What are your essential requirements for a good story?

Just a reminder that this site is concerned solely with fiction and we really don't want discussions in regard to real life parenting techniques. Thanks.

I need continuity! By that I don't mean make sure your characters keep the same name through out the story - Richard can't suddenly become Steve in the fourth paragraph - or the family that was clearly living in an apartment in chapter one can't inexplicably be living in a house two chapters later - although those things are important. When I say continuity I mean that I want the author to remain true to the fictional universe they created. The writer can do what ever they please, ridiculous plots, heavy handed treatment, unrealistic relationships because it's fiction and a writer needs to write for their own enjoyment. The choices we have in the library are so many and varied that if I don't like what I'm reading I can always move on to the next story - no harm done. When the writer isn't happy they stop writing - got to write to please yourself. But please be consistent in your universe so that nothing takes place that jars me back to reality and essentially drives me away from the story I'm following. Example, if dad's established goal is to teach his wife responsibility in disciplining their offspring because she's been terribly negligent during his prolonged absence, perhaps he will spank both wife and teenage daughter. But you've (the author) established he wants daughter to see mom as an authority figure. So you can't end your story by having mom and daughter spanked side by side. Given the well-established "MacGuffin" of the story it makes no sense to reduce the mom to a state of servitude along side the daughter. So author do what you want but if I've taken the time to be pulled into your fictional world please be true to your own world.

Since I mentioned that I like to write "outrageous" spankings, i.e. completely ridiculous, over-the-top spankings ...

One thing I attempt to do is write the *spanker* appropriately. Why does he/she spank so severely? In most cases, I think I've successfully made the spanker "unlikeable" in the cases where the spankings could be considered "abusive". My intent is to make a point that the spanker is going "over the line", and I think that's a legitimate point to make, even if my ultimate intent is "arousal".