The book Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation has caught my attention. It may have been written as an analysis of marketing techniques that build brands, but as a crime fiction author, I’m taking note. I want my novels to fascinate readers, so I’m keeping this list on hand as I craft my next story. Here are the seven triggers that draw people in:

1. Lust: the anticipation of pleasure, which we crave
2. Mystique: unanswered questions, which intrigue us and makes us want to solve the puzzle
3. Alarm: the threat of negative consequences, which demands immediate response
4. Prestige: symbols of rank and respect, which earn us status and admiration
5. Power: command over people and things, which draws our focus
6. Vice: rebellion against rules, which tempts us toward “forbidden fruit”
7. Trust: certainty and reliability, to which we give our loyalty

What do you think? Aren’t these triggers also the building blocks of a great story and/or character?