Is this good news or bad news?

Fredster · Nov 12, 2009

I got the following from someone reading the first three chapters of what I'm working on.

reader said:
I am captivated! I found myself skimming because I was so interested to see what was going to happen next. I then went back and read it again.

Obviously, I think "captivated" is good. But then...skimming? Even though it was to see what happens next, it almost implies "this part didn't hold me."

I can't decide if that's good or bad. Which is it?

(this may actually be because I'm evil, and break scenes at the height of tension to switch to a new one)

AlishaS · Nov 12, 2009

I swear everything is a double edged sword. I agree yes captivated is good, skimming not so good but going back and reading it again is good.

So I would go with your gut and think maybe a bit wasnt holding as much interest as it could... I think it also might depend on the person reading it ie: friend, beta, agent...

The Lonely One · Nov 12, 2009

The reader, it seems, is so taken by your story that he/she wants to have already read it, and know the whole plot--it's a page turner, in other words. I wouldn't read too much into the "skimming" thing, especially if they're re-reading those parts.

kaitlin008 · Nov 12, 2009

I think it sounds complimentary. They wanted to know what happened, so they skimmed on to see.
But then went back and read it thoroughly.
Willing to read it twice is always a compliment

Fredster · Nov 12, 2009

Well, I know she wasn't reading for a theme or symbolism.

(this is only amusing if you've seen my other thread floating around about being shallow)

Lady Ice · Nov 12, 2009

The operative part of that sentence is that they re-read the rest of it. That could mean that they were just impatient readers and want to read the other bits to understand why the exciting bit happened; or that they were uninterested by some of it and felt that they should go back and read it, in case they missed anything.

Scribhneoir · Nov 12, 2009

Fredster said:
IObviously, I think "captivated" is good. But then...skimming? Even though it was to see what happens next, it almost implies "this part didn't hold me."

I can't decide if that's good or bad. Which is it?

I think it's good.

I do this on occasion. The book is so good I can't read it fast enough, so I start flying through the words (skimming in effect) and then go back to more fully savor it. Sounds like your reader did the same thing.

Red-Green · Nov 12, 2009

Yes, as long as they're wanting to go back and read what they skimmed, I'd say it doesn't hurt you that they've skipped ahead. I had a reader who admitted to me that halfway through the book, she skipped to the end because she couldn't stand not knowing what happened. Then she went back and read the rest. Some readers are like that.

If a reader is skimming, because you're taking to long to move the plot, that's a different story. And if this is someone you know--beta, whatever--why not ask?

Libbie · Nov 12, 2009

Sounds like a good thing to me. Some people just read that way. I will admit that I, on occasion, have been so obsessed with a story that I've jumped ahead to the last chapter just to relieve some of the tension of wondering what will happen, read it, and then gone back to finish where I left off.

Wayne K · Nov 12, 2009

Why would someone skim past anything in a novel? It's not a credit card application, it's a book.

Straka · Nov 12, 2009

Depends on the reader. I've read books that held my attention (book crack ones) but I skimmed through them because the description was lacking and I wanted to get to the dialogue.

I suppose you'd want to ask them what they found captivating. It may just be their personal tastes. My fiance generally skips over fight scenes because she's not interested in how the MC swings his swords or turns the flank on the enemy.

Fredster · Nov 12, 2009

Redzilla said:
And if this is someone you know--beta, whatever--why not ask?

Oddly enough, this never occurred to me.

I did just what you suggested, and she said:

"It was not because it was dragging. I just really wanted to know what would happen next. I do that when I am enjoying a good read. I have to stop myself and slow down do I can savor the story! "

So I guess it IS good news.

bramble · Nov 12, 2009

I've been guilty of skimming, but only on Mr. King's books. He can get so caught up in the mundane detail that he'll cover several pages with information that is neither interesting nor germane to the story. I skip the fluff and try to get back to the meat.

I think it would be interesting to know where your reader skipped.

kaitie · Nov 12, 2009

Oh I do this. It has to be a darn good read and suspenseful to make me do it, which I don't come across often, but when I do find it, there are definitely moments that I find myself reading through the story as fast as I can to find out what happens.

I don't think this is a bad thing.

Caitlin Black · Nov 12, 2009

I know my sister reads the last page first for every book she touches.

She just wants to know how it ends.

Wordwrestler · Nov 12, 2009

I skim, too, especially when reading a thriller. I tend to skim when I'm close to the climax. I know it's coming and I just can't wait to see what happens next. Then I feel guilty about it afterward because I know the work that went into choosing just the right words--that I took no notice of.

If your story is a thriller, suspense, mystery, etc., I'd take it as a compliment for sure.

Stijn Hommes · Nov 13, 2009

As long as the reader went back to properly read what they previously skimmed, I don't think you've got a real problem. 2 positive comments, one negative that is fixed in the same sentence...

Fredster · Nov 13, 2009

bramble said:
I think it would be interesting to know where your reader skipped.

I didn't ask her, but I'd be willing to bet it was at the points where I changed POV. In the main arc, a father has discovered the son he thought was dead isn't, and he's racing to get to him. Every time it gets to some really high tension (ie, the phone call from the dead son gets cut off in the middle of a sentence, right after he tells his father bad people are coming for him), I switch scenes to another person's POV. They say to write the stuff you like to read, so I am.

ladyinpink · Nov 13, 2009

This is a hard question to answer because it depends entirely on the reader. Just because they skimmed, does not mean someone else would. That being said, you want every piece of your story to be interesting and move the plot forward. The ideal would be for the person to be excited to find out what happens next, but so intrigued in the current part that they can't bring themselves to skip ahead either. However, I know some people who read the last page of a book before they start reading or people who just don't enjoy suspense. They also peek at christmas presents before christmas. No fun! It's one person's opinion, don't stress out too heavily about it one way or the other. Overall though, I'd say its good, especially if they went back to read it a second time

DannySherbet · Nov 14, 2009

Wayne K said:
Why would someone skim past anything in a novel? It's not a credit card application, it's a book.

True, but you should never skim-read a credit card application. Something in the small-print will likely come back to bite your bottom.

I think the person in the OP should be taken at face value: they liked your writing and were being complimentary.

Wayne K · Nov 14, 2009

DannySherbet said:
True, but you should never skim-read a credit card application. Something in the small-print will likely come back to bite your bottom.

I think the person in the OP should be taken at face value: they liked your writing and were being complimentary.

Oh you're a newbie?

I have a strange sense of humor. I was kidding

auntybug · Nov 14, 2009

This is funny because I just heard this yesterday. I started lending out some books to a lady a few business over from me. She really got into the last one & said, "It was so good I caught myself skimming because I was so excited to see what happened next!"

I guess its good - they like it but I do find it odd. If it was that good - I wouldn't want to miss anything. I guess that's the whole go back & read it again part.

Fredster said:
(this may actually be because I'm evil, and break scenes at the height of tension to switch to a new one)

You are evil and that is good. I love books that do that. I'd say keep up the good work

Ken · Nov 14, 2009

... book I'm reading now was like that at the outset. The author forecast what was going to occur a bit too much, so I was tempted to skim to get to that part, but resisted ;-)

There's a balance, I believe, between giving readers enough to keep them interested and giving them too much to cause them to skim and not pay much attention to what you've written. If you think this may be the case with your own story, cut back on the clues and stick in a few dead ends or speed bumps.

And as others have mentioned above, it's debatable whether 'skimming' is bad. If readers are devouring your books who cares how they consume them: with slow chews or great big gulps ;-)

Is this good news or bad news?

Village idiot

Is swimming with creativity frogs

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Seeing newness all the time

Village idiot

Makes useful distinctions

Reinventing Myself

KoalaKoalaKoala!

Worst song played on ugliest guitar

Bored Fanatic

Village idiot

With great power comes

Wild one

Know what you write...

Village idiot

practical experience, FTW

Wellversed in procrastination.

teh other evil broad