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On Being a Writer and Encountering Angry Readers

Thorn Wilde

Entry posted by Thorn Wilde

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Neil Gaiman once wrote, in response to angry A Song of Ice and Fire fans demanding the next book in the series, 'George R. R. Martin is not your bitch.'

Much like getting attacked on Twitter, I think alienating readers is proof that you're doing something right, if that makes any sense. You've pushed someone's buttons, made them think or feel in some way, even if it was negative. I have alienated multiple readers because of artistic choices I have made, and the same artistic choices have kept many more on the edges of their seats. And that's fine. People don't have to read my books, they have every right in the world to put them down and go do something else. Lord knows I have. (Full disclosure: I find Lord of the Rings dreadfully boring and never made it past the third chapter.) Life is too short to read books you don't like. Some people didn't like all the swearing in The Jacob & Marcus Tales and stopped reading. Some people didn't like what I put my characters through in Nemesis. And I'm sure I've lost lots of readers who never said anything, simply put down the book, and moved on.

But then some readers become angry. They feel entitled to have the story move in the direction they wanted it to. They claim ownership of someone else's creative labours. I will happily receive constructive criticism of my work. And I love hearing and reading what people think of what I write. I think it's wonderful that we can have this kind of interaction, that you and I can communicate about the things we write. But no one has the right to dictate what I should write, just like I have no right to dictate anyone else's work. And it's all in the delivery; some people are just rude.

I firmly believe that art is a dialogue between artist and audience, but the artist still has final say.

The thing is, I don't write for you. I write for me, and I share it with you just in case you might like it. That, I think, is what most writers do, certainly most good ones. Often when I write, the story and the characters take me in a completely different direction from what I thought they would, and that creates richer stories for me to write. I will never compromise my artistic vision to make people like me. I write what I want, what the story wants, and if people like it, that's great. If they don't, they can stop reading. But don't yell at me for my story moving in a direction you didn't anticipate. For lack of a better phrase, that's a dick move.

So, dear reader, just to clarify: I am not your bitch.

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MichaelS36
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Hmmm, you sound rather like my husband.  Write your story, and write bravely he always says. 

 

If people have a story to tell, they should write it.

 

Well said.

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Thorn Wilde
6 hours ago, MichaelS36 said:

Hmmm, you sound rather like my husband.  Write your story, and write bravely he always says. 

 

If people have a story to tell, they should write it.

 

Well said.

 

Thank you. I think only you can tell the story you want to tell, you know?

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dughlas
8 hours ago, MichaelS36 said:

Hmmm, you sound rather like my husband.  Write your story, and write bravely he always says. 

 

If people have a story to tell, they should write it.

 

Well said.

... and he does, and does it well.

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Headstall

Well said, Thorn. I also write for myself, but there is an intimacy to posting a story on GA I suspect an author (or reader) doesn't experience otherwise. It has its pitfalls for sure, but I like it, especially how readers get so involved. I have learned a thick skin is sometimes necessary, but overall, I find the serial posting and feedback rewarding. Like you, I am no one's bitch... they can rant and rave all they want... but it won't make me change a thing about my characters or stories. That would infect the feeling of pride and satisfaction writing gives me. Cheers... Gary.... 

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Brayon
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"Write for an audience of one, [yourself]." - Metatron, scribe of God, Supernatural S11E20. While I like the serial posting style, after some experiences, I've decided only to publish when the story is complete. That way I know, it's been written, edited, re-written, edited again, and then polished with a proofread. Having readers leave you because you're not posting to their mindset of when it should be published is a blow to the ego, but you eventually get over it. But, I'll admit it hurts when it happens.

 

Frankly, I care too much about how my product is presented, which is why I go through several steps before posting my significant projects. If I didn't, I would say frak it and post everything, errors and all. I do with some as they are short scenes and practice pieces, kept in two collections labeled that they are RAW pieces, which I feel are good enough to showcase my writing style.

Edited by BHopper2
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Thorn Wilde
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1 hour ago, Headstall said:

Well said, Thorn. I also write for myself, but there is an intimacy to posting a story on GA I suspect an author (or reader) doesn't experience otherwise. It has its pitfalls for sure, but I like it, especially how readers get so involved. I have learned a thick skin is sometimes necessary, but overall, I find the serial posting and feedback rewarding. Like you, I am no one's bitch... they can rant and rave all they want... but it won't make me change a thing about my characters or stories. That would infect the feeling of pride and satisfaction writing gives me. Cheers... Gary.... 

 

Like I said, I enjoy interacting with readers, and art is definitely a dialogue between creator and consumer. I love that intimacy, as you describe it. Thick skin or no, however, sometimes you get a reader that's just too rude to gracefully ignore... :P 

 

2 minutes ago, BHopper2 said:

"Write for an audience of one, [yourself]." - Metatron, scribe of God, Supernatural S11E20. While I like the serial posting style, after some experiences, I've decided only to publish when the story is complete. That way I know, it's been written, edited, re-written, edited again, and then polished with a proofread. Having to readers leave you because you're not posting to their mindset of when it should be published is a blow to the ego, but you eventually get over it. But, I'll admit it hurts when it happens.

 

Frankly, I care too much about how my product is presented, which is why I go through several steps before posting my significant projects. If I didn't, I would say frak it and post everything, errors and all. I do with some as they are short scenes and practice pieces, kept in two collections labeled that they are RAW pieces, which I feel are good enough to showcase my writing style.

 

No such thing as caring too much. I'm also a bit of a perfectionist. After a lot of mishaps with unfinished stories being left unfinished for too long, I too have decided not to start posting a new story until it's finished. I want at least a decent full draft and a good portion of it edited before I start posting. I still have one story that I started posting before it was done, however, and so as not to leave my readers waiting too long, I'm continuing to post it, though I'm still several chapters ahead.

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Mikiesboy
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13 hours ago, Thorn Wilde said:

 

Thank you. I think only you can tell the story you want to tell, you know?

that's so true ... what we write is a part of us, just like a painter or sculpter's work is ... why else would we work so hard to make it right?  we could dash off anything .. but no, we write, we research, we discuss... we get up at stupid times to write or stay up too late.. whatever it is.  it means something...i am not into muses or 'this is my baby', but it is my work, my craft .. and yeah we should write bravely, we should use all the tools in our writer's tool box and we should put out the best thing we can .. i write because i love it .. not because i want money or fame ... because i have something to say while i am here on this planet .. just like most of us here do ... and that is a wonderful thing!!    i love the talk after a chapter goes out.. and i'll listen to what you think, but i will not change my work ...   lovely blog, Thorn!!  :D 

Edited by Mikiesboy
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Thorn Wilde
14 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

that's so true ... what we write is a part of us, just like a painter or sculpter's work is ... why else would we work so hard to make it right?  we could dash off anything .. but no, we write, we research, we discuss... we get up at stupid times to write or stay up too late.. whatever it is.  it means something...i am not into muses or 'this is my baby', but it is my work, my craft .. and yeah we should write bravely, we should use all the tools in our writer's tool box and we should put out the best thing we can .. i write because i love it .. not because i want money or fame ... because i have something to say while i am here on this planet .. just like most of us here do ... and that is a wonderful thing!!    i love the talk after a chapter goes out.. and i'll listen to what you think, but i will not change my work ...   lovely blog, Thorn!!  :D 

 

One hundred percent all of this. :hug:

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