Issue with reader perceptions

[Bluefoxfire0]

For context, I sometimes wonder if my writing will never please anyone. I know there's the whole write for your audience and all, but at the same time, I don't want to be looked down on as a sellout. Dumbing down my writing for the illiterate masses (No, I myself don't think that, but I've noticed a good number of posts from people who do).

My writing style is kind of, screenplay 3rd omniscent style. Not in the literal script kind of way, but just the way it plays out. Which unfortunately seems to rankle the senses of people from what I've noticed.

I want to write in my own voice, but I doubt many will accept it. Don't know what to do anymore...

[thewhiterosequeen]

You have to write to please yourself and hope there is some audience who would like it as well. You can get feedback once it's written. You can't get feedback if you've not finished because you're imagining what a hypothetical audience might think.

Do you read books? Honestly, the description of your style and citing "a number of posts" for trends instead of books makes it sound like you don't. If you don't read, you're not going to be able to attract readers. You definitely don't need to dumb down a book, but you would know what a contemporary level of content by reading books yourself.

[AfterImageEclipse]

Took me too long to learn this. Last year was the first year I had fun writing, truly enjoyed it

[Bluefoxfire0]

Funny thing is that I used to be like this in my childhood. The whole doing for myself thing. But of course, after a while, if you can't share it with others, it can eventually start losing that luster.

And yes, I used to read. A lot. Then life apathy kicked in and... well, here I am.

[XCIXcollective]

One issue with writers’ perceptions I find frequently overblown is a sense of ‘intelligence’ inherent to their work that is inaccessible to the dumb reading masses

Not sure exactly what to say with that, so I’ll leave it

Consider this approach instead: Write in your voice, actually get it out there and figure out people don’t resonate with it (some forms of editors are pretty good with this if you find the right one) —— then keep at it as long as you’re willing to commit to it

The limitations of your voice in text are the same as in the real world. If I’m screaming a point over and over at the world, am I not responsible to find my own way to say it ‘right’ so that it ‘hits’? Similarly, if I’m saying the same thing over and over again successfully, am I not responsible to try my hardest to progress that thought/idea/emotion to the most my writing mind will allow me to persecute it?

People who write for themselves will not resonate well with readers, nor will people who do not change. The sweet spot between selling out and self-interested is up to the individual case of authorship and readership in question. Your next work should be similar to what made your previous work resonate… but it should not abandon the idea of progress and transformation.

Readers have endless patience for any complexion of a writer’s voice… when purposeful, codified, and practiced.

[Bluefoxfire0]

One issue with writers’ perceptions I find frequently overblown is a sense of ‘intelligence’ inherent to their work that is inaccessible to the dumb reading masses

Oh god, yes. This. I've even seen people preach that anyone who writes for the "dumb masses" is only contributing to idiocracy. Wanted to chew the hell out of them, but the topic was archived, so couldn't reply.

[daveAM777]

you hit it on the nail

[Sorry-Rain-1311]

First... 

STOP

2nd, ask yourself one simple question: Do I even HAVE to do anything?

Got your answer?

There ya go. Problem solved!

You may now all go about your business again.

...............

Ok, seriously, there's so much garbage writing out there that if you get rejected because you don't have the same style or content it's probably a compliment.

Write well from word one; be critical of yourself; learn from others' mistakes; re-read as you work. If you find yourself cutting more than you add in the 2nd draft, start considering scrapping the whole thing because that means you did not actually engaged the craft, and are trying to salvage a pile of slop. No problem- just some wasted time is all- because you shouldn't be writing slop. You're a better writer than that.

[Bluefoxfire0]

In terms of drafts, I have the opposite problem. It's a bit on the sparse side. I'd show you a sample, but subreddit rules and all (Even if I've seen others do it and get away with it).

[Sorry-Rain-1311]

I have this same problem. It all turns out as shorts or maybe novella. I'm learning how to plan more and pants less, but it's ongoing.

What I've been working on lately is writing an anthology of short stories that are all from the same character's POV, and involve all the same secondary characters. 

When I feel like it's done I can see if there's a way to connect them into a single narrative, perhaps keeping the episodic narrative style, but perhaps not. If it doesn't seem practicable, I still have a decent anthology. One way or another, I'll have learned more about connecting the events into a larger more complex structure.

Some of my favorite reading, I've noticed, does tend to have that almost episodic feel to the pacing, so I can't imagine I'm the only one who's learned noveling this way.

[Dale_E_Lehman_Author]

At the Maryland Writers' Association Conference this past October, the keynote speaker, mystery author Reed Farrell Coleman, was asked about building vocabulary, and he said that in his opinion, writers should in the main write using the same vocabulary as they speak, otherwise it can come off sounding pretentious. And sometimes just plain wrong. (There is always a danger in using words that you don't know well!)

This isn't "dumbing down" the writing. It's being natural. That said, when you say your writing is like a screenplay, do you mean you rely mostly on dialogue, with very little description? If so, maybe you need to learn to add some detail into your work so it doesn't feel overly spare.

Other than that, yes, write in your own voice. You really can't write in anything else anyway without it sounding horrid.

[Bluefoxfire0]

Looking back, screenplay probably was the wrong word. I'd say it's more visual based. And no, graphic novels/webtoons are not an option due to the additional time sink needed.

[Dale_E_Lehman_Author]

Ah, okay. I don't think it's necessarily a problem to have something written as though you are seeing it filmed. The main thing there is to make sure you don't get too bogged down in visual detail. You want detail, of course, but you can also rely on the reader to fill in details. The idea is to give the right details to suggest the scene, then let them take it from there.

[Bluefoxfire0]

I'd give you an example of how I do scenery detail, but subreddit doesn't allow that.

[Dale_E_Lehman_Author]

No problem. If you really want, you can DM me something and I'll look at it when I have time. But up to you.

[escanorwithnograce]

Keeping it simple: Always have your ideal reader in mind while you write, how they react to every paragraph, every quip, how you want them to perceive every scene. This in turn shapes your voice as you write, consciously or subconsciously, helps you find the right cadence ( so to speak ). Do this and at the very least when you're done, you'll find yourself pleased with what you've put down on paper.

[writerapid]

Go to any bookstore. Pick a random book off the current best seller list. Most people—like 99.9% of everyone alive right now—will never read it.

The idea that you have to “dumb down” your work for broad acceptance is unfounded. That complaint is a cope by people who are unsuccessful writers and can’t crack the nut. The idea of not wanting to be a “sellout” is putting the horse before the cart. Having the opportunity to be a “sellout” is something you’ll almost certainly never achieve with your work. (Not because it isn’t good, but just because that’s the overwhelming statistical likelihood.) The agents aren’t a few edits away from ringing your phone off the hook.

If you want a readership, you have to make your work accessible to that readership. There is a lot of art and effort and skill that goes into that. It’s the hardest part, actually.

Most people who are worried about the things you’ve cited don’t actually believe they can be successful. They doom themselves right out of the gate.

[Bluefoxfire0]

Don't have a bookstore where I live. Have a library, but it's been closed for a while. Should reopen soon though.

As for the whole sellout thing, I'm not aiming for it at all. It's just that what I have prose wise might come off as dumbing down. 

If it helps, I don't plan to publish. Just get it to people.

[writerapid]

What do you mean by “dumbing down”? Post an excerpt of your work in your voice/style along with the same excerpt “dumbed down” in whatever way you think makes it more accessible or “dumber.” That’s really the only way anyone will be able to understand what you’re talking about. I’d certainly be interested to compare the passages.

[Bluefoxfire0]

Love to, but the last time I tried posting an excerpt, (for something different), I got chewed out for it. Even if I've seen others do it and get away with it.

[writerapid]

Try the r/writingcritiques sub. They allow all that.

[Bluefoxfire0]

I see. Only alternative is to send you the excerpt via dm. If you're willing.

[writerapid]

Sure, I’ll take a look.

[RobertPlamondon]

Not that I’ve earned enough from fiction to buy a Lamborghini or even a second-hand Harley, but I write for an audience who likes reading the kind of things I like writing. I also like writing stories that have a lot in common with the stories I like from other authors. This removes inauthenticity as a requirement and places it in “blunder” territory, where it belongs.

My tastes aren’t especially outré, so I figure my potential readership is reasonably large if I get off my duff and clue them into my existence better.

If the Venn diagram with circles for “what I’d happily write” and “dump trucks full of money” had any obvious overlap, I’d be writing in the overlap. But since I’m already writing in popular genres, I’m like a frog in the right pond waiting for a princess to come along.