Word for a story that keeps the reader's attention

Question

The word for a story or article that is keeping the reader's attention.

Example sentence:

I would like to rewrite this story to make it more ...

Gripping, enticing, tantalizing, compelling, fascinating, intriguing, riveting, spellbinding... Seriously, if you can't think of a word for this on your own, then you probably have no business rewriting the story. Consuming, enthralling, exciting, arresting, alluring, captivating, bewitching, enrapturing... The possibilities are myriad and seemingly endless. — Benjamin Harman, Jan 14 '16 at 14:03
@anemone I almost finished my answer with a page turner before I saw your link. I am voting to close it. :-) — , Jan 14 '16 at 14:06
@Rathony Oh well. I actually found that post by searching for page-turner in our posts. — anemone, Jan 14 '16 at 14:07

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

3

Compelling or engaging may convey the idea:

having a powerful and irresistible effect: a compelling drama.

The Free Dictionary

edited Jun 15 '20 at 07:40

Community

1

answered Jan 14 '16 at 13:54

Jacinto · Answer 2 · 2016-01-14T14:03:09.657

2

That is a gripping story. From the verb grip, defined in Merriam-Webster as:

2 : to hold the interest of strongly < a story that grips the reader >

So your example would read:

I would like to rewrite this story to make it more gripping.

edited Jan 14 '16 at 14:03

answered Jan 14 '16 at 13:54

Jacinto

10,189

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 14 '16 at 13:59

1

Fascinating

Fascinate:

attract the strong attention and interest of (someone).

answered Jan 14 '16 at 13:59

lesslazy

147

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 14 '16 at 14:15

1

Riveting

absolutely fascinating; enthralling

A page-turner (... to make it more of a page-turner).

a book so exciting or gripping that one is compelled to read it very rapidly.

enter link description here

answered Jan 14 '16 at 14:15

Ricky

20,450

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 14 '16 at 14:13

I suggest the word riveting.

If you are not familiar with the word rivet, a rivet is a metal fastener with a welder joins two pieces of steel together under extreme heat. The bond thus formed is designed to be permanent.

If your story keeps and holds your readers' attention, it fastens itself to the reader and won't let go! In other words, the story gets and keeps the audience's attention.

I would like to rewrite this story to make it more riveting.

Word for a story that keeps the reader's attention

5 Answers5