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[turps]

It looks like chapter 2 isn't going to be as popular as the first, which I knew as it is kinda depressing. But I've still had some incredible feedback, but...I just feel so guilty that I've made people cry.

I'm happy that what I wrote has the power to do that, but I get all teary myself when people are talking about how it reminded them of when their dad died, and that they were crying as they read.

The next one is supposed to be angsty too, but just now I'm wondering whether to do something positive first. My reasoning is that they're in this horrific situation, Cascade is a ruin, *very* few people have survived, that has to be angsty. They have to reach bottom before starting to rise again. I do have happy things planned, but not for a few chapters yet.

But the way things are going I'm going to have no readers before I get to that point *g* However, I have a pretty firm idea where this story is going, and that means another sad chapter. Two of my beta's suggested something that might cheer the thing up a little, I'm seriously going to consider what they said.

Man, I don't think I could have killed the guilt if it had been Jim or Blair I killed off. Anyone that does that must have nerves of steel *g*

Comments

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Hey sis, don't start doubting yourself about the difficult theme or the angst or the sad content of the next part. The story, the context demand it at this point. You're right in saying so. You have to stay true to the story, right? *g*

And I don't think the second part is less popular per se. It's just more difficult to read, that's all. The fact that some people cried, or were reminded of their own fathers' death must be difficult for you to read about, but it's a great compliment. You really touched people, and in a way, it must be quite cathartic for some of them as well. You wrote something real powerful, sis, you can be proud *g*

You aren't going to lose readers, on the contrary, I'd say you're going to keep them for the ride, only because they'll want to know what is going to happen next, if things are going to get better *g* This is one bloody good series you wrote, you're going to have followers for a long time! lol

Hey, I wanna know what you're thinking about with the 'cheer things up a little' *hint hint* I think a mail is in order *g*

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Hey sis, don't start doubting yourself about the difficult theme or the angst or the sad content of the next part.

I know you're right, but when I got all the mails saying 'you made me cry' I started thinking I'm not going to have any readers left.

And I don't think the second part is less popular per se. It's just more difficult to read, that's all.

Again, I know you're right (as usual *g*) but I still feel guilty.

You aren't going to lose readers, on the contrary, I'd say you're going to keep them for the ride, only because they'll want to know what is going to happen next, if things are going to get better *g* This is one bloody good series you wrote, you're going to have followers for a long time! lol

That's the problem, things won't get better, in fact they get worse before they get better! But I am going to stick to my plan, just try and balance it with some good things.

Hey, I wanna know what you're thinking about with the 'cheer things up a little' *hint hint* I think a mail is in order *g*

Watch for an e-mail later lol

Thanks for the inspiring words!

[castalie.livejournal.com]

That's the problem, things won't get better, in fact they get worse before they get better! But I am going to stick to my plan, just try and balance it with some good things.

At least it *will* get better eventually. I think softening things up would have been cheating your readers actually *g*

Thanks for the inspiring words!

You're welcome *g*

Crying readers

[(Anonymous)]

Not anonymous -- StarWatcher. Jeez, you'd think they'd have a 'write-in' choice.

You said >>>I know you're right, but when I got all the mails saying 'you made me cry' I started thinking I'm not going to have any readers left.<<<

Think of it this way -- it's a credit to your writing, and your ability to touch people. If they didn't like it, they wouldn't keep reading through the crying. And if it were badly written, there would be no crying, just, "Ho hum, she killed Simon, big deal."

As Castalie said, it's a grim scenario, they have to go through the bad to reach the good. Even if some people drop out, when you get to chapter 5 or 6 or whatever, people will be recommending, "Go read Terri's series 'The End'. It's kinda dark for a few chapters, but so gripping and realistic, and when they work their way out of the grim times, the story's WONDERFUL!"

So, like she already advised -- you need to be true to the story. Hang in there and follow your vision.

StarWatcher

Re: Crying readers

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Think of it this way -- it's a credit to your writing, and your ability to touch people. If they didn't like it, they wouldn't keep reading through the crying. And if it were badly written, there would be no crying, just, "Ho hum, she killed Simon, big deal."

I'm beginning to see that. I knew there would be a reaction to killing Simon, but I didn't expect every mail to tell me they were crying. But I've thought about it a lot, and have decided, yes it is a compliment in a round about way.

Even if some people drop out, when you get to chapter 5 or 6 or whatever, people will be recommending, "Go read Terri's series 'The End'. It's kinda dark for a few chapters, but so gripping and realistic, and when they work their way out of the grim times, the story's WONDERFUL!"

*Blush* I hope so. Okay, I know so.

Hang in there and follow your vision.

I will. I've a plan for the next 2 parts, and I *will* stick to that. Thanks for coming in with reassurances. I'll echo this in a mail in case you don't see this.

[babycakesin.livejournal.com]

>>>when I got all the mails saying 'you made me cry' I started thinking I'm not going to have any readers left.>>>

*patting T's shoulder* we readers like to suffer and to cry - otherwise why would we make the guys gay (therefore unattainable? - not sure about the spelling though lol)

>>>I know you're right (as usual *g*)>>>

*reads from notebook* when talking to Mouse, one should always assume that she is right *normal* believe me, that's what I do and it saves me a lot of time and energy *g*

[babycakesin.livejournal.com]

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??!! You're feeling guilty because you made people cry?! Terri, love: 1) you put a warning about CD - people hardly expect CD to be hilarious (there was only one fic that did that to me, and I laughed because it was badly written, but that's another subject). 2) how can a writer feel guilty for providing an emotion?! Whatever the emotion is! If your readers were left emotion-less, then it wouldn't be a great fic! So: stop feeling guilty, cause you warned us! And don't worry, you'll still have me as a reader *g*

love you babe - btw, we're so similar in our reactions in scary - I would have said exactly the same thing lol - but at least YOU never scared a person away from fanfics (which I recently did) lol

[turps33.livejournal.com]

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??!! You're feeling guilty because you made people cry?!

Whoa! You're scary ;)
Yeah, I was, still am actually. I realise that it's a compliment, but I hate to think that I've upset people. But don't worry, I'll still keep going with the angst and sadness.

And don't worry, you'll still have me as a reader *g*

Thanks hon. *hugs* to my #1 fan.

love you babe - btw, we're so similar in our reactions in scary - I would have said exactly the same thing lol - but at least YOU never scared a person away from fanfics (which I recently did) lol

Lol, I saw that.

Poor mouse, she has two neurotic bad tempered friends. You keep on hassling her on the phone ;)

[babycakesin.livejournal.com]

*high fives* hail to neurotic bad tempered friends! *whispers to Terri* hey, I haven't heard her complaining so far, so no reason to stop... part of our charm I guess lol

[turps33.livejournal.com]

*high fives* hail to neurotic bad tempered friends! *whispers to Terri* hey, I haven't heard her complaining so far, so no reason to stop... part of our charm I guess lol

*high fives back*

Nope, not going to stop. She needs to do something to earn that martyr award *g*

[babycakesin.livejournal.com]

*counts* Well, she's known me for four years - I think she's halfway from martyr award - another ten years and we'll be working on getting her a sanctification! Remind me to collect information to send to the Vatican, we never know... *wondering* just how picky would they be about having a Saint Mouse?

sad stories

[patk.livejournal.com]

See, I think to call a story *good* or even *great* it must be able to capture the reader's emotions. The best stories have the reader actually *feel* the emotions, not reading and knowing how they *should* feel.

Take them with you to the highest peak of joy or into the deepest abyss of sadness, make them laugh or cry. If your readers are in tears (and they were supposed to feel sad, of course *g*) you did a good job. :-)

Don't try to balance this out with happy things if there isn't place for that *right now*. It makes a forced impression and won't fit into the story. Readers usually have good instincts about what feels right and what not. You won't lose readers because you made them cry (well, at least as long as there is kind of a "happy end" in sight) but you will lose readers if they start to feel that the things you put in the text don't feel right to them. :-)

Readers *want* to feel strong emotions, that's why they read. Because the story/book satisfies a need they have and RL just isn't in the mood to give them the strong feelings they want to have *right now*. And it's a special thing with sadness in a story. You can feel sad, shed tears but you don't have to suffer a real life loss. It *feels* like a real life loss, but only for a while (thank god) and it's kind of freeing, to feel sad and cry if you know at the same time, that things will pan out good in the end. :-)

So, there's nothing wrong with making your readers cry (well, as long as they don't cry because of your writing-style ;-) ) you give them the chance to feel strong emotions without the danger of suffering in reality. :-) That's a good thing, don't waste it by forcing something happier in the story if it doesn't feels right at this point. :-) The time for happier scenes will come and the readers will be all the more glad for it because happyness is even more joyful when it comes after deep sadness. :-)

Pat

:-)

...printing End 2

Re: sad stories

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Pat, you post the best comments.

Take them with you to the highest peak of joy or into the deepest abyss of sadness, make them laugh or cry. If your readers are in tears (and they were supposed to feel sad, of course *g*) you did a good job. :-)

I agree with you, and I know it's a great compliment, I just didn't expect to feel guilty when I received LoC's about making people cry. The fact that my words can do that astounds me.

Don't try to balance this out with happy things if there isn't place for that *right now*. It makes a forced impression and won't fit into the story.

I see what you mean. If I force my story forward and put the happy things in a place I don't think they belong, people will notice, it just won't feel right. I guess I need more faith that the readers will hang on for the ride.

You can feel sad, shed tears but you don't have to suffer a real life loss. It *feels* like a real life loss, but only for a while (thank god) and it's kind of freeing, to feel sad and cry if you know at the same time, that things will pan out good in the end. :-)

I certainly agree here. Sometimes I read the deathfic at the archive because I *want* to cry. It is freeing, like when I read In Another Life, that kills me yet I still re read at times.

The time for happier scenes will come and the readers will be all the more glad for it because happyness is even more joyful when it comes after deep sadness. :-)

Great point. Thanks Pat, you have a really great way of looking and explaining things.

...printing End 2

Hope you like it.