What grips readers and keeps them reading?
As a reader, there are lots of reasons why I might get really into a book … but one big factor is unanswered questions.
One of the times I notice this most is when I’m reading to my kids at bedtime. The books they want aren’t necessarily of the greatest literary merit. (A shout-out, however, to the authors who are diligently churning out book after book featuring characters in under-12s football clubs … my kids love them!) Despite these stories’ somewhat formulaic nature, I’m often tempted to read just a few more pages to see what happens next.
Unanswered questions are a really powerful way to keep your readers hooked on your story.
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