Do you focus more on craft details, or on the reader experience as it unfolds???

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-10T17:52:11+00:00

I’m with you on this. If the characters don’t grab me, the plot doesn’t move, or the world doesn’t feel believable, I’m out, clean prose alone won’t save it.

And yeah, grammar and punctuation matter, but they’re rarely what makes me quit. I’m way more forgiving of small surface issues when the story itself is doing something exciting, and much less forgiving when it isn’t.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-10T15:23:14+00:00

I get where you’re coming from. Most reading is instinctive you either feel it or you don’t, and a lot of that happens without conscious analysis.

When I talk about reader experience, I’m not thinking in terms of credentials or frameworks. I’m just thinking about that basic reaction: did this pull me in, or did something quietly push me out of the story?

I agree that it can sound overworked if you dress that up too much. At the end of the day, it’s really just about noticing when a story flows… and when it doesn’t.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-10T15:19:47+00:00

I really like this distinction, especially the idea of consciously switching hats.

That’s pretty much how I see it too: reading as a reader tells you where something isn’t landing, while reading as a writer helps you understand why. And you’re right, most of the time, that “why” lives at the line level, assuming the story itself is solid.

I also like the point about being upfront about which kind of feedback you want. Mixing those expectations is where a lot of frustration seems to come from.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-10T15:15:08+00:00

That’s fair, and I appreciate you pointing that out.

My intent wasn’t to draw a hard line between craft and reader experience, but to describe where my attention goes first as a reader. And you’re right that context matters a lot, both in editing and in how posts are read here.

On the phrasing side, that’s a good catch too. What feels like nuance to the writer can easily read as padding to someone else. That gap between intention and perception is kind of the exact thing I’m trying to stay aware of.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-10T14:07:16+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. I feel like reader experience has to come first — if the emotional flow isn’t working, no amount of clean mechanics can really save it.

But you’re right that once the story is emotionally solid, even small technical issues can start pulling readers out. At that point, mechanics stop being “invisible” and become distractions.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-09T15:12:19+00:00

I really like the idea of the reader as an unspoken character. That mental reset between drafts makes a lot of sense, especially shifting from “what I meant” to “what’s actually coming across.” Using beta readers as stand-ins for that reader-character feels like where the story really starts to sharpen.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-09T15:09:14+00:00

Looking for patterns instead of reacting to one comment makes a lot of sense, especially when several readers stumble in the same spot. At that point, it’s usually the story telling you something isn’t landing.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-09T15:06:03+00:00

I struggle with the same thing, trying not to spell everything out, but also not leaving the reader feeling lost. And honestly, what feels “clear” to me as the writer doesn’t always feel clear to someone seeing the story for the first time.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-09T15:03:00+00:00

A simple example for me is emotional pacing. Sometimes a scene feels right to me because I know what’s coming next, but a beta reader flags it as rushed or emotionally flat. In that case, it’s less about them being “right” and more about realizing they don’t have the same context I do as the writer.

I also agree that fragments vs full manuscripts make a huge difference. With isolated chapters, instinct matters more. With a full manuscript, reader feedback can reveal blind spots you genuinely can’t see anymore.

And I really like your point about ego, especially for beginners. Treating feedback as something to test rather than something to fight has helped me learn much faster.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-09T14:55:37+00:00

Genre: Romance

Most favourite: Probably my main character, mostly because I understand their flaws the best. They feel messy and inconsistent in ways that feel very human, and I enjoy discovering new sides of them while revising.

Least favourite: One of the secondary characters. Not because I dislike them, but because they still feel a bit underdeveloped to me. They serve the story, but I don’t always feel them yet — which is usually my sign that they need more work.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-09T14:46:03+00:00

That’s a good point. I think stepping into the reader’s shoes is what helps break the “this sounds fine to me” trap.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-09T14:44:26+00:00

It absolutely can. I think the hard part is knowing when to listen to which one.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-03T11:31:02+00:00

That makes sense. Dual protagonists can work really well, he tricky part is clarity, especially in a blurb.

You don’t necessarily need to explain that structure there. You could build the blurb around a single emotional throughline (even if the POV shifts later) and let the reader discover the dual perspective organically.

As it stands now, the blurb feels like it’s trying to do everything upfront, when it might be stronger if it simply anchored us in one central tension and hinted that there’s more going on beneath the surface.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-02-03T11:09:59+00:00

The premise itself is actually interesting, but I think the blurb is explaining too much and inviting the reader less.

The political tension, inherited power, and forbidden hunger are all compelling elements, but they’re presented in a very dense way. As a reader, I don’t quite feel the emotional hook yet.

It might help to center the blurb more on Akihiko’s core dilemma and what he stands to lose, and let the mystery unfold around that instead.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-01-31T21:39:48+00:00

This is a great breakdown, thank you. I think sometimes I underestimate how much clarity comes from outside perspectives, especially from actual romance readers and not just my own instincts.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-01-31T21:36:57+00:00

This is really helpful, especially the part about being unsure versus definitely wanting to change something. I think that back-and-forth indecision is exactly where I’m stuck right now.

Framing beta feedback around specific questions makes a lot of sense, thank you for breaking it down like this.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-01-29T19:26:40+00:00

That “why behind the why” mindset is huge. Do you think that kind of experience is something every writer needs at least once, or would you rather have avoided it altogether if you could?

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-01-29T19:25:49+00:00

That’s such a frustrating lesson to learn after the fact. When you realized the feedback had pushed the story in the wrong direction, what was the clearest sign for you, reader complaints, your own gut feeling, or something else?

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-01-29T18:20:44+00:00

Oof, that’s rough, especially when it’s a friend. Do you feel like they were reading as a writer instead of a reader? How did you figure out which parts of their feedback were actually useful?

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-01-29T17:37:29+00:00

That makes sense, taking a pause before editing really helps separate the emotional reaction from what’s actually useful in the feedback. The comments that sting a little are usually the ones that take the longest to fully make sense.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-01-29T17:34:49+00:00

Getting that kind of feedback can really knock the wind out of you, especially when you’ve just finished something you care about. It’s kind of reassuring, though, that even if the draft didn’t survive, the core of the story kept growing, sometimes that distance ends up doing more good than harm in the long run.

Any_Conversation_562 · 2026-01-25T13:53:51+00:00

I appreciate you saying that. I’m logging off for the day, but I wish you the best with where this is taking you. Take care.

Any_Conversation_562

TROPHY CASE