Question: What sort of stories do you like to read?

I don’t mean which genre, but the storytelling’s general style. Genre is like saying you like evergreen trees. But the general storytelling style is like saying you like prickly trees with berries, or needled with cones, glossy leaved, or total dullards, and so on…

So, what sort of stories do you like to read?

You’re hesitant. I’ll go first. I like a story that contains a puzzle. I’ll say puzzle rather than mystery, since mystery can have mystical connotations. I like to solve the puzzle along with the protagonist. It makes my brain work.

Now it’s your turn. But let’s take it slowly.

Do you like your story to be fast paced?

You’ve gotta keep reading, page-turning, page-turning, until you reach the end. But then you might experience disappointment because you’ve finished that read. Gotta get another.

Needless to say (oops, cliché, sorry) that’s the type of story that agents, booksellers and publishers like. It’s the most common type on the bookshelves today.

What if you prefer a slower pace?

You want to immerse yourself in the story’s world. You want to identify with the protagonist, feel what they’re feeling, rejoice with them, cry with them, and generally make friends with them. That story takes much longer to read, and at it’s end while you feel satisfied you might feel…estranged. Ah, but look, here’s a sequel.

Such stories do tend to have sequels. Indeed, some might form part of a very long series. Sequels and long series also satisfy the agents, booksellers and publishers.

Maybe you don’t like reading stories that form a series. You could find them annoying. Unable to find the next in the series, you’re in a quandary: do you drop the series and move on, or skip that one?

What if the stories you most enjoy are those that stand out, one of a kind?

A story that in its premise, its protagonist or setting, is unique. Surely that is a treasure, maybe ear-marked to be a classic, given time.

You’re wondering why all my questions.

It’s because of recent watches of videos on YouTube.

I confess, I am obsessed with YouTubers who offer writing advice to we struggling authors. But I’m noticing that advice tends to cluster around just a few issues. Prime of which is “How to make your story a fast-paced page-turner.”

Cos that’s what publishers want.

Publishers do. But do readers?

That’s all for this week. Thank you for reading. And as ever, I’m happy to receive your comments