How Do You Write a Page Turner?

These days, everyone is competing for our eyeballs. Admittedly, it sounds a little creepy. But it’s true—eyeballs have never been so sought after. Just imagine teams of scheming psychologists and technologists brainstorming at long, shiny conference tables about capturing our eyeballs for profit. They know our eyes are fickle, easily distracted, and vulnerable to manipulation. From over one hundred social media platforms to online news and television—broadcast networks, cable channels, and streaming services—to books, it’s amazing that our eyes aren’t googly-eyeing out of their sockets.

So, let’s say you want to write an unputdownable book when eyeballs are such a hot commodity and so easily distracted. How do you do it? What ensures that your book will not end up in the DNF pile? DNF = Did Not Finish. Most readers don’t feel obligated to slog through a book they’re not connecting with. They might give it ten pages. Some sadistic suckers might give it fifty. Poor writing, uninteresting plot, offensive content, or simply not connecting with the characters can lead to the dreaded DNF. This is awfully close to the dreaded DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)—perhaps apt if a reader sets your book aside to die.

In an effort to prevent readers from DNFing your book, let’s think about what keeps them turning pages. Before we dive in, I’ll say there are exceptions to the rules we’ll discuss, including books written by or about celebrities, true crime books, and humorous books. Readers will keep reading if a book is about a famous person they admire, about a gruesome true crime, or something side-splittingly funny. Combine all three, and you have an international bestseller.

But what if your book doesn’t qualify as one of these exceptions?

First, you need a hook—a compelling question, an interesting conundrum, or a conflict. Why is a hook so critical? Because as a writer, you have one chance to invite your readers on an adventure, one chance to make them converts, one chance to give them a reason to care about your story.

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” – 1984 by George Orwell.

In this example from Orwell, we know that something is wrong. Something is very wrong, and we want to find out what it is.

Once you’ve hooked your readers, how do you keep them turning the pages? They need to care about the characters, especially the protagonist (main character). Characters should be real, relatable, and worth rooting for. Consider these two examples. A shy librarian is dismissed by everyone until she cracks a code in an old book that solves a decades-old mystery. Or a young lawyer who wants to fight corruption but discovers his own father is part of the system he’s trying to take down. These stories would potentially pull us in and keep us rooting for the librarian and the lawyer.

Once readers care about your character(s), keep raising the stakes. Every scene should increase tension, whether it’s physical danger, emotional stakes, or an ethical dilemma. Ask yourself: What’s the worst that could happen right now? Then, make it happen—but in a way the reader didn’t expect.

Pacing is another critical element. This is the rhythm and speed of your story, dictating how quickly or slowly events unfold. A well-paced book alternates between fast, intense moments and slower, reflective scenes, creating a natural ebb and flow that keeps readers engaged. If it’s too intense without a reprieve, this can lead to reader burnout. If it’s too slow and reflective, readers might skip scenes or entire sections. Every scene should have a purpose. If a scene doesn’t advance the plot, deepen character development, or create tension, consider cutting it.

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Last but not least, you need a strong finish. I’m partial to endings that leave a mark and keep readers thinking about your book for days, even weeks. I call this a book hangover. Maybe your story ends with a twist or isn’t completely resolved and invites readers to fill in the blank. Or perhaps your protagonist experiences such a transformation that they’re hardly recognizable. Whatever you cook up for the ending, leave your readers wanting more of you. More of your writing.

Write that page-turner! Write a book that allows readers to reclaim their eyeballs and settle on your words, your story. Write a story so engaging they’re not even tempted to look away and scroll on their phone. In a world of shiny, happy influencers making everyone feel FOMO, people need our stories to remember who they are. Make sure you write it in a way that keeps people turning until the very last page.