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As you may recall, last month I ran a Readers’ Preferences Survey that included nine questions about likes and dislikes when it comes to books and writing. Some of the questions gave options for answers, while others were completely open-ended. Your responses were truly amazing and with just under 100 of them, I’m I little overwhelmed! So, instead of sharing all the results at once, I’m breaking them up into two parts. Today, I’ll share your responses to the first five question, those with choices given. Then, sometime before the end of the year, I’ll take on the much more daunting task of sharing your very thoughtful responses to the four open-ended questions. Let’s get started!
Question #1
I asked this question because I’m a big fan of prologues and wanted to see how others felt. The overwhelming majority are either indifferent to prologues or are fans. Comments included one who finds prologues annoying, another who loves them, and still another who tends to forget them.
Question #2
This entire survey really came about because of my annoyance at yet another epilogue. I fall firmly in the minority of readers who can do without them. I was surprised to see just how many readers have a fondness for the epilogue. Many enjoy finding out what happens to the characters after the real story is over. One reader went as far as to say she appreciated how they made for a “neat and tidy” ending.
Question #3
The most surprising result for me on the question of quotation marks was just how many haven’t been aware of this trend. Several said they’d never encountered a book where the author didn’t use them, and a few other mentioned that since they primarily listen to audiobooks there would be no way of knowing. Still, the vast majority of readers found the lack of quotation marks distracting. Encouraging to writers who favor this trend, just over 25% or respondents have grown accustomed to reading dialogue without quotation marks.
Question #4
This question came to mind early this fall after reading two different books where I had to go back and reread long passages because sentences could take up an entire page. It was clear from the survey that readers really prefer writers to use the conventions of punctuation and grammar. Several pointed out that clarity of meaning IS the purpose of punctuation. Another reader expressed a special annoyance with misspelled words in a published book. Again, audiobook fans shared how this doesn’t affect their listening pleasure.
Question #5
Anyone who’s read my blog for long knows I rarely read series, so I was curious to see where readers of Novel Visits fall when it comes to series. Obviously, you’re bigger fans than I am, and the comments from you sometimes made me laugh. A couple different readers shared that they’re liking series less and less as they seem to be going “downhill.” Another shared that she felt like it had become a way for certain writers to “foist duds on us.” And perhaps my favorite response, “They are like candy or a drug to me…once I find one I like, I am hooked!!!”
Ha – you know where I fall on the Epilogues spectrum! Pretty much 100% opposite of the comment about the neat and tidy endings!
It’s interesting to see that the things that bother me don’t tend to bother most people….maybe I’m a super nit-picky reader?
I don’t think you’re super nit-picky. I think we all have likes and dislikes. Plus, I think ours are pretty similar, so we have to be right!
I was really curious to see where most feel fell for epilogues because I almost always love them so good to see so many others like them too. This was such a good survey!
Thanks, Renee. You definitely fall in the majority with epilogues. I’m the odd man out.
Interesting results! I tend to like epilogues that skip ahead in time and you can see where the characters are farther down the road, but I also books that kind of have an open ending and I can imagine for myself where the characters go!
It’s a tough call on epilogues. Occasionally, I like them, but usually not and they were what inspired me to do the survey in the first place. Thanks for taking part.
Interesting comments about audio books. While I don’t listen to them, doesn’t the narrator verbally insert quotation marks and proper punctuation? Otherwise, it would sound robotic and be as difficult to listen to as reading text that isn’t punctuated properly.
I think that was the very point the audiobook fans were making. A great narrator will make up for lack of quotation marks and poor punctuation or overly long paragraphs. That’s one of the reasons I admire truly wonderful narrators.
I love reading survey results – and this was such an interesting survey!
I don’t mind epilogues or prologues, but the lack of quotation marks and other punctuation drives me mad! I’m glad to see I’m in the majority there. Authors should take note.
I’d love it if an author or two who I follow on twitter and who follow me back were to pay attention, but….
Interesting result on the survey. I guess it seems to follow mostly what I put down. Sometimes epilogues can interest me more than prologues. I like to just jump into the story in the first chapter. The punctuation thing can be a bit distracting so I prefer just conventional usually. I look forward to part 2 of the result.
Thanks, Susan. 99 free form answers per question gives me a lot to look at and consider.
So much interesting information! I’m curious to know how much “distraction” we’ll put up with before dropping a book.As in, it has one of the factors you list but you start it anyway? Would not read a book if it had a prologue or epilogue? Or would you just ignore it? It’s easier to do than punctation issues, but I can’t remember if I ever DNFed a book because of quotation marks or punctuation. If it was great writing, I don’t think I would. So much to consider!