Ready set go...

OK, I ws having this discussion with some friends not too long ago. Shouldn't a thriller be thrilling? Shouldn't every word have a purpose? One of my friends that I like says no. You can't have action every word. I agree with that statement, but I also think that when you're writing a book, every word needs to have some kind of purpose.

Here are some of the purposes that words/scenes in novels should have.

1. Show the reader who the character is and how he feels.
2. Advance the plot.
3. Foreshadow some future event in the plot.

You can't just impart information. If you're going to impart information, you need to write non-fiction. If the scene doesn't have a purpose, Cut it... Just that simple.