#writer and reader

[hundredacreletters]

i'm about to pop right into a few comfort ones

this is what i do when i can't afford therapy

[ardentlyadimiring]

Literally me (as in this is a genuine gif I made to show how down bad I am) today after all yalls sweet comments for the venture time travel fic and THE FACT I AM AN ART TEACHER YALL MANIFESTED CORRECTLY

[razieltwelve]

Expectations and Reader Reactions

There is a scenario that almost every writer has encountered at least once. They write something that is technically outstanding and eagerly release it to their readers only to be bombarded with rage, disappointment, and dismay. Now, there are several possible explanations for this, but today I’d like to focus on just one: reader expectations.

In many ways, a good story is like a promise between the writer and the reader. Throughout the early parts of the story, the writer makes a promise of sorts through the plot, characters, settings, and techniques they use to tell the story. For example, if the first half of a story is full of warmth, humour, and quirky but adorable characters, then the reader will most likely expect more of the same in the second half of the story.

And this is where problems can emerge.

Imagine that story. Now imagine that its second half is full of the sort of grim darkness that would terrify even lovers of post-apocalyptic fiction. Everyone dies horribly, the bad guys win, and there isn’t a joke in sight. Some writers would argue that the sudden change in tone and style makes for an exciting twist. I’m not one of them. Veering so dramatically from the first half of the story, the part that caught the reader’s attention in the first place, is not unlike breaking a promise, and the vast majority of readers are not going to like that. It’s very much a bait and switch, and people generally dislike bait and switches.

Think about how you would feel if you bought tickets to a movie after seeing a heartwarming trailer about puppies and kittens only for the movie to transform into a bloody horror film halfway through. Would you be happy? There are probably a few people who would be, but again the vast majority of people would be upset, angry, and dismayed.

Consider another scenario. You are reading a science fiction story in which the protagonist has an unswerving devotion to logic and reason. As the plot reaches its climax, the protagonist suddenly starts basing their decisions entirely on emotion, forgoing the reason and logic that got them so far in the first place. The odds are pretty good that you’ll be some combination of confused, angry, and dismayed.

A story can be written with exquisite technique, attention, and care and still be disliked by readers if it violates their expectations, particularly if those expectations were established by the story itself. Readers generally don’t like it when their slapstick comedies turn into horror stories, or when their horror stories turn into romantic comedies halfway through.

This isn’t to say that twists can’t happen. If a twist makes sense and is consistent with the internal logic of the story, then readers may very well accept it, even like it. For example, if the protagonist from the science fiction story example given above only started making decision based on emotion after their family was kidnapped and held to ransom by their enemies, then the sudden change in behaviour is plausible. The reader may even empathise and find the battle between logic and emotion fascinating.

Likewise, if sudden twists and turns have been established earlier in the story as being possible, then no one is going to mind when they happen later. For example, in the Game of Thrones series, backstabbing, treachery, and skulduggery have been commonplace right from the start, so people are not going to be surprised when they happen. Of course, not everyone will like the twists and turns (or see them coming), but they aren’t going to think of those twists and turns as a broken promise.

As readers work their way through a story, they will undoubtedly develop expectations. These expectations are often created relatively early on through the story’s plot, characters, settings, and techniques. Deviating too far from these expectations can leave readers feeling as though the writer has broken a promise about what sort of story the story would be, which can result in readers feeling angry, dismayed, and disappointed. That isn’t to say that twists and turns are impossible, but they need to be handled properly.

If you want to read more about my thoughts on writing, education, and other subjects, you can find those here.

I also write original fiction, which you can find here.

[chiomzin-writexa]

Indie authors deserve more love. Their stories are bold, fresh, and unique.

As a book lover, I’m here to celebrate and support indie voices.

Follow if you’re an indie author

or if you love discovering hidden gems in books.

[shadoweyness]

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.

Stephen King

I still have to read more of King’s books. Fantastic reads.

[saharasunset]

Bookish Things

What book has left a big mark on your life?

- The Secret Garden --Frances H. Burnett 

How you decide what book you’re gonna read next?

- How pretty the cover is. I work with colors/graphics all day long, so if it's bright enough or "busy" enough to catch my eye, I'll read a few chapters and then settle in for the story. 

How many books do you have on your bookshelf?

Erm, I'm not sure? Well over a couple hundred, 'cause I tend to collect books/series, just my Nancy Drew books alone add a nice hefty number to things. 

You prefer to read at day or at night?

- I like to read during the early morning or late night. It feels like I'm losing my day when I read any other time. 

Favorite quote by your favorite book and why?

"You own everything that has ever happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better." -Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird.

Because I write all over the genre spectrum, happy, fluffy inspirational, feel-good pieces, then dark, gothic, twisted fantasy pieces that reflect my life experiences and the people I've encountered. I've hesitated to add certain things to my writing, because I worried about offending people--Anne reminds me that while they may be half of the story, I'm the other half and I have a right to tell it. 

Favorite character and why?

-Mary Russell in Laurie R. King's Sherlock Holmes, Mary Russell books, because she's also a fantastic sleuth on her own and manages to keep up effortlessly with Holmes.

Have you ever felt like a book saved you?. If yes, which one and why?

-Sarah Dessen's "Just Listen" and Rainbow Rowell's "Fangirl" are tied right here, because I read both of them when I desperately needed something that I couldn't put into words and the stories just clicked in my head and my heart. They're not the most "perfect/best" books, but they are well-written and I enjoyed them very much. 

Paper Back or Hard Cover? 

Hardcover. Every time. Unless it's not available. Then phooey and fine, I'll take the softcover or the digital version, if it's cheaper. 

Why do you like to read?

- It keeps my imagination from going berserk. 

Have you ever thought of writing a book?

- Yes. I have written and self-published 3 novellas and 2 short story singles. I'm working on my first official, novel-length venture. My 4th novella, Trial by Earth is slated for release by the end of this month (June 2014), it's being edited right now. 

Favorite book? 

Ah, Top 3, if I may? 

The Truth Seeker by Dee Henderson. 

Beka Cooper by Tamora Pierce

A Lady of Quality by Frances H. Burnett