Hot opinion: suspense is overrated
Ok, so it seems that everyone loves suspense. Or everyone that isn't me. Sure I like mild suspense, but if the suspect is too great, I will put the book down. Or at least, I would earlier
I mean. Is it really suspense that makes or breaks a story?
What about character development? The character's world? The character's cheerful friends? The banter?
I think the key to writing isn't to try max out suspense, as I think many readers are like me. They don't really like suspense that much.
I would want the ending of the book or the series to last longer, as I dig seeing the characters happy
Everyone seems to tell everyone that one needs to keep suspense sky rocketing high to keep the reader turning the pages.
Well
There are other methods to make a reader turn the page:
- the fascination of the world
- to see more of the cherished banter
- hot springs
- just seeing the characters interact
On the other side
A book needs to not be boring. We do need to entertain the reader.
It is like a meal. It has the vegetables of plot, the meat of characters and the sauce of worldbuilding. On the top, one sprinkle the spice of suspense. Some wants near nothing, others wants so much that it greatly upsets their stomach for a whole day
I do think entertaining the reader is the most important function of a book and an entertained reader will turn the pages.