For the first time in years I didn't take my laptop away with me. Never, ever, again. I returned to over a thousand emails! Three hundred or so found their way into junk folders so I checked them first. I usually do it that way round cos then the ones that got misplaced are in the right folders when I get serious but hey, that many?
And then for the other seven hundred. Of course some of those were also rubbish but setting my spam filter higher just seems to syphon off more 'good' messages. A lot of the rest had to be filed in the right places so I could deal with them later, where deal is going to mean an awful lot of reading, critting, submission checking, but I'll get there eventually.
I say eventually cos going away hit one of my addictions; I'm a compulsive reader-for-the-fun-of-it. Make that a binge-reader? Once I start reading for time-out, as it were, I can't stop for quite a while, especially if I get hooked into a series - I have to read the lot. Which makes holidays rather dangerous as regards getting the more serious stuff done. I confess I also don't necessarily read 'worthy' fiction when it's for relaxation, although to be fair to self I stop reading pretty fast if something is actually badly written, usually in a few pages. But yes, I do read stuff that isn't the best literature, or the most 'significant', 'meaningful', 'instructive' etc.
So what's the lure? Characters, every time. Every book I finish has characters I can't walk away from, whether they're mainstream or genre. Simple as that.
Plots, you say? Yes books need plot. Indeed I suspect publishers put that top of their lists. And I do look for a plot to be credible. But characters come first. I can tolerate a plot that isn't entirely credible before I can tolerate a character that does something 'out of character'.
Plus it's character that pulls me back to reread a book once I already know how it ends. Wanting to know how a story ends will only hook me once. It won't drag me back for a another visit.
To sum up:
bad writing - instant turnoff
consistent plot - credibility is necessary, but it doesn't always have to be perfect.
but the development of vivid, credible characters are, for me, the root of all good story telling.
Are you the same? One easy check is to identify which books you return to again and again?
You are free to argue, but honestly I don't see myself changing that opinion any time soon.
Sugar Bowl
ReplyDeleteSugar Bowl Live
2018 Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl Live Stream
Sugar Bowl 2018
Sugar Bowl 2018 Live
Watch Sugar Bowl
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Allstate Sugar Bowl 2018
Alabama vs Clemson
Clemson vs Alabama
Sugar Bowl 2018
Sugar Bowl 2018 Live
Sugar Bowl 2018 Live Stream
Golden Globes
ReplyDeleteGolden Globes 2018
Golden Globes 2018 Live
Golden Globe
Golden Globe 2018
Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Awards 2018
Golden Globe
Golden Globe 2018
Golden Globes
Golden Globes 2018
Golden Globes 2018 Live
2018 Golden Globes
Golden Globes Award
Alabama vs Georgia
ReplyDeleteAlabama vs Georgia 2018
Alabama Georgia
Alabama vs Georgia live
Alabama vs Georgia live stream
Watch Alabama vs Georgia
Georgia vs Alabama
Georgia vs Alabama
Georgia vs Alabama 2018
Georgia Alabama
Georgia vs Alabama live
Georgia vs Alabama live stream
Watch Georgia vs Alabama
Alabama vs Georgia
ReplyDeleteAFC Championship
AFC Championship Live
AFC Championship 2018
AFC Championship Game
AFC Championship Game 2018
AFC Championship 2018 Live
AFC Championship Game Live
AFC Championship Game 2018 Live
2018 AFC Championship
NFC Championship
NFC Championship Live
NFC Championship 2018
NFC Championship Game
NFC Championship Game 2018
2018 NFC Championship
NFC Championship Live
NFC Championship 2018 Live
NFC Championship Game Live
NFC Championship Game 2018 Live
2018 NFC Championship Live
ReplyDeleteNFC Championship Game
NFC Championship Game 2018
NFC Championship Game Live
AFC Championship Game
AFC Championship Game 2018
AFC Championship Game Live
Patriots vs Jaguars
Jaguars vs Patriots
Jaguars vs Patriots
Patriots vs Jaguars
Vikings vs Eagles
Eagles vs Vikings
Eagles vs Vikings
Vikings vs Eagles
Grammys
ReplyDeleteGrammys Live
Grammys 2018
Grammys 2018 Live
Grammy 2018
2018 Grammys
Grammy Awards
Grammys
Grammys Live
Grammys 2018
Grammys Live
2018 Grammys
Grammys 2018 Live
Grammy 2018
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards 2018
Joshua vs Parker
ReplyDeleteJoshua vs Parker Live
Joshua vs Parker Live Stream
Joshua vs Parker Fight
Joshua vs Parker Boxing
Parker vs Joshua
Parker vs Joshua Live
Joshua vs Parker
Joshua vs Parker Live
Joshua vs Parker Fight
Parker vs Joshua
Parker vs Joshua Live
The Masters
ReplyDeleteThe Masters Live
Masters 2018
Masters 2018 Live
Masters Golf
Masters Tournament
Masters Live
The Masters
The Masters Live
Masters 2018
Masters 2018 Live
Masters Golf
Masters Golf Live
Masters
ReplyDeleteMasters Live
Masters Live Stream
The Masters
The Masters Live
Masters 2018
Masters 2018 Live
Masters 2018 Live Stream
Masters Golf
Masters Golf Live
Masters Tournament
WrestleMania 34
ReplyDeleteWrestleMania 34 Live
WWE WrestleMania 34
WWE WrestleMania 34 Live
WrestleMania 2018
WrestleMania 2018 Live
WrestleMania 34 Live Stream
WrestleMania 34
WrestleMania 34 Live
WrestleMania 34 Live Stream
WWE WrestleMania 34
WWE WrestleMania 34 Live
WrestleMania 2018
WrestleMania 2018 Live
NFL Draft
ReplyDeleteNFL Draft Live
NFL Draft 2018
NFL Draft 2018 Live
2018 NFL Draft
NFL Draft
NFL Draft Live
NFL Draft 2018
NFL Draft 2018 Live
Kentucky Derby Live
ReplyDeleteKentucky Derby 2018
Kentucky Derby 2018 Live
2018 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby Live
Kentucky Derby 2018
Kentucky Derby 2018 Live
2018 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
ReplyDeleteKentucky Derby Live
Kentucky Derby 2018
Kentucky Derby 2018 Live
Kentucky Derby Horses
Kentucky Derby
GGG vs Martirosyan
GGG vs Martirosyan Live
Martirosyan vs GGG
Golovkin vs Martirosyan
Golovkin vs Martirosyan Live
Martirosyan vs Golovkin
NBA Finals
ReplyDeleteNBA Finals Live
NBA Finals 2018
NBA Finals
NBA Finals Live
NBA Finals 2018
NBA Finals
NBA Finals 2018
NBA Finals
NBA Finals 2018
ReplyDeleteNBA Finals
NBA Finals Live
NBA Finals 2018
NBA Finals 2018 Live
2018 NBA Finals
NBA Finals
NBA Finals Live
NBA Finals 2018
NBA Finals
NBA Finals Live
NBA Finals 2018
NBA Finals
NBA Finals Live
NBA Finals 2018
NBA Finals 2018 Live
NBA Draft
ReplyDeleteNBA Draft Live
NBA Draft Live Stream
NBA Draft 2018
NBA Draft 2018 Live
NBA Draft Live Free
2018 NBA Draft
Watch NBA Draft
Watch NBA Draft 2018
British Open
ReplyDeleteBritish Open 2018
British Open
British Open Golf
British Open
British Open Golf
Open Championship
Open Championship 2018
The Open Championship
Open Championship Golf
PGA Championship
ReplyDeletePGA Championship Live
PGA Championship Live Stream
PGA Championship 2018
PGA Championship Golf
PGA Championship
PGA Championship Live
PGA Championship 2018
PGA Championship Golf
2018 PGA Championship
PGA Championship
ReplyDeletePGA Championship Live
PGA Championship Live Stream
PGA Championship 2018
PGA Championship Golf
PGA Championship
PGA Championship Live
PGA Championship 2018
PGA Championship 2018 Live
2018 PGA Championship
Canelo vs GGG
ReplyDeleteCanelo vs GGG Live
Canelo vs GGG Live Stream
Canelo vs GGG 2
Canelo vs GGG 2 Live Stream
GGG vs Canelo
GGG vs Canelo Live
GGG vs Canelo 2
GGG vs Canelo 2 Live
Canelo vs GGG Fight
Canelo vs GGG Boxing
Canelo GGG
Canelo GGG Live
Canelo GGG Fight
Canelo vs Golovkin
Canelo vs Golovkin Live
Canelo vs Golovkin Live Stream
Canelo vs Golovkin 2
Canelo vs Golovkin 2 Live
Golovkin vs Canelo
Golovkin vs Canelo Live
Golovkin vs Canelo 2
Golovkin vs Canelo 2 Live
Canelo vs Golovkin Fight
Canelo vs Golovkin Boxing
Canelo Golovkin
Canelo Golovkin Live
Canelo vs GGG
ReplyDeleteCanelo vs GGG 2
Canelo vs GGG Live
GGG vs Canelo
GGG vs Canelo 2
Canelo vs Golovkin
Canelo vs Golovkin Live
Golovkin vs Canelo
Canelo vs GGG
Canelo vs GGG 2
Canelo vs GGG Live
GGG vs Canelo
Canelo vs Golovkin
Golovkin vs Canelo
Canelo vs GGG
ReplyDeleteCanelo vs GGG 2
Canelo vs GGG Live
GGG vs Canelo
GGG vs Canelo 2
Canelo vs Golovkin
Canelo vs Golovkin Live
Golovkin vs Canelo
GGG vs Canelo
GGG vs Canelo 2
GGG vs Canelo Live
Canelo vs GGG
Canelo vs Golovkin
Golovkin vs Canelo
Canelo vs GGG
ReplyDeleteCanelo vs GGG 2
Canelo vs GGG Live
GGG vs Canelo
GGG vs Canelo 2
Canelo vs Golovkin
Canelo vs Golovkin Live
Golovkin vs Canelo
GGG vs Canelo
GGG vs Canelo 2
GGG vs Canelo Live
Canelo vs GGG
Canelo vs Golovkin
Golovkin vs Canelo
Joshua vs Povetkin
ReplyDeleteJoshua vs Povetkin Live
Joshua vs Povetkin Live Stream
Joshua v Povetkin
Joshua v Povetkin Live
Povetkin vs Joshua
Povetkin vs Joshua Live
Povetkin v Joshua
Joshua vs Povetkin
Joshua vs Povetkin Live
Joshua vs Povetkin Fight
Joshua v Povetkin
Povetkin vs Joshua
Oscars
ReplyDeleteOscars Live
Oscars 2019
Oscars 2019 Live
91st Oscars
Academy Awards
Oscar Awards
Oscars
Oscars Live
Oscars 2019
Oscars 2019 Live
Academy Awards
Oscar Awards
GGG vs Rolls
ReplyDeleteGGG vs Rolls Live
Rolls vs GGG
Golovkin vs Rolls
Golovkin vs Rolls Live
GGG vs Rolls Fight
GGG Rolls
Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes Live
Belmont Stakes 2019
Belmont Stakes 2019 Live
Belmont Stakes Race
Women's World Cup
ReplyDeleteWomen's World Cup 2019
Women's World Cup Live
Women's World Cup 2019 Live
USA vs Netherlands
Netherlands vs USA
United States vs Netherlands
USA vs Netherlands Live
Netherlands vs USA Live
United States vs Netherlands Live
Copa America Final
ReplyDeleteCopa America Final Live
Copa America Final
Copa America Final Live
Copa America Final
Brazil vs Peru
Such a Great article, Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteHoliday Things to Do Do
Christmas in Boston 2019
Dog Lovers Christmas t shirt
Best Selling Dog T Shirts
build dog t shirt
Holiday Things to Do
Christmas in Boston 2019
2019 idea-ology christmas
Best Selling Dog T Shirts
2019 Dollywood Christmas