I read a book recently that didn’t allow the reader to connect with the main character AT ALL.

The story was amazing, one of a man recovering his sight twenty years after he suddenly went blind, but every time I read the book, I felt angry. It was as if the author was blocking me from getting to know the man whose story I was reading.

What’s sad is that the story was completely true, as well as miraculous. This could have been a great way to share his story, but the lack of character development and connection left me longing to throw the book in the recycling bin.

What could the author have done differently? Too much of the book lacked dialogue, and though that may work in some books, it definitely didn’t work in this one. It caused disconnect because I was being told everything that happened without been shown the character of the blind man as he navigated his dark world and then progressed into the light.

Yes, I read about his struggles, but without any of his dialogue, I had no idea what sort of person he was before, during, and after his experience with blindness. Using too much “tell” and not enough “show” left me, the reader, feeling like he wasn’t a dynamic character. Sure, he went through an experience, but did it really change him? Did he grow?

Toward the end of the book, the narrator said that he changed, but I didn’t see it through his eyes. Major, major disconnect. I feel like the writer or at least the editor should have made changes to address this.

So what can you do to ensure this doesn’t happen in your own book?

The simplest thing you can do is to add dialogue. You may think that’s impossible if you are just telling a personal story, but there are plenty of opportunities.

1. Tell me what you’re thinking. I mean, it’s your book, right? Why not tell me exactly what you were thinking in a certain situation. Include your feelings and instincts. Deep sharing like this will help connect the reader with your situation and allow them to see you develop dynamically.
2. Include important conversations that changed your way of thinking or dropped news in your lap that was life-changing. You certainly don’t need to include every conversations, but those that stand out as important in your journey will pull the reader into your world and help them experience what you did in that moment. Great for showing them how you developed as a character, especially when combined with tip #1.
3. Quote someone who was a major influence on your journey. Teachers, advisers, and mentors always throw out bits of wisdom that change us, whether we realize it at the time. Include the snippets that ring in your head years later to show the reader how you were influenced and let them feel like they are experiencing these life-changing words along with you.

Developing yourself (or the person you are writing about) the same way you would a fictional character will help you attract more readers because those who have already read your book will connect with you more. Then, if you do reach Amazon best-seller status, the way you wrote your story will help keep you there.