My default suggestion for drawing in a reader is to start “en media res,” that is, in the middle of things. It tends to arouse curiosity; however, it isn’t the only way to draw in a reader. Writers like Tolkien, Irving, and Shakespeare prove the point. Other writers would say that the magic is in the title. In the online world, they’re probably right. The title and accompanying visual elements are essential to drawing in the reader.
The tried-and-true method for drawing in the reader, though, is the one of the compelling story. Without the story, the title and visual media don’t matter. Neither does the starting point or the richness of language. A story must have a certain quality that attracts the reader and keeps him or her entrenched in that story.
What comprises a compelling story?
A Strong Protagonist
Readers tend to be drawn to strong protagonists, especially ones with whom they can sympathize. If the protagonist is unlikable, readers must, at the very least, be able to understand why the characters acts in a particular manner and makes the decisions he or she does. A flat protagonist, i.e., one with no depth and, therefore, no interest, will eject most readers from the story.
A Conflict
Stories are the result of the protagonist facing a conflict, external or internal, and making choices in light of it. Will Frodo leave the Shire? What happens to a man who awakens after sleeping for a century? What choice do two star-crossed lovers make when their families are feuding with each other?
A Climax
Conflicts lead to a climax. The protagonist finally comes to a point in which he or she has to make a decision. The action preceding the climax builds toward that moment; everything that follows may still be emotionally intense, but they are part of the anti-climax. The action begins to fall away from that pivotal point.
A Conclusion
A conclusion doesn’t have to be nice and neat, but a final action or thought has to occur. In Elie Wiesel’s Night, the book ends with the narrator looking into the mirror and seeing a skeleton. Neat? No. Nice? Not at all. A conclusion? Yes. Romeo and Juliet commit suicide; Frodo destroys the ring but finds he can no longer inhabit the Shire; and Rip Van Winkle finds some acceptance with the children who enjoy his stories. Their final moments bring the tales to an end, but the scenes themselves remain enriched by an understanding of how life works and people operate.
How to draw in readers? Build on the framework of a compelling story, and readers won’t be able to stop themselves from being lured into the tale.
Image: Kevin Dooley (Creative Commons)