Chat Between Chapters: What’s most important in a book for you: the plot, the characters, or the writing style?

For this discussion post, we joining the Tell Me Something Tuesday challenge run by Jen at That’s What I’m Talking About. Here’s the topic for this week.  What’s most important in a book for you: the plot, the characters, or the writing style?

 Julie:

Ooh yes this is a great question. I’m mostly about the plot. I get bored, and distracted, busy life and all that. I want to read something exciting and fun – so give me a good, action-packed, memorable plot.

But yes, I also really care about the characters. Or, I want to care. So if the characters are flat, boring, not relatable, and annoying? I’m out.

 

 

Lynn:

Can I say all three? I’m saying all three. But in this order:

• PLOT
• CHARACTERS
• WRITING

Plot does drive my need to read. Which is why I mostly stick with fiction. I get enough reality that I have little to no interest in non-fiction. Plus the lack of over-arcing story to keep my attention.

I also need to connect with characters or I don’t care enough to keep reading. Give me a sarcastic, eye-rolling hero or heroine and I’m in.

Writing does contribute to both plot and characters. I do love those authors like Michael Chabon and James Wade who can describe scenes so vividly that I feel like I’m in the scene. But then there is that writing that drones on and on and on. The sentences that last for PAGES. I am out. Or it will take me months to finish if I’m kind of interested.

 

What about you?

 

 

We are also linking up our discussion posts with the 2023 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight!

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