For a Reader to Digest- part2 page11 - Page 10

I see the story as a journey; the writer as the driver; and the reader as the passenger. As a reader, i choose to go on this journey with the writer. There may be things the writer points out to me on this journey, but there will also be other things that catch my attention. Things that the writer may or may not point to.

Originally posted by: WordStalker

Ok, this is going to sound cheesy but it's the best way to describe what I think is the relationship between a reader and character (or story).

I see the story as a journey; the writer as the driver; and the reader as the passenger. As a reader, i choose to go on this journey with the writer. There may be things the writer points out to me on this journey, but there will also be other things that catch my attention. Things that the writer may or may not point to.

As a reader, i am free to pause anywhere in this journey. i am free to look at what i want, to stop and admire things around me, or even to end the journey. And just as the driver and passenger don't necessarily see the same things on a journey, a reader and writer may not focus on the same details.

A reader's relationship to a character is a very subjective one, I think. So many things can influence this relationship, including the writer and the reader's own life experiences.

A writer may present a character in a particular light. As I reader, I am free to decide how I view that character within that light. That interpretation is my own.

Again, just as the driver and passenger don't see anything from the same angle given their position, a reader and writer also don't see things from the same angle. And this applies to characters too. I think, a reader may come close to seeing a character like the writer sees him, but very rarely, if at all, do both visions merge.

I think a relationship between a reader and a character can only happen when the writer is not interfering with the reader's thought process. For example, with your story, Glass, I am often wondering out loud in my comments on the actions and reactions of different characters - and as a result I form my opinion on them as the story progresses. I don't think there has ever been a point where you have told me,

Originally posted by: Krani

I think a relationship between a reader and a character can only happen when the writer is not interfering with the reader's thought process. For example, with your story, Glass, I am often wondering out loud in my comments on the actions and reactions of different characters - and as a result I form my opinion on them as the story progresses. I don't think there has ever been a point where you have told me,

"K, you are wrong, this person is negative, and you viewing them doing this in not a negative light, is wrong. Please change the way you think"

Even if you did, I'd probably laugh.

So I guess from a writer's POV, we need to be conscious of letting the readers come to their own conclusions on things.

Maya is another classic example of this. So many times I have analysed and re-analysed her chapters, forming a different relation with each character, and she's never interrupted the way my thoughts flow out.

But the only time I feel that a relationship between a character and reader can turn toxic is when it starts to delude them of what's actually taking place in the story.

Example, if an antagonist is killing someone, and the reader tries to justify it by blaming the victim, then things can get a bit tricky, as they aren't really reading the story being written.

From a writer's POV, I think if the reader is not really getting what you are trying to convey to them, then we need to pull up our socks, sharpen up our writing skills and hope to convey the message properly.

[The more I write, the more I begin to feel that the writer ought be invisible. [And when I say 'writer' I mean the writer, not the narrator] Consider the role of the camera in film/photography----the camera frames the shot; the writer (the pen) frames the scene leading the reader's eye---then her job is done! And, we all know the unsettling experience of when we are watching a film and we see a bit of the camera accidentally caught in the frame. It breaks the illusion of the story.

res--and i"ll be back@


See below...see, people? i'm a reformed Res er!

Originally posted by: WordStalker

[The more I write, the more I begin to feel that the writer ought be invisible. [And when I say 'writer' I mean the writer, not the narrator] Consider the role of the camera in film/photography----the camera frames the shot; the writer (the pen) frames the scene leading the reader's eye---then her job is done! And, we all know the unsettling experience of when we are watching a film and we see a bit of the camera accidentally caught in the frame. It breaks the illusion of the story.

maya hill

A wonderful discussion, so I'll jump right in. As a writer, I can understand Maya's comment, but in some ways, I dont agree fully--not in the case of the fan fics work we are doing on this site. I'm not saying that is not the ideal situation,-the complete immersion of the reader, and the invisibility of the person creating the narrative. In the case of straight up fiction, that is not just possible, but desirable. But I ask you, can this necessarily be achieved in the case of fan fictions based on an established serial?

Now not agreeing with something Inked has said is a bit like heresy, personally, so here's my logic--

The problem we, the writers face, as we pen our works is the very canon from which we have drawn our inspiration. in a lot of the cases you cannot really blame the reader for scratching his or her head and say--MY Arnav would not do this--if you are using the character this reader has seen on screen for over a year, and are either expanding on certain traits, or removing him from the usual setting, that is a normal reaction. I am not speaking of illogical moves, or stupid plot twists. But a very close relationship between the reader and the character can hinder the narrative of the AUTHOR.

The issue here, is for the reader to try and see if he can trust his story teller. if he can let go of his expectations, and enjoy the ride. If not, its frustrating for everyone concerned--the reader is reluctant to let go, and angry that what he thinks should be happening is not taking place. And the writer feels frustrated in not being allowed to narrate his story.

Many writers I am sure feel the difficulty in trying to break this reader-canon character love fest. If your story's character is significantly different, it puzzles the person who has come to you to see your treatment of- "HIS" Arnav and Khushi. The reality is, if the reader wants something close to what he or she might see onscreen, they are better served--seeing the story unfold onscreen.

But if you are reading a story, you have to let go of your hold, and let me tell you what my idea of the character is, and what he or she should do, and is doing in my head. Give me a chance to convince you of my view, and to give me that chance, you must let go a little of the relationship you have already established with Arnav, Khushi et al.

This is hard, since all us writers know, our fictions are not going to be seen in a vaccum, and the characters are going to have trace elements from the "real" life characters on screen.

This explains why so many authors react defensively when their portrayal is questioned--its not easy to create a new dimension onto a man who so many people have fixed notions of. I don't defend rudeness, because I think as a writer, it is your job to accept the rejections along with the praise. You have put your material out there to be judged. You don't get to decide what that judgment is. Please feel free to judge me...i implore you, judge me! I am writing for you, for your emotions, to make you happy. My happiness lies in getting your response, and in the satisfaction I feel when I post. You are the reader, what you feel is valid. whatever that is.

I see my readers like this: you are not my momma. You don't need to love me, and clap for everything I do. I wont grow, if you do that, actually. But indifference is the death of creativity. So-- please tell me what you truly feel, and only respond when I have moved you enough to comment. I will do the same for you.

My final point is this--other than completely new characters who have sprung from our mind, and are our own creations (like Inked's Yash, or my Kunal Roy) as writers we don't have control over the relationship you, the reader already have with the main characters. But we should be allowed to question that relationship, subvert it, make you think new things about it---if not, why are you reading our work?

Ultimately, of course, this is fan fiction. Clever writing, and changed settings wlll only get you so far--canon is canon, even with pastiche writing, the background, the incidents that have shaped the people you are recreating, still exists. How many people will read about Arnav with a woman who's name is NOT Khushi?

The challenge of blending your viewpoint and the reader's ideas becomes easier if the reader is willing to think of the character as "Arnav and Khushi in name only."

How many readers can do that?