When a reader picks up a novel, they want to be entertained.
(Face it: in the world we're living in, we all need a bit of escapism.)
How do you keep the reader entertained? You make your story interesting. Yes, it kind of goes without saying, but if you're bored writing the words, then your reader is going to be bored while reading them.
Of course, the literary fiction novel isn't going to pack as much punch as the thriller, but the conscious reader knows what he/she expects when reading in a genre. It's up to the writer to know the rules and expectations and conventions set forth based on the readership (this is especially true for Indie authors, who are operating without the guidance of an editor). It's okay to break the rules, but you have to know them first. Break too many rules and the story may become something unrecognizable (which could be a good thing or a disaster--that's up for the audience to decide).
Compelling characters. Intriguing settings. Striking images. An engaging plot.
Know the reader's expectations, then do your best to exceed them.
If the reader can close the cover of your novel satisfied with the hours he or she spent with your characters in their world, then you've succeeded (and that, my friends, is no small feat).
Be Brilliant!
~Katie~
