Keeping Your Readers Turning the Pages

The topic of this blog is one that has been a challenge for me and I’m sure for many others. How do you keep readers interested enough in your book to keep turning the pages.

When I wrote my first book, I tried to look at authors that kept me turning the pages of their books and reflected on the techniques they use. Three authors came to mind immediately. Harlan Coben, Stephen King and J.K. Rowling.

These three authors are very different and the techniques they use also differ quite a bit.

• Harlan Coben – If I had to sum up Coben’s page turning technique, I would say that short chapters are the key. He has this in common with James Patterson. His chapters are like potato chips. You try to stop, but you keep telling yourself “just one more” and before you know it, hours have passed and you’ve…