I wanted to start off with my favourite term I have when describing books that I love. 'Oatmeal Books'
Its the type of book that stays with you. One that satisfies and keeps you going.
My Oatmeal Book is The Last Oracle by James Rollins.
It was my first book of his that I had ever read and good lord, did it stay with me. The prose, the thrilling plot and the ending! Touching, fulfilling but still left me wanting more. I've re-read it 15 times and each time, I love it more.
Now as a writer myself, all I want is to write an oatmeal book that someone would read, reread and recommend!
How do I accomplish that?
Well, I can only learn from my favourite OB's(oatmeal books) and after tireless research (aka reading for hours upon hours, how torturous!) I have discovered the common themes to getting a loved book with re-readability. They are: Characters, slowing burning and love.
Characters: Now you're thinking that's obvious! But making your characters believable, witty and lovable is essential for getting someone to think about the book even after they are done. We want readers knowing our characters inside and out. They are what drives the story so we need to CARE about them. You’d be surprised how many authors have an amazing story but don’t even try to make their characters more than a regular troupe.
The best OB’s make you imagine the characters lives after the events of the books.
Slow burn: Let the story come slowly. Let the characters fall in love slowly. Make that unknown bomb you want to drop last until the very last moment it can. Nothing is worse than getting the twist by page 10 and watching the characters stumble around with it. It’s ok to know where the book is going but a character having a secret and keeping it from everyone even the reader makes the book more delicious and oatmeal-y.
And finally! Love! You as a writer need to love the story you are writing. Or at least be in love with it by the end. I feel like I can tell when a writer wrote a sequel just because it was in their contract. To make a book that your readers will love, you should be equally in love with it as well. To quote Elizabeth Barrett Browning:
"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
Writing with love makes the reader feel the emotions come alive through the words. After all, if you didn’t cry writing the final scene where the hero sacrifices her life for the man she loved, why would your readers?
Comment with your favorite Oatmeal Books below!
Thank you for reading my very first blog post, I hope you come back for more!
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