Every author's goal is to write a "page-turner"--the kind of book (or script) that people feel compelled to keep reading, even when they're tired or they should be doing something else. What are the qualities of a work like that? I think there are five, which I'll cover over the next few posts.
The first is to create a character they will care about. We will identify with your characters if they want something or fear losing something we also desire or fear losing. For instance, we can all relate to things like the fear of dying, the desire for love, or the suspense of waiting to hear whether or not we got the job we want. Characters with feelings we share capture our interest immediately.
This doesn't mean they have to be nice or admirable, although of course it's fine if they are. I usually cite the example of "The Godfather." The first time we see him, the occasion is his daughter's wedding and he's a proud father--a feeling many can identify with. A local man comes to him asking for justice for his own daughter, who was raped but whose attackers got off. The Godfather says he will help him--again, a quality we can identify with (if not with the exact nature of the help).
We also identify with a character whose flaws we share, so revealing one of your protagonist's vulnerabilities early on is a good strategy, especially if he or she is otherwise heroic or admirable.
In novels, one way to help create this bond is to write in the first person. When someone addresses us directly we immediately feel more involved than when that person is being described.
Next post: Your opening.
(There are lots of useful writing tips in my book, 'Your Writing Coach,' available from Amazon and other online and offline book sellers. Also check into my online mentoring program--see www.jurgenwolff.com.)
