’m looking forward to this series, Kaye. It sounds great.

When I pick up a book, I want to basically fall into the story. I want the characters to seem real to me and I want to care about them and thus I gain an almost vested interest in where the story takes them and what happens along the way. I want to be rooting for the hero and heroine and praying for help for the villian to change his/her ways.

By: Georgiana Daniels

Georgiana Daniels — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:32:34 +0000

I want to get completely swept into another place, where the book becomes a real experience for me and I forget I’m reading. I want to be so impacted by the characters I continue to think about them after the book is finished. I want to be sorry the book has ended.

By: Kaye Dacus

Kaye Dacus — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:42:13 +0000

When I pick up a book to read—which isn’t very often any more—what I’m hoping for is a story that’s so engrossing it shuts off my internal editor. James Patterson’s When the Wind Blows is the last book that happened with, and it’s one I picked up on a whim, just to read something totally outside of my genre.