Punch and virtue.

Hi, hotshots

Something I have to remind myself-

writing is not about punch, punch, punch. That leaves the reader dazed and confused (just like a real set of punches would do). It's not pleasant to read.
Writing is where you show what leads to the punch, and what the punch causes.
Anticipation seems to play a big part in it. Make the reader a masochist, in a sense. Make them want a punch, crave it, but don't let them get bored.
Get the reader on your side!

What's the fun of a book where all that happens is big crashing scenes where noting is explained and its all action and no reflection? The reader needs to care. Give the person being punched an identity.

Like...Lolly Andersen, for example, could be a name you use. Give her a personality, faults galore, and give her one virtue that means your reader will always side with her.

I wrote a short story which was never finished about a character called Cal. He was angry all the time, violent, blunt and extremely temperamental. I made him the epitome of teenage rage, sarcasm and all. But that means he was never basically never sorry for himself. He didn't whinge. I gave him a solid backbone and for that I love him.

Your character can be as flawed as you wish. He can be like Cal. A total, utter screw-up. It doesn't matter so long as s/he is interesting to read about.

That's my theory, anyway.

So:

1) No punching the reader without an explanation or context. Give them time to breath in between the blows.
2) Your characters are not there to be perfect. Perfect characters will never win your reader's heart simply because your reader is not perfect.