So I felt inclined to post a rant because Woodcrest is pissing me off more than usual. Over the last...eight months I've been writing the series I paid attention to what the readers were saying and progressively dumbed down the story because a lot of you just weren't 'getting it'. I just hit rock bottom the other day when someone asked 'What drug was Audrey given'? (paraphrased). Okay folks, the drug 'Miratran', which I'm not going to explain here, has been the central theme of the series for at least three books, and across all three series. The chapter before this one literally outlined what it was, how it worked, and what the side effects were. I couldn't have made it any more clear if I'd had it manufactured and force fed to half of you.
For the last few days I strongly considered rebooting Woodcrest and posting it somewhere else like I did with Angela's Legacy, but that wouldn't be fair to everyone who has followed the story so far. Instead I've decided to simply stop caring what the commenters are saying. I'm going back to the complex storylines I abandoned and if you don't get it, tough. My anger here is rooted in the fact that I put a lot of work into this series and giving the readers what they want and this is what I get. Dropping numbers and readers missing the entire plot even though I basically put it on a billboard and spank them with it. Also, as far as the most recent comment on chapter 3? Abuse isn't okay, whether you leave marks or not. Holy. Fuck.
Rant over.
Comments
Don't dumb things down.
If 100 people think it is great, and one person doesn't get it, dumbing it down isn't fair to the quiet 100.
Very often, when I see someone complain about something that I happen to like in a story, I will reply by saying that I happened to like that part. More people need to do that. They need to cast their votes so that the story doesn't end up pandering to the squeaky wheels.
What if I wrote a comment on a horror story, complaining that it's too dark?
By all means stick to the original plot/plan
There are any number of stories here that I give a quick scan, and determine if they align with what I would like to read, then drop them if they don't. I did more than scan your stories, and would love to read them as -you- intend. I don't think many of us think this is a communal writing exercise, and I'd rather run to catch up with you instead of being spoon fed.
My $0.02. Adjust for inflation or exchange rates as required.
Steve
Back when
Back when I was a kid I would watch a movie and didn't get parts of it. Later as I grew older I figured out what parts of the movie that didn't make sense now did.
The problem with 'dumbing' down a story, movie or whatnot can drive off those that look to be challenged. By this, a mystery novel forces you to think about how it progresses. An action movie doesn't really require a lot of thought but many can find all the plot holes that couldn't have happened.
I look at TV shows the same way. Disney, 'dumbs' down its own shows to such a level that its borders on the archane. Look at how people fawned over 'Lost'. I'm not one of them looking for 'hidden' items or gems. I like to be entertained, but not on that level and if I need to know something more I'll look at it again later. I'm not one for playing 'find the hidden meanings'. I have better uses for my time.
When a reader asks a question that you thought was not needed, show them the part of where in the story or how its alluded. To many just 'google' something nowadays not exercising their cerebral cortex that allows them to think on their own. Its far easier to just 'google' an answer that someone else put up even if the answer is wrong but they will take it for its word because hey "Google" is never wrong. Twisted, perverted, ambiguous but...never wrong.
Then there are those that don't like any forms of abuse; physical or mental. I can kinda get that, but then they must never really read. Why? Because most stories dating back to when the original Grimm's tales are dark and hideous. Just like Hans Christian Anderson and others. The must have really been abused themselves to write such darkness. But then what would Disney have if they couldn't disnify it?
Then there are the ones who say they read the story, but apparently their mind couldn't absorb what they were reading. They read the words but nothing penetrated that cerebral cortex's fortified walls of ... well I'll leave that for others to interpret.
Some say we need to target our reading audience. Not my fault when someone wanders into the minefield unprepared.
My next story will be about Dick showing Jane where Sally put a wet Spot in his pants then upstreamed the video.
People making comments can be quite destructive
People making comments can be quite destructive. Their intentions may be absolutely positive and pure, but they can ruin your creative flow by getting hung up on unimportant details and by inventing absurd baseless theories about what they mistakenly think is happening.
You are the expert. You are the source. Treat people's comments as purely random. It's great that people care enough to comment, but one negative comment can outweigh a dozen positive ones. Even when the negative comment is completely baseless and off the mark.
You have to -- at least internally -- tell them all to eff off. Don't reply to stupid comments and messages. It's a waste of your time, and only encourages them to continue to throw snares around your legs.
Hugs,
Kaleigh Way
Dumbing down
Dumbing down is not worth it, nobody picks up an Agatha Christie book and expects it to read like Enid Blyton, so why should they expect you to change?