What’s in a good book?

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I wrote down the things that I look for in a riveting, spell-binding, one-sitter book--books that are so captivating that you forget everything you had to do that day just to get to that last page. I made my own personal list of the things I look for in a good book. I also want to know what YOU look for in a good book, so feel free to voice your thoughts.


1. Engaging characters:

I don’t want to read a book about your everyday average person in there everyday average life. I want characters that go through conflict and hardships and show us through their actions what type of person they are. I also want characters that I can be emotionally attached to. If the protagonist gets into a bad car-accident and ends up in a hospital with a broken leg I should be able to feel sorry for her.

2. Action

There’s nothing like a good fighting-scene. Especially of the non-human variety. The details in a fight scene really pull me into a story.

3. Interesting premise:

I want to be able to get excited by a book just by reading the blurb on the back. The premise should captivate me, and I should get a feel for what the book is going to be about.

4. Good writing:

A book could be really interesting, but when there are mistakes everywhere it becomes a distraction and takes away from the story.

5. Characters with a weakness:

Perfect characters with nothing wrong with them are just not believable to me. They should at least have one weakness that humanizes them.

6. Something unique:

What makes this book different/ unique from all the others from its genre? Originality is a very important factor when I read a book; otherwise I feel like I’m just reading the same book over again.

7. Broken stereotypes:

I like things to be mixed up a bit. I don’t want to expect what’s going to happen, I want to be surprised. I like it when one of the bad guys is actually good, and one of the good guys is actually bad. So what do YOU look for in a good book?

**Please vote on the poll on the side of this post.

What’s in a good book?

Publishing Terms

A List of Publishing Terms

I made this list (yeah, another list) of all the publishing terms I know. Most of them are pretty basic. If you have anything to add to this list please feel free to comment.

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Advance- An advance payment that an author gets when a publisher decides to publish their work.


Agent - A person who will represent your book and helps you get it published. An author never pays an agent—they get a percentage of your book earnings.


Book Proposal- A proposal that an author sends to a publisher about their book. It usually includes the first few chapters and an outline.


Contract- A contract that basically says that the publisher has permission to publish the sell your book.


Copy Editing- Editing that focuses on grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.)


Copyright - Legal rights that an author’s work can not be reproduced without their consent.


Critique- A critique is an evaluation of your manuscript on plot, character, and overall structure.


Development Editor- The development author works with the author on revisions. They pay attention to pacing, plot, and structure.


Draft- An manuscript that is in the process of being edited until it becomes a final draft.


Editorial Board- A group of people who decide that they will publish your book. People from the sales and marketing department are a part of the editorial board.


Manuscript- Another word for your book. It’s also called MS, and MSS.


Proofreading - The final copy of your manuscript, that cleans up any noticeable errors before it get printed.


Query Letter- A letter that is sent to an agent asking for representation.


Revisions- Changes made to the manuscript, usually they are big changes.


Slush Pile- Manuscript that a publishing house receives that are unsolicited and not represented by an agent. Those books get put in a big pile of manuscripts called the slush pile.


Submissions- A manuscript sent by an agent to a publisher.

 
If one of these are wrong, or if you have anything to add please feel free to comment. :)


Happy writing,


Ezmirelda

Publishing Terms