What do YOU like to see in a story?

[GreenStudio]

I'm heavy on characters that feel real. As long as I like the characters, I can excuse most of anything.

 

[DarkCrinkle]

Mind f*ck plot twist. Something that keeps me on the edge with every chapter.... To the point of I can't stop reading.

 

[TheNonexistentOne]

So, I'm coming up on my 6th year anniversary as both a writer, and I'm feeling a bit... introspective.

Up until very recently, I've been of the firm opinion that:

1. I am a fantasy writer, and I both enjoy and write well in that genre.
2. I write the stories that I want to write. Reader opinion is nice and very welcome, but I'm the one that makes the core decisions.
3. Romance and all those heavy feelings are something I suck at writing, and I was improving too slow to seriously consider adding it in.

However, recent stories, each with a new challenge against which I could sharpen my skills, has made me realize these points aren't as "set in stone" as I would have liked to believe. I'm good at fantasy, yes. But I've branched out a few times, and they were all welcomed (and loved) by my readers. Also, I've gotten pretty good at romance. (not to flex too much, but someone once told me they couldn't identify my gender from the smut scene I wrote. huge praise for me)

SO!

With just under 2 months until my sixth-year anniversary coming up, I'm gonna take a look at my style, my previous works, and what I like. There's just one piece of the formula missing. What do YOU like to see in a story?

Feel free to say literally anything you like. This is, at its heart, a reader survey. I'll also be asking the same questions in the RR forums, to gauge both sides. Feel free to share whatever you want. Anything goes, but expect occasional questions if I feel like I gotta clarify something o/

TL;DR - I've been writing for almost six years, and I want to hear what you like in a story. Anything goes!

What I like in a story...
Originality... Character depths... World-Building... Atmosphere (I love dark settings, hehe)... I don't care if it has a happy ending or sad ending.... Multiple povs... Grotesque scenes... Romance (done right)...

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Passionate characters that are willing to be corrected by other characters for their actions or beliefs.

 

[Makimaam]

- A story with a satisfying ending that brings everything together. I don’t enjoy those “add more chapters” stories that never end.
- Characters worth following. Romance with actual chemistry.
- A mystery with plot twists that make sense and don’t leave me rolling my eyes.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

Passionate characters that are willing to be corrected by other characters for their actions or beliefs.

a vote for *characters*...

Mind f*ck plot twist. Something that keeps me on the edge with every chapter.... To the point of I can't stop reading.

a vote for *plot*...

on another site, we've had the "plot vs characters" arguments many times.
I mean you need both, but...
its hard to say one is more important.

maybe technically I sometimes lean more towards character, especially with a straightforward plot.
but I don't want to read a great thrilling intricate plot, with cartoon characters either.