: Re: Does every chapter have to "blow the reader away" so to speak? I amended some of my chapters so that they're more intriguing and engaging for my readers. But there's one particular chapter

Your beta reader feels the chapter isn't pulling its weight.

It's not about being blown away, it's about a chapter having a purpose and engaging the reader.

Because your reader has put it in these terms, my guess is that the other chapters also didn't really engage as part of a larger story. They had elements that the reader enjoyed a lot but didn't connect to the rest. Perhaps the first two chapters connected to the others but this last one doesn't. Or maybe it's a sign that your novel is all flash.

Either way, something isn't working. It would be nice if your reader could tell you exactly what the problem is, but s/he may not consciously know. "It's intriguing, but it doesn't blow me away" means it has potential but it's somehow not fitting in.

What you want is your reader to be blown away by the novel as a whole. The chapters work with each other towards this goal. While each individual chapter needs to be strong and purposeful, it's not a chapter's job to always blow the reader away.

Be sure to ask your other beta readers. This might be the preference of one person. But if the others say something similar, it's a sign.

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: As has been pointed out, there are no "rules" stopping you from having a sequel starting within the time frame of another book in the series. "The Horse and His Boy" takes

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: The given name I've been known by since High School is not the same as the name on my birth certificate or driver's license, but it is, like yours, a known nickname for my legal name.

: Re: Does every chapter have to "blow the reader away" so to speak? I amended some of my chapters so that they're more intriguing and engaging for my readers. But there's one particular chapter

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: How do I indicate that the next scene actually happens at the same time as the previous scene I'm currently working on a script for a college project and there's one part of the script that

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: As has been pointed out, there are no "rules" stopping you from having a sequel starting within the time frame of another book in the series. "The Horse and His Boy" takes

: The given name I've been known by since High School is not the same as the name on my birth certificate or driver's license, but it is, like yours, a known nickname for my legal name.

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