What do you look for in a good story?

[Maine Finn]

Most of you guys read. At least I hope you do. What makes or breaks a story?

[EvanL]

Hot, wet, kinky, lesbian ***.

[Ratamacue]

Characters. 'Nuff said.

[Jack Mehoff]

Hot, wet, kinky, lesbian ***.

x2

[Maine Finn]

Characters. 'Nuff said.

Same here. My work revolves almost entirely around character development. I can have a good plot, description, and tone, but it's practically worthless without well-developed characters.

I've been reading quite a few good, so-so, and outright horrible stories over on FF.N, and one of the things that those newbies don't know how to do is develop their characters and stick with the way they have developed them. I gave a couple of reviews to a story and the author posted an author's note complaining how she was getting discouraged by the bad reviews. She's only been around the boards there for under a year.

Sorry. I'm rambling badly. I just get irritated when others butcher what could be a good story and then ignore the reviews that they ask for. It's annoying.

I need to go finish writing the next chapter in my story before I drive myself insane.

~Emily

[EvanL]

Characters. 'Nuff said.

Same here. My work revolves almost entirely around character development. I can have a good plot, description, and tone, but it's practically worthless without well-developed characters.

I've been reading quite a few good, so-so, and outright horrible stories over on FF.N, and one of the things that those newbies don't know how to do is develop their characters and stick with the way they have developed them. I gave a couple of reviews to a story and the author posted an author's note complaining how she was getting discouraged by the bad reviews. She's only been around the boards there for under a year.

Sorry. I'm rambling badly. I just get irritated when others butcher what could be a good story and then ignore the reviews that they ask for. It's annoying.

I need to go finish writing the next chapter in my story before I drive myself insane.

~Emily
http://thepantherslair.homestead.com/files/Mikestupidsmile.jpg
What?

[ibstolidude]

pictures - hopefully the ones that pop out of the book.

[FallenAngel]

Hot, wet, kinky, lesbian ***.

x2

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/145/PH0136.jpg

Yeah...I could go for that... ;)

[Midtown]

Jailbait sandwich

[born_to_kill]

vivid details

[memphiz]

Hot, wet, kinky, lesbian ***.
X4 :D add some J-E-L-L-O
and a monkey, and mabey some midgets that know kung fu and are Speacial Ops.

[Options465]

Most of you guys read. At least I hope you do. What makes or breaks a story?

The plot. It has to be as complex as possible with some good twists. Makes for fun reading!

[James]

Good characters,
Good dialog (that's real important to me...)
Solid plot
Good writing

I've read a few books where I thought "NO ONE talks like that."

[Lifeinasmallbox]

personally i love the documentary books with the pics in the middle...

edit

[molly747]

Good characters,
Good dialog (that's real important to me...)
Solid plot
Good writing

I've read a few books where I thought "NO ONE talks like that."

What he said.

Believability. I don't care if the story is about magical talking bears that live in the sky, I want to believe they're real and be transported into their world. I hate writers that don't even try to convince you to keep reading.

[Opening Batsman]

Yes, believability is a huge one. "And he stormed out from behind the tree as the entire machine gun section opened up on him from point blank. The bullets flew all around him as he shot each of the gunners with his handgun..." If the story goes like that I just stop reading it.

The style of writing is also important, even if the plot is good, if it isn't well written then it isn't worth reading (for an example of a well written story, refer to James' one in the short story sticky. It was all entirely believable and extremely realistic, without the sensationalisation (?) - friggen awesome for an ameture if you ask me! :) ).

If a story is too descriptive with too many adjective then I automatically hate it. Flowery things just don't go down well with me. You don't need every second word to be an adjective to properly paint the picture.

The characters have to be believable and life-like. I just love it when after reading the book for a few chapters you can sit back and think how similar a character is to a person you know in real life.