What makes you keep reading?

[emmagrant01]

A few days ago I asked what your fic-reading back buttons offenses are, and the response was kind of overwhelming. And they say LJ is dead, really?

But I felt bad about it because it kind of turned into a bit of a snark-fest of negativity, and that wasn't my intention at all. So now I want to try to ask another question. I'm very curious to see if this one will get a similarly enthusiastic response. :-P

What about a fic makes you want to keep reading? What are the things you see in those first few paragraphs that suck you in and make you think, "Oh, this is going to be good!"?

For me, it's a strong opening with good action or perfectly IC dialogue, where the author is showing (rather than telling) something happening that I haven't seen before and simply can't look away from. A really good fic throws me in the middle of an interesting situation from the get-go and gets me invested in the plot and in the characters immediately.

What about you?

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Comments

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

So what is it that will keep you interested after that first chapter?

[geneva2010.livejournal.com]

So many things. Long descriptions might put me off, but not necessarily. Humor or conversation, if well done, will draw me right in. Something that gives me a good idea of the main character or characters. I want to be present in the fic pretty early, but... I should really keep track of what it is that draws me in! I'm not sure. I didn't post in the other "bad" thread, but obviously if I find it hard to follow what is going on, or the writing is obviously bad I'll abandon ship!