Engagement Assessment

My Wattpad-engagement assessment is based on what I have seen do well on Wattpad. ("do well" is "many readers are reading on and engaging".) Popular Wattpad books have comments on almost every single chapter.

What makes them so popular? Why are people reading on?

As I was critiquing and giving feedback on Wattpad books in the past, I noticed a nice little tendency with the first and second chapters. I've also seen this tendency in some traditionally published books which were well-received. So, it seems to be a thing :D Good news.

What's in a First and Second Chapter?

This next part below is to satisfy anyone who is curious about what the first few chapters seem to include, and what I use to critique and give feedback, and also to assess the engagement and see what can be done to improve.

Not a must to read this because it's a lot. Just thought you might like to know.

Note: These elements of the chapters are what I have observed and not some perfect, golden, utterly wonderful and spectacular solution to all your writing problems ever. It is A solution not THE solution. And not all books do it, but, but, BUT I have seen books with these tendencies do well.

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First chapter: Generally introduces the character, has some relatable or interesting thing about the character shown or told, gives a bit on what MC looks like (unless first person POV**), also gives a sense of the setting (where ARE we? What era?), and leaves readers wondering "what will happen to MC? What will they learn/find/feel/think?" Ends with just enough to make readers want to continue following the MC, but not too much that they feel like Ch.1 was a short story.

Second chapter: Generally introduces other characters if they weren't already introduced in Ch.1, gives a little more meat on the setting (what is this place like?), gives some more insight into MC's life (what is family life like if not introduced in Ch.1? what are the MC's closest or important-to-plot relationships like?), and introduces a hint of something exciting or some big change about to happen (it can also happen in Ch.1). The ending of the second chapter leaves on a cliffhanger or some type of intrigue. Usually leaving the reader wanting more without leaving them feeling so utterly confused because everything is too vague.

Two chapters as a whole: Generally a set up for what awesome, mysterious, crazy, or fantastical thing is going to happen in Ch.3 and beyond. We have a sense of the MC, the setting, relationships, and we have some interesting element. Now, we can get on to the juicy stuff. An issue sometimes seen in the first few chapters is a Two-chapter Short Story phenomenon where the first few chapters read like a short story with a nice beginning, middle, and end, and which will likely not make many readers feel like reading on. Sometimes the first chapter alone can have a Short Story phenomenon***.

**First person POV: What the MC looks like can be described without using the mirror method, or without having MC say in the narrative "I combed my pale hand through my blond hair and my brown eyes looked at the bright sun" (that's bad intentionally :P ). I've seen published books do it well. Maybe I'll talk about that in this book.

***Short Story phenomenon: I've seen a tendency in new writers whose first few chapters (or even first chapter alone) sound like a short story with a nice ending. Chapters beyond Ch.2 sound forced as if the author didn't expect to continue it. I know this tendency very well because I've done it, too. I've also figured out ways to get out of this. If I notice the Short Story phenomenon in your story, I can probably give you a few tips :)

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