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A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
— Proverbs 22:3a NLT
During the review of your first draft, strive to find and minimize those things that may cause the audience to not finish reading.
Above all, don’t give up!
What measures do you take to minimize the risk of readers not finishing your novel?
Tbh I publish my first draft. I don’t redraft. That’s probably one of the reasons I have occasional typos and not an extensive readership
I appreciate your candor, Robert, and thanks for contributing to the discussion. As I share more Proverbs for Christian writers, you’ll see patterns of writing to please God while striving to entertain, inform, and inspire readers. Edits help to accomplish those patterns while minimizing potential compromises.
To finish a first draft, I have to have the right motivation. I started a novella/novel earlier this year but abandoned it because I was writing for the wrong reason. I need to remember my audience of One, and whatever God chooses to do with my story beyond that, so be it.
Well said, Priscilla. I’ve got one like you described gathering dust on my shelf, too.
Good points and song, Grant, thank you!
I know I’m probably in the minority, but I don’t concentrate on the reader, rather so much as working to deliver a solid story/draft that works for me. If I’m happy with the book, I put it out there. I know some people will like it, and others won’t. As long as I like it, that’s what matters to me. I stopped writing for markets years ago and am much happier.
P.S., great song, Grant!
Thanks, Wrenn. To some extent, most writers do as you’ve described, some more than others. People-pleasing is a thankless task that leaves everyone dissatisfied. In contrast, knowledge of readers’ expectations pertaining to a specific genre gives writers a benchmark that serves as a goal by which to measure if a book is ready to publish. With KDP and other easy-to-publish outlets, we’ve all seen too many novels come to market that could have benefited from better editing, character development, and plotting. With that said, doing what will keep you happy and writing matters, and I’m so glad you found that balance.
Absolutely, Grant. Telling the story an author wants vs, catering to trends doesn’t excuse skipping over quality content and proper editing. I probably should have been clearer about that, LOL!
I read between the lines. Thanks for being you!
Thanks for the pep talk! :)
I haven’t published a novel yet, so I don’t think I’m qualified to answer this. But I’m working on something at the moment and making sure I give readers a reason to turn the page.
When I’m reading on the iPad Kindle app, I often highlight in one color an author’s ‘setup’ for the scene’s page-turning climax. When I come across the ‘narrative drive’ that sends the reader to the next scene, I highlight it in another color. It’s fun and informative to flip through a Kindle book. In hindsight, you can see how top fiction writers consistently and yet subtly set up and then send readers from scene to scene. Thanks, KC, for adding to the discussion!
Geez. I obsess over clean and engaging writing. I’m very careful writing and revising my first draft. I send it to my critique partner one chapter at a time. Once I’ve addressed her comments, I do another polish of that chapter. Then I revise the whole thing. After that, it’s on to editing, then the final polish. It’s not in shape by then, I have to hope it found the wrong reader and isn’t just something inherently wrong with the concept or my abilities.
I long ago accepted not every story will appeal to every reader, and that’s helped me not agonize over things too much once the work is published. I was never able to write for that “one ideal reader” like the advice says to do. I write the idea that God gives me and hope I’ve shaped it into what He wanted.
I’ll be thinking about this today. Thanks, Grant.
You’re welcome, Christina. I’m always amazed at what I find after letting copy set for a day or two. You may recall my two rules.
Rule #1: There are no rules.
Rule #2: Don’t forget rule #1.
That’s my way of encouraging writers to adopt and adapt what works for them, aligning efforts with the goal of providing a quality reading experience.
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