While I was writing Interesting Enough: A Wren Island Novel, I had a ton of fun asking readers what they wanted to happen next—in real time (a writing style I call interactive serialized fiction).
Readers asked for lots of friendship. They wanted to see relationships between people who truly cared about each other—even if mistakes were made between them.
One reader specifically asked for a character who “thinks deeply about art and struggles to feel worthwhile.” Another asked for “the occasional odd character, because it’d be fun to see how Wren Islanders respond.”
Readers also asked for whales to be part of the story. One reader summed up the general sentiment by saying orcas would be the one Pacific Northwestern detail she couldn’t bear Wren Island to be without.
And readers asked for frequent references to delightful food. Wren Islanders stepped up with specific suggestions and recipes—many you’ll find mentioned in the novel and provided in A Wren Island Companion, a gift to people who subscribe to receive emails from Laura Joy Lloyd.
That’s right, favorite recipes from readers inspired food that’s actually mentioned in the novel!
On the micro level, readers influenced many of the book’s nitty-gritty details.
Several names in the book were chosen by readers. Like Amelia’s birds and Allison’s boat. Readers also chose books and audiobooks mentioned. During one memorable stormy night in the story, characters play board games readers said they would be playing under similar circumstances.
Readers also affected major, macro-level decisions made by characters. Let me share how without spoilers. You might not have finished reading the book yet!
At one point in the story, Allison finds herself in a situation where she needs to be rescued. So I asked readers what they’d like to happen next. A hunky guy swooping in? Combined efforts from other Wren Islanders? Help from someone entirely new?
Readers came up with extraordinarily creative ideas. They sent elaborate plot outlines. Suggested orcas might help in mysterious ways. Said maybe Allison was just dreaming and didn’t need rescuing at all.
At that time in the story, two eligible bachelors seemed to be interested in Allison. Some readers took a stand and wanted one or the other to rescue Allison and win her affections.
And one particular reader said she’d be fine with things going in any direction—any direction at all—as long as it was not Allison being rescued by a man.
Now that you know what Wren Islanders asked for, you’ll understand why Allison’s “rescue” goes the way it does.
Speaking of potential romance, readers also determined the pace and direction of Allison’s love life.
However …
Writing fiction is a lot like reading fiction, because the writer doesn’t always know what the characters will do or say next. Often, characters surprise writers. Challenge us. Correct us. Outright refuse to listen to us.
I tried. I knew readers wanted the romance to be drawn out. But unwilling to be kept from Allison any longer, one particular hero charted his own course.
Personally, I think his proclamation of love is one of the most memorable moments in the story. Wren Islanders have been known to cheer out loud while reading it.
Given these and other remarkable ways readers influenced Interesting Enough while I was writing it, inviting readers into the second Wren Island story was a no-brainer. Grateful for how readers have influenced that story already, I’m excited for them to continue influencing what happens on Wren.
Wren Islanders have a standing invitation to influence what happens next!
(Listen to an adaptation of this post on Episode #131 of the Read with Laura Joy podcast.)
