It's thrilling when someone who doesn't know me decides to give my books a try.
Everyone's reading time is limited, and thus extremely valuable, so we all want to make sure we can sink into a book and enjoy every minute of that story.
I think many of us do what Alex Sokoloff described in her post, The Central Action of a Story, on the Murderati blog.
Ms. Sokoloff says she does a "read-and-discard" to find a book she wants to finish reading. If she likes the first couple of chapters, she needs to know where the plot is headed if she's going to keep reading.
She says, "So much of storytelling is about you, the author, reassuring your reader or audience that you know what you’re doing, so they can relax and let you drive."
This requires a certain amount of trust between the author and the reader. If it's an author I've read before, we've already established a relationship of sorts, so there's a fairly high amount of trust involved. This means I can lean the seat back, and even unbuckle the seat belt, knowing we'll get where we're supposed to, and I'll be happy with her driving skills along the way.
With an author that I'm reading for the first time, it's a bit like taking a ride with someone who's just gotten their learner's permit. I'm debating if I really want to do this, nervously trying to figure out whether to take that leap of faith.
I typically make up my mind after reading the back cover, the first line, and maybe even the first couple of pages. Even after going through this pre-drive checklist, I've still been disappointed on occasion, but so far there haven't been any fiery crashes, although a wheel has flown off once in a while.
Still, the author is promising a certain kind of story in those first few chapters, and the reader has certain expectations, which hopefully are going to be met during what is essentially a cross-country road trip.
How often have you seen this movie blurb: "Joe Schmo is a car thief/cat burglar/petty shoplifter who is ready to retire, but he is pulled into ONE. LAST. SCORE."
Yeah, it's been done about a zillion times, but you never hear anybody say, "I've already seen that. I don't want to see it again." Moviegoers like that scenario, so you'll see it get made a zillion times more.
There is a certain expectation of where that plot will go, based on implicit promises made at the beginning, even if the viewer can't predict what will happen during the heist. But if all of a sudden zombies jumped out and devoured the protagonist's brains while he's cracking open a safe. . . well, the writer has pretty much lost their driving license, right?
Whenever I read a review of a book that has gotten a low ranking, it's generally because the reader feels it didn't live up to their expectations. This could be because of misleading back cover copy, or from a plot thread that was left dangling or even unexplored. Readers like to be surprised, but not in a way that makes them feel foolish, or angry, for agreeing to let you drive them around in circles without a map for hours on end.
I highly recommend you read Ms. Sokoloff's entire post. She has really great information on having a PLAN that readers can, and will, follow during your thrilling car race of a story.
Next thing you know, you'll be on readers' auto-buy list. I'm hoping to be on that list one day too.
What makes you decide to read a new author? What makes you put someone on your auto-buy list?
I read a new author mostly for a familiar and favorite theme. Amnesia theme? I'll give it a try. LOL Or a regency highwayman. :) I'm also a bit of a read and discard reader who surrounds myself with a pile of books and browses the beginnings until I find the one. Auto-buys are about 60% repeat authors. I kept lowering the number because theme really is huge. I think reading the same author has actually gone down a bit with the increased trend of sequels. I want to, but can't commit my time to sequels these days!
This is great stuff to think about during revision (my current mindset of the moment) and I'm mulling over how the PLAN is similar to clarifying the character's goal. More thinking to be done. LOL!
Posted by: Melissa | March 30, 2012 at 04:47 PM
Melissa, that's intriguing -- that it's the theme that gets you to try someone new. (And thank you for giving my Regency highwayman a try!) I think I get caught up in the author's voice, and if they make me forget I'm "just looking", then I have to get the book. :)
I only have a couple auto-buy authors, and it's actually partly because of the number of sequels. LOL I like being immersed in certain worlds, I guess, and seeing all my "friends" again.
And now I want to go read. LOL I know I've got something good on the Nook. And probably somebody new too!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | March 30, 2012 at 10:50 PM
I have a number of auto-buy authors for a range of genres. In each case I have simply fallen in love with the author's universe and characters and admire the writing style ... or voice. In order of discovery: Robin Hobb, Sophie Kinsella, Catherine Anderson, Robyn Carr, Elizabeth Lowell,.......Donna Cummings.
I'm always on the lookout to add to the list so frequently choose a new author to try.
I follow recommendations or personal knowledge from blogs. Just occasionally I will browse a book site and a title or cover will catch my eye and make me look further. If there is a prologue then I will read it to get a glimpse of the author's universe and voice. If still interested I will take it further, investigating the author's web site, back list, reader ratings, and downloading a sample before buying the book.
If there is a lesson here it would be that an indie author, with no publisher to handle the marketing, MUST have an eye catching title and cover. There are so many indies that its impossible to look at all of them and I tend to stick to Amazon's top 100 lists or 'most popular' lists. Price is also important and the début novel in particular needs to be attractively priced to get people to try it. As sales rise and good reviews and ratings mount, then the price can be increased.
How are your sales coming along Donna?
Might be an idea to include sales figures on your site, next to the covers.
If people see the books selling like hot cakes, they may want a taste!
Posted by: Quantum | March 31, 2012 at 04:02 AM
Q, you're such a sweetie! Thanks for including me in such an amazing group. :)
Your discovery method sounds very similar to mine. I love that there are so many avenues available via the web, including author websites, Goodreads (which has reader recommendations), and of course Twitter, and Facebook. I can easily get an idea of the author's voice and the story, and if I'm hooked, I have to add them to the TBR pile!
I wish my sales were in the hot cake range, but at the moment they're a little cooler than that. LOL I'm getting some lovely reviews, and have been gaining some fans, so I hope they'll be looking forward to the next thing I publish. Which of course I am in the process of finishing!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | March 31, 2012 at 09:29 AM