What makes a book good?

[Nightcrawler]

That's the question of the day. What makes a book good?

I've been doing a lot of research over the past few months on writing a novel, getting published etc. I have tons of ideas in my head, fairly strong writing skills, and the desire to get some of those ideas out to the world. So, I've been spending some time plotting out some book outlines and organizing some of these ideas and thoughts.

As I've been getting into that I ask the question of what makes a book good? Are character or place names really that important? Is the character development? Is the plot? It is the originality? I'm trying to get some opinions and decide if I'm really going to do this thing or not.

In your opinion, what makes a book good to you? What matters most? What doesn't matter as much? What do you like to see? What don't you like to see? What would make it a bad book?

[implicid]

I am currently writing a novel myself. It's the first that i'm seriousely thinking about finishing and actually getting published, but I often wondered about what exactly makes a good book?  :-?

Firstly, what kind of book do you wish to write?

You always want to write to your targeted audience. Thats why my novel, which is a fantasy fiction taking place in a completely different setting than this world, needs to be original with a solid plot with solid characters that has its own flow about it. I spent just months alone at night with a pair of headphones and some techno, brainstorming ideas for my story and when an element in my story seemed to familiar or unoriginal, I either pulled the plug on the idea altogether, or changed it enough to my satisfaction. When you write, new ideas will always come flying at you which will then alter your original idea. I found myself writing a scene over and over, getting a new idea further ahead in the story, and going back to the same earlier scene to change it yet again. If you have any kind of writing talent, you'll always know when the really goods ideas come.

Taking my self out of a writers standpoint and putting myself into the shoes of a reader, again if I were looking for fiction, I would want:

1) Entertainment (Meaning a good story with all the emotional aspects such as laughter with very entertaining scenarios or jokes, sadness with very unfortunete events that many people could relate to, and suspense to make me want to find out what happens next.)

2) Characters (Memorable characters, each unique with their own personalities and put into positions where the emotional value can truly shine.)

3)Originality (In modern times, originality seems to be harder and harder to achieve with so many movies, books, and games out there. My story started with inspiration from some movies and games, therefore, I believe they might be somewhat visible in my novel to some readers. This is frivilous though, because of my next point.)

4) THE MOST IMPORTANT,   yourself (If you can successfully take your ideas, build them upon eachother until you have created a story to your satisfaction, with characters that behave and react to your liking, and you are able to explain and describe so the reader may envision what you have written, then my friend, you have one hell of a fiction already.) Names of the characters and places are very IMPORTANT, but only to the degree of your satisfaction. Take my story for example,   I remember sitting at work one day, thinking of a suitable name for a hero character of mine. Suddenly the name Sorin hit me. He was perfect, name, personality, look, role, it seemed right, but later came Xenosaga EP.1. That name was used in one of its main characters and so I got a little frustrated. Thinking of my story, my hero Sorin was perfect. Therefore, the name was perfect and I don't care who or what is named Sorin because it's my own thought and preference that created this character. People are going to have to begin to like and understand the character just as I have and eventually, it won't matter because Sorin will be very much alive in their mind.

The best thing about writing your own novel is that it's yours, do as you will with it. Make it as complex or simple as you want it. Personally I was so inspired by J. R. Tolken, Tetsuya Takgashi, and many others, that I felt the need to create my own world so to speak which took alot of hard work and many months just to get a solid base for a story, but a book does not need this much intensive thought to be good.

With that being said, my main point is this.   I like to read books to discover others opinions, views, and even see through their eyes or their creative vision. If you can write a book that has 100% NC thought and put it in a way that I can follow what your trying to say or show me, then you have created a good book.

[Rpgfreak]

A lot depends on what kind of book you're writing and who is the public you want to write it for. To make an story stick and to make people want to keep reading I think you need a good main character (Or a group of main characters). And write the story in a way the reader can follow the thinking of the main character(s). So try to write it so that the reader can live the story itself. As if the reader is actually living the story.
Storyline is important to. Some stories choose to aim for a certain goal which is achieved at the end of the book. I myself prefer a book to be less linear. By making an unexpected change to the situation in the middle of the story, the story can be made a lot more interesting.

To answer your questions 1 by 1...:
To make a character interesting it has to have a name in which the reader can find himself. So naming is important. Having an name that fits the character helps the reader to imagine how the character would be if he was real.
Character development somewhat matters. But I think it should be limited to the points things really change for the characters and at the start of the story. I personally don't like a characters development to be described continuesly.
The plot is important. Without a plot nothing happens. The reader should be able to predict small bits of what is coming to give them the feeling that they know the character(s). But not to much.
Originality helps. But isn't required. I wouldn't focus to much on being completely original. Sequals mostly go on on the same things as in the first book. Still people keep reading them. But for your first book having something clearly trademarking it as your book can be a good thing.

It's hard to tell what in a book makes it a good book. I think for me it's the ability to see through the eyes of the main character is one of the biggest pro's in an book.
I think the main character is what matters most. And after that the plot.
In a book I like to see me being able to live the main characters life. Secondly I like turnover points in an story.
I dislike stories that keep on describing every detail continuesly. Some details need to be told. But never overdo it.

Having an story about something that speaks to the people can help to.

Well.. I'm not an person that reads a lot. But I hope that this helps. Good luck with your book!

[Nightcrawler]

Interesting point about trying too hard to be original as well as your mini story about character names. One thing I'm concerned about is I have TOO many ideas. All these ideas are in my head, but I'm sure if I actually write about them all, I will have an incoherent jumble that misses the mark.

I've been taking some time to try and write them down develop some characters and places, and plot arcs. I'm hoping that having broken it down into small blocks, I can then start to sift through my ideas and group things together. I think perhaps some ideas are better suited for a separate book versus other ideas. As time goes on a bit and I get more and more things on paper, I think something coherent that I can go with will be there.

But you know what? Many writers end up rewriting huge portions of their books anyway. A finished first draft is STILL nothing more than an organizational exercise to some degree depending on the writer. The great thing about writing though is that everybody has a fair shake. There's no rules to follow on how you have to write your book. If you need to rewrite it 10 times, you can. If you want to bang it out in 6 weeks, some people can do that to. 6 years? Some people can take that long as well. There's a number of ways of getting to the finish line. And what makes a good book is certainly open to interpretation. If the right agent or publisher reads your book and it's got what he/she are looking for, you've got a shot.

[Rpgfreak]

My approach to write an book would be completely different. Instead of having many ideas I would start with a main storyline. Something simple. Then think of a way to make it more interesting by thinking of an big change (Either by adding story after the main storyline and thus extending the main story, or by placing a big change in the middle of the storyline).

Maybe it`s an idea to start with a main storyline and try to put several of your ideas on that storyline? Would make it easier to keep the story together I think. Downside could be though that you`ll have to create characters afterwards that fit into the storyline.

[implicid]

I've been taking some time to try and write them down develop some characters and places, and plot arcs. I'm hoping that having broken it down into small blocks, I can then start to sift through my ideas and group things together. I think perhaps some ideas are better suited for a separate book versus other ideas. As time goes on a bit and I get more and more things on paper, I think something coherent that I can go with will be there.

The first question is what inspiration is wanting you to write a book? What general idea/struggle/objective would be fun and interesting to write about? It's not bad to have an ocean of ideas, although the brainstorming part might be more intense. Creating a few places and characters is all good, but again, think about the main idea(s). I had/have alot of ideas and somehow used to manage inserting an element into the story which would force me to go back and make changes as neccasary.

Maybe it`s an idea to start with a main storyline and try to put several of your ideas on that storyline? Would make it easier to keep the story together I think. Downside could be though that you`ll have to create characters afterwards that fit into the storyline.

True  I had a very frustrating time going this route with my characters/places. In my opinion, the best way is to start something simple with your ideas in mind and create a piece to your puzzle. Brainstorming and coming up with many pieces will eventually create the puzzle so you can then begin to solve it.

But you know what? Many writers end up rewriting huge portions of their books anyway. A finished first draft is STILL nothing more than an organizational exercise to some degree depending on the writer. The great thing about writing though is that everybody has a fair shake. There's no rules to follow on how you have to write your book. If you need to rewrite it 10 times, you can. If you want to bang it out in 6 weeks, some people can do that to. 6 years? Some people can take that long as well. There's a number of ways of getting to the finish line. And what makes a good book is certainly open to interpretation. If the right agent or publisher reads your book and it's got what he/she are looking for, you've got a shot.

Your already ahead of the game

[Nightcrawler]

That's the beauty of it. What works for one may not work for another and vice versa. I just have way to many ideas to do it like that. I'm letting characters, objects, events, and some plots, take shape first. Then I'll need to see what I have. See, I've been a creative person all my life, but I never really had much outlet for it. Now, that I'm finally going to let it all out, there's so many damn ideas in my head, I can't just pick one small plot and go with it.

So, what's working for me is as I said, creating related characters, objects, and places. Then I'm building on their background, history and potential relationships to other characters, objects, places. Small plot arcs take shape. You also see things come out that you want to happen to all these things. Once I've got those things established, the only thing missing is the central plot of this particular book. However, once you've created all the characters, places, and objects in a world, that's the bulk of the hard work. The book practically writes itself and you've got the foundation to take these characters, places, and object you've created and take them through several major plots which could span several books.

That's my take on things. I just need to get all these thoughts out of my head and organize them. It's like create the world and everything in it first, then you can fine tune what's going to happen in it. Each new thought or idea i get out opens the door and leads to several others. I really feel like it writes itself.

[implicid]

Hey NC, wish you the best of luck. I think it's time that I focus more on my book as well (been sitting on the back burner lately).  

Feel free to ask for help, feedback, or clearity if you ever get stuck, I know I had some hard spots in my story, which is why it sat so long.  

[GTranslator]

Hi Nightcrawler!

That's the question of the day. What makes a book good?

I've been doing a lot of research over the past few months on writing a novel, getting published etc. I have tons of ideas in my head, fairly strong writing skills, and the desire to get some of those ideas out to the world. So, I've been spending some time plotting out some book outlines and organizing some of these ideas and thoughts.

As I've been getting into that I ask the question of what makes a book good?

As I've been reading this question and the thread that evolved from it, I have to ask in return: What is "good"?

You don't have to answer me; but effectively, I have a funny feeling that you have many ideas in your head and desire to make a "good" book of all (?) of them.
I predict that that won't work!
From my own experience as a writer, when (some) ideas over time sort of work out to form a storyline, something that could resemble a plot, THEN you can sit down and write. You will then feel that what you write is right or close to right, and you won't be able or willing to write anything else. Chances are that what you come up with is going to be a "good" book (or short story, or whatever).

A lot depends on what kind of book you're writing and who is the public you want to write it for.

I think this is a very important aspect of the whole issue. Ask yourself in advance: What am I trying to achieve with my writing? Do I want to sell a lot of books, be a successful writer, and maybe even earn a living with my work some day?
If no, well, then go ahead and write just anything you like, without regard to "the market" or even "the reader." If yes, however, then first of all, read the books of as many successful authors as possible. You'll get the idea of what is a "good" book very quickly, I'm sure. And then, continue doing deeper research concerning the market. Try to figure out what sells and what doesn't.

The difficult thing is NOT going to be this intense period of doing research. The difficult thing is going to be to determine later how far you would like to go in creating your own fictional work, using your own ideas and writing your own language AND be compatible with the market. A tightrope walk, if you ask me!

A good starting point to see what works (on the market) and what works (for family and friends, and maybe a few more) is Miss Snark's blog. Just search for the keyword "crapometer" or "crap-o-meter". Miss Snark, a literary agent herself, not only comments on hooks and plot outlines in a very entertaining way but also provides heaps of decent insight into the literary market in the US.

Best wishes,
G. Translator