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Readers' consent
I was following up on some e-publishing wank last night (here if you're interested), and in the process ran across this really interesting article-about-an-article, on the idea of readers' consent. This is basically a theory that tries to explain why some plots work for some readers but not for others:
Source: Dear Author: The Reader and Consent (09/21/10)
This has happened with me, not only from a reading perspective, but from a writing one. I was shocked when, halfway through Fleeting, about half the audience became outraged at a turn of events that was essential to moving forward the plot of the story. When I wrote that installment, I was aware that it might be a surprise to some readers (or maybe even a bit unbelievable), but I was nowhere near prepared to handle the visceral reaction quite a few reviewers had to it. I'd touched a nerve in a *huge* way, and it was obvious I'd brought those readers out of the story, perhaps so much so that they'd stop reading it entirely. This bothered me, a lot, but it also kinda fascinated me - and now this idea of readers needing to consent - or, at least, buy - to the actions presented in the plot help me make sense of it, and learn from it.
I'd definitely urge you guys to read the entire article (yes, it's posted at a romance blog, but it's not limited to romantic or sexual interactions). Has this ever happened to you? Does it explain why there are popular stories/series/movies that others seem to adore but you just don't get (or vice versa)? Discussion, as always, is welcome =)
Ever put down a book? Why? Sometimes it is because the story is boring but sometimes it is because there is something in the story that bothered you.
This happened to me recently when I was reading a book the other day. The hero declared (to another person) that he was in love with the heroine and I put the book down, metaphorically speaking. I wasn’t ready to go there with the hero. The author hadn’t prepared me well enough for that scene to happen and thus I wasn’t satisfied with the direction of the story.
Source: Dear Author: The Reader and Consent (09/21/10)
This has happened with me, not only from a reading perspective, but from a writing one. I was shocked when, halfway through Fleeting, about half the audience became outraged at a turn of events that was essential to moving forward the plot of the story. When I wrote that installment, I was aware that it might be a surprise to some readers (or maybe even a bit unbelievable), but I was nowhere near prepared to handle the visceral reaction quite a few reviewers had to it. I'd touched a nerve in a *huge* way, and it was obvious I'd brought those readers out of the story, perhaps so much so that they'd stop reading it entirely. This bothered me, a lot, but it also kinda fascinated me - and now this idea of readers needing to consent - or, at least, buy - to the actions presented in the plot help me make sense of it, and learn from it.
I'd definitely urge you guys to read the entire article (yes, it's posted at a romance blog, but it's not limited to romantic or sexual interactions). Has this ever happened to you? Does it explain why there are popular stories/series/movies that others seem to adore but you just don't get (or vice versa)? Discussion, as always, is welcome =)
no subject
I kinda laughed when I read that article - the beginning bit with the author not buying the legal "procedure" is so very me. It's difficult for me to watch the traditional L&O for that reason - the courtroom behavior aggravates me. Shoddy police procedure though? Meh. I can deal with that just fine.
I also think that whenever you put sex into the mix, you're automatically amping up the risk that your readers won't take a liking to it. You have the extremes of "no sex until marriage", all the way to "first date sex is the best", lol. When you start putting kink into that? O.o Good luck!
no subject
*nods* That certainly sounds plausible. I was just floored by the reaction folks had to Inuyasha and Kagome mending fences in Fleeting - I knew it would be somewhat controversial, just considering I was on a cracking good roll with the shock back then, but I never expected the visceral nature of the reactions I received. But the situation I wrote about is one everyone approaches differently, and one that's colored by everyone's separate feelings and experiences. I think any time you mix emotion into a work is when it becomes a minefield - there's no such thing as an objective emotion.
I also think that whenever you put sex into the mix, you're automatically amping up the risk that your readers won't take a liking to it. You have the extremes of "no sex until marriage", all the way to "first date sex is the best", lol. When you start putting kink into that? O.o Good luck!
That's why I'm pretty relieved no one's ever said anything about my citrusy stuff. I know its on the tame end of the spectrum, but still. It's something that's so easy to take personally, especially if you're wearing the main character as an avatar. I liked the examples in the article they gave, though, about helping make the kinkier stuff more believable if it was from the woman's POV - especially the whole rape fetish thing. I'm curious to read that scene now, even though rape fetish is way up there on my personal list of DNW.
no subject
I know that a lot of my readers are younger, and a lot of them see things in this idealized way. That's not a knock - they just haven't had as many cold realization moments as you or I have had (or, although I dread it, the many more that those older than us have had). When I have the characters do something shocking or very adult, that gets a lot of reaction. Some of my reviewers have been with me for a long time, and it's really interesting (to me, at least) to see how their reactions change.
I liked the examples in the article they gave, though, about helping make the kinkier stuff more believable if it was from the woman's POV - especially the whole rape fetish thing.
It's not something I'd really thought about, but it does make sense. I bet a lot of people wouldn't even be aware of how a POV shift could affect their reading of a scene like that. When it's any sort of BDSM or rape-fetish, etc., I think it's natural to want that sort of reassurance from the character that it's really okay with them.
Those sorts of scenes aren't my cup of tea either. So I'll leave actual investigation of that to others.
no subject
You're lucky for that =) I think I can count on one hand the number of people who've stuck with me since the beginning...and considering I think all of them are older than me? I don't have this particular privilege, LOL :P
I bet a lot of people wouldn't even be aware of how a POV shift could affect their reading of a scene like that.
Agreed - its not something you notice until it "feels" wrong, or upsets you and you can't figure out why. But, that's one of the cool things about being a writer, I think :)