What you want vs. what *they* want

[zevie]

Who wears the pants - the readers or you?

Obviously, it's got to always be something you want to see happen, or it's going to feel forced, but is there something to be said for giving your readers what they want?

I switched genres years ago to a romance fic from a drama/comedy, because I was asked. I don't regret it cause romance is fun too, lol, but I have to wonder about it.

And, while on this topic, do you ever find yourself completely bowled-over by something the characters decide to do? I created a detailed outline for the end of my story, and I tried to write the ending out and they just flipped out on me. They clearly have more control over the events of the fics than me, lol.

[fairlane]

I definately take into consideration any suggestions the readers might have, a lot of them have made me think about where I'm going with the story and what needs to be included.

There are limits of course, if someone suggested "Hey why don't you make Tim fall in love!" then - no, I'm not writing a romance and it's not going to happen.
Its more suggestions like "I hope that Tim realises what a jerk he's being to Curly (eg)" and I'll think - yeah, he probably should. I really like getting those sort of suggestions, where its just on certain elements of the theme I'm already writing.

As for the characters getting out of hand - all the time lol.

[Tensleep]

Well, I'd hope we're all wearing pants or leg garmets of some form...

Let's see. I lean more towards what Fairlane said. I will take suggestions and consider them, but if they just won't work or they just seem way out there, I'm not going to use it. If it's something that makes sense, then ya, I'm going to steal it and use it to my heart's content!

I am guilty of favoring stories that get more feedback or so I find. I didn't notice it while I was doing it, but you have to admit, you like to update the ones that get you the most comments. Which makes no sense with my recent updates, but hey. Ignore the person babbling away here.

[fairlane]

Following on a little from what Tensleep said about comments, I also tend to focus on the areas of the story that people are enjoying. There are certain themes that I've gotten good feedback on, and I enjoy writing them, so I write some more on it and so on (possibly to the point of overkill lol).

I know asking for reviews is probably looked down on somewhat, but I will sometimes say at the end of the chapter "What do you think of xyz?" usually its an area I think is weak, and I've gotten some really helpful feedback that way which I always take into account.

[EmilineHarris]

For the most part (I've actually gone back and looked at the reviews for my stories), I don't have too many people giving suggestions... Just a lot of "UPDATE NOW" and "OMG! You better update soon!"

In all honesty, I'm not sure if I would use suggestions if they were given. After all, it is my story and I want to write what I want to write... I suppose, though, that it could/would depend on who was giving the suggestion. For instance, if Mars or Artemis reviewed a story and thought a certain event would make it better, I'd probably do my best to work it in somehow!! LOL! Or, if I wanted advice on a particular plot point or interaction between characters, I'd put it in an author's note (like Fairlane mentioned) to get input from the readers.

Overall, though, I would say that I definitely wear the pants when it comes to writing my stories!

[anotherillusion]

I haven't really received any real suggestions, I did have a reviewer point out a line that didn't fit which I immediately edited, as I had questioned that line anyway.
I pretty much know where I am going with my stories but I would probably consider an suggestion, if I thought it was good and would fit. I know how my fics are going to end though already.
Another Illusion

[zickachik73]

First, Welcome, another illusion!

Second - I'm sort of in Emiline's boat - I've got the teenyficcers' reviews of "OMG!" and the like. If I solicit advice, I take it into account and if there's sound advice in a review, I'll take it into consideration as well. Beyond that, it's just my mind.

I don't write outlines and I don't have any clue where things are going until I'm well into the story or chapter.

I'm a "fly by the seat of my pants" writer rather than a wearer of the pants.

[zickachik73]

Thanks, mars.

I find it to be true more than I'd like - but it does make for a funny mental image.

[hahukumkonn]

I have had reviewers point out things that should have been obvious to me at the time, so it's worth being willing to dynamically alter your content.

I think fan-fiction and the ephemeral nature of the WWW (ooh, lookie me, I use big words! ) has created a dynamic which really is brand-new - the real-time interplay of author and reader.

It used to be, if there were errors in your fiction, you usually were stuck unless the publisher would alter the galleys and re-print the book for you. This wasn't exactly cheap and I only know of one case where it's been done - a slash writer in the Star Trek community didn't "conform" to informal guidelines when writing her book, and the editor didn't cut some bits out, and it got out. The publisher then reprinted the book as a second version, very quietly. The original version is very hard to get.

For a history of this, take a gander over at this review, or look at amazon.com's listing, or for a more sympathetic review, scroll down to Killing Time in this link.



Right, I got way off track there. My bad.

So, yeah. Publishers and stuff. Now, with the click of a mouse (and a tap of a keyboard) an author can fix a story right then and there - or more insidiously, can hurt his or her fans by completely removing a story. Sometimes this is warranted, sometimes not.

I've chopped fics before, but only after judging that I really wasn't getting anywhere. Otherwise I make corrections where I can; oftentimes I find myself touching up my chapters here and there - change a word there, add a word here, things like that. When I update I usually advise that such corrections have been made, so readers don't feel cheated.

[BlindedxxFalcon]

I don't wear the pants, and neiter do the readers! The characters do. No, seriously. They've taken over my conshence. (sorry...can't spell today.)

[Des]

My characters decide everything from POV to Plot.

I rarely ever have an outline for a story, so it just goes as I write it. I guess you could say that the characters tell what they want the reader to know when they want them to know it, and I'm just there to make sure it's spelled right.