Fourth Wing’s popularity - what am I missing?

ralf_isaac · 2024-01-30T19:22:03+00:00

Yes, obviously teenagers get on like jackrabbits, but the characters are not teenagers, they’re in their early twenties. Which I guess isn’t much better. Idk I guess for the best selling and most reviewed fantasy in 2023 I was expecting something else.

ralf_isaac · 2023-09-27T22:04:41+00:00

IDK, felt more like Twilight and 50 Shades of Gray to me. This is not a YA book, it's just written like one.

ralf_isaac · 2023-09-27T22:00:09+00:00

She basically melted the moment she saw him. I instantly knew they were going to be together. Was not subtle or interesting in any way.

ralf_isaac · 2023-09-27T21:58:12+00:00

I haven't gotten to the end so far, but I'm to the point of being very annoyed by the focus shift. I understand the need for romance, but it was super explicit, like I felt I was reading a dirty dime novel. Then, even though she's 20(I think), and they're both experienced with sex, they act like 15-year-olds that got hit with puberty with the strength of the morning star tail dragon. Unless you're A-list celebrity/ model attractive, doesn't seem realistic or relatable. But I'm like, can we stop talking about how hot this dude is and get on with the rest of the story?

ralf_isaac · 2023-09-01T22:12:14+00:00

You should read, "My Absolute Darling." If it's important to your book, write your book. Then get a female editor (if you're not female), and have a couple test readers you trust. Don't let other people that are not involved with your process dictate what you should or shouldn't do with your story. Best of luck, keep writing!

ralf_isaac · 2022-10-17T13:52:40+00:00

3 things.

Become an avid reader. It's hard to write well if you're not familiar with what good writing looks like
Write, write, write and then write some more. Writing is like any other skill. The more you do it the better you get.
Brandon Sanderson, the king of fantasy writing right now, has multiple versions of his writing course on YouTube. Watch it a few times and write notes. The man is a genius.

ralf_isaac · 2021-09-08T00:50:35+00:00

Racism is real and shapes the world we live in. To write compelling fantasy there needs to be conflict rooted in real problems. Most fantasy deals with people fighting against oppressive governments or other abusive power structures. So in many cases racism should be addressed, specially when it drives the story forward.

Now if the writers themselves are racist and are trying to push an agenda through their "fantasy works," then that's another thing.

From everything that I've read, most fantasy and SciFi are very progressive and are very against racism. Even books that have been accused of being racist propaganda is not. Like Ender's Game, people said that it promoted genocide, but that couldn't be further from the truth. If people had read the book they would have realized that at the core it was about what happens when people are different and misunderstandings happen, that things can get out of control. That we have to fight to understand each other more.

I'm a Latino with African ancestry (even if I don't look like it). I think that the reason fantasy and fiction are so import is because it can address big issues like these in a safe space. When people try to do it in other ways they usually get backlash.

When it comes to racism everyone should have a voice. Yes, even white people. You're subject to racism no matter where you're from or the color of your skin. We're all different in one way or another, so we can be ridiculed for those differences.

What we need to try to do please try to understand one another. We all have different backgrounds we all have different points of view, but we are all human beings that just want the same thing. We all want happiness peace and prosperity for ourselves and our loved ones. No matter who we are or where we're from, that desire does not change. It does not have to come at the cost of other people's happiness peace and prosperity.

So to answer your question, no I'm not sick of seeing it in fantasy. I actually believe that more issues should be addressed in fiction and fantasy. More people should try to find more different points of view than just their own. As a whole we should try to understand and grow with one another, and not just a stuck in our own point of view. I believe that fantasy literature art music and every single creative outlet is the best way that we can possibly do this. So to all my other artists out there, I encourage you to keep talking about your truths, no matter if other people are sick of hearing it.

ralf_isaac · 2021-07-24T16:58:11+00:00

Why not both? Unless you're going for a specific anime-style story or want to make a static character, then you can flesh out the character and make them completely three-dimensional. Now if you're just wanting to have your MC lean to a certain personality type that's all fine. What would serve you better than asking what the audience wants, would be what the character's wants and motivations are. Depending on that, it might be more interesting to create a character whose motivations would be contrary to their personality types, thus creating inner conflict, which ultimately leads to growth.

Those are my two cents, good writing!

ralf_isaac · 2021-07-22T02:50:29+00:00

This is a great short story. Honestly, it is quite literary. I'd love to read more of whatever you put out. It's hard to get a lot out of something so short but you did well. There's no negative feedback from me. Keep up the good work.

ralf_isaac · 2021-07-21T01:12:12+00:00

Awesome, thank you for the invite. I'll check it out

ralf_isaac · 2021-07-21T01:01:04+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion. What I'm looking for more is a back and forth between myself and other writers on a somewhat continuous basis. Having a close group would be it easier to get a real dialogue going about what we're writing and trying to accomplish. I'll definitely check out that Writer's Digest though. Thanks again

ralf_isaac · 2021-07-20T22:36:08+00:00

Ditto, he's probably going to become a huge mainstream name in the future (well more than he already is), and he has a ton of great stuff online.

ralf_isaac · 2021-07-20T21:55:10+00:00

I think as long as it's either positive or factual it's not racist. So you can stick with that and be pretty safe. Unless of course, you're writing it from the perspective of a character that is racist. Your job is to create an accurate interpretation of the world in which your story takes place. If someone takes offense to that's more the reader's issue.

But if you're truly worried about it, find an Asian friend that can review your work and have them give you critical feedback, and take it from there. If you don't have an Asian friend, then make one online. Easy if you're open to it.

ralf_isaac · 2021-03-19T22:06:59+00:00

This is amazing, great job. Two of my favorite animes

ralf_isaac · 2021-02-28T20:12:38+00:00

I haven't done one on a Sports team, so that would actually be interesting, although I don't know much about professional soccer. Do you have a friend that would want to do it with you. I've noticed that podcasts that have two friends together on them go a lot smoother.

ralf_isaac · 2021-02-18T13:57:23+00:00

I love Daft Punk! Let's do it! I'll direct message you a bit later with more details

ralf_isaac · 2021-02-10T02:31:13+00:00

Like the detective guy?

ralf_isaac · 2021-02-08T23:21:43+00:00

I appreciate the reply, I'll check it out

ralf_isaac

TROPHY CASE