Posted:
This post is after reading a genuine concern by a writer here whose work I admire. I have noticed here that some of the stories that start out really well turn completely different at the end because the writer tries to take the story in a different direction or change the style of writing or incorporate content in it which does not fit with the overall tone of the story. This is done either because the writer is responding to the demands of the readers or trying to follow a particular trend and ends up ruining the story in the meantime. So a letter to all those writers:
First-take a deeep breath. Now listen to me. I don't know about you but to me writing and reading especially the latter are an integral part of my life . It's something I do like getting up in the morning and brushing. And I'm going to tell you something , from the point of view as a writer and as a reader
As a writer I've always felt that I can't write something I have to sit and think about. The words have to come, the story has to come without thinking, without pausing, it just flows out. Sometimes a story of which I have a general concept turns out to be something else in the process of writing it, because that's how the characters end up behaving and the words keep coming. The only thinking part comes where you have to edit the final draft. Won't this sentence look better in this way? Doesn't this word express her feelings more than this? Final touches as it is.But ultimately write what you feel because - see pov of reader
As a reader, you learn to distinguish between true writers and people who have just written for the sake of writing a book. Every writer has a particular style. That style is what defines them, what stamps their books as THEIRS. For example both Georgette Heyer and Barbara Carter writes Regency Romances. But both their books are utterly dissimilar not so much in the story but in the way it has been written and executed. Oh and Georgette Heyer is awesome while Barbara Carter is hideously boring and her heroines redefine stupid- Yes I'm a Georgette Heyer fan😳, but I'm digressing...
OK so each of these authors has their own audience. But what happens when one of them tries to modify their style in order to keep the remaining audience happy. For example Georgette Heyer makes her heroines give loong speeches on the purity and sanctity of love- 🤢
Writing becomes shoddy and the overall standard of the story deteriorates because it's trying to be something it is not and in the process the original soul of the story is being lost. That should not be done, Never,EVER , Never be done
I agree that a writer owes it to their fans to write stories which will make the fans happy. But in the process be true to yourself and to your convictions. If you do that your story automatically becomes a good one, because you are writing from the heart and your readers too are happy with it
Branching out is great, but only if you know how to and most importantly only if you want to
You have an individual style. Don't ruin it because you feel you owe something to us readers because let me tell you, if you continue in the same way you started it's going to be brilliant
With LoveRanitha🤗
OS: Those of you who haven't fainted by now might want to take a look at Shweta's post for fanfiction writers- She gives some excellent advice especially for those who write mature fiction
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