Readers, really that difficult to please?

I'm in the same boat as you Amanita. Unless a book is terrible to an extreme, I'll finish it. I think that these kind of questions are brought up here because everyone spends so much time focusing on their own style and editing works, and when the differences in style are noticed it's pretty hard to not be critical. Although, I'm probably too lenient in my reading habits, as I've finished the entire Sword of Truth series and even Robert Newcomb's attempt at a fantasy novel. *shivers*

I don't think readers will be as critical (as you've pointed out with the bestsellers), but as writers I'd imagine that paying close attention to the finer points of style and substance could be nothing less then helpful if done well, and informative if done poorly.

 

It's a Glass Half-Empty thing... partly. We use the forums to work on the things that worry us --and gripe about people who don't-- but the better the story is at its strengths, the less any weakness matters. But like Phil said, some readers are less forgiving than others (especially on the first page, especially if they're editors), so a little more refinement just might be what keeps another person or two with you.

 

Phil
Think you've missed the greatest groups of readers...
0. Those that don't read on a regular basis [if ever] and would usually have to be all but forced to read anything more than a magazine blurb or web article, text or tweet.
I haven't read her work but from what I have heard about it I am fairly sure this is where most of EL James' readership came from. This is were new media [ebook, web publishing etc.] can expand, the Terra Incognita. Once they are reading on their phone / reader / tablet they will discover for themselves if they are a 1,2,3 or 4.

 

I look at it this way:

There are thousands upon thousands of books out there on the shelf I could choose from, but I chose yours.

What is it about yours that makes me happy with that decision?

To me, watching a bad movie is better than reading a bad book simply because the movie will be over in 1.5-2 hours, a book is going to take me 10-20x that.

 

As one of those of those people who debates those formal questions - I'm not so much worried about what will put the reader off as I am worried about my own writing ability. The debate consolidates knowledge and helps confidence and also cements what you know you want to do and what you think you shouldn't do.

The other side to that coin - it's also fun and makes you think. It's a good brain excersise that really makes you look below the surface at the same time as giving a much needed distraction at times without drawing you away from the subject of writing altogether.

At the end of the day - it's the same as any professional forum.

Also, it depends what method of publication you want to take. I don't know about Twilight but Shades of Grey was self published. I know loads of women who read it because of word of mouth, but noone who actually still liked it once the hype had died down (I know there a lot who do, but I haven't personally met any and I aim to please the circles I travel in - if that makes sense). Strangely, they all liked Twilight and can easily draw the comparison. No offense to the author, who has done a really good job, but I don't want people i know to be left with the same feeling after reading my work.

 

Thanks, but like I said - 'I don't know about Twilight' - it was Shades I was referring to. Thanks for the info though

 

Like Harry Potter its one of those rags to riches stories, but it's real- life so is a great thing to aspire to. Me? I honestly don't know what my aim is beyond writing at the moment. All I know is I want to take the extra time and effort to make is good as I possibly can before putting it out there.....after that, it's not really in my hands anymore and what ever happens happens.

 

I think that all the little nitpicky things we worry over COMBINE to make the book good or not. I think that the average reader wouldn't bother to- or wouldn't even be ABLE to- identify exactly why they got bored with a book and put it down. We might look at it and go, "Well, it uses passive voice, and too many adjectives, and..." but all the reader knows is that it didn't grip him or her.

 

Agreed. Let's worry over everything, but not each thing-- um, not figure we need every separate point perfect, or something like that. And keep working on our strengths at least as much as our weaknesses.

 

I have a very tough time abandoning a book, and usually choose not to do it until I get at least a few hundred pages into it, but then I feel like I'm invested enough into it to just finish.

I gave up on Girl With a Dragon Tattoo after about 80 pages and Russell Kirkpatrick's Across the World after about 20.

Those are the only 2 books I think I've ever just outright stopped reading.

 

The OP's question brings up a lot of topics. I'd answer, "Depends on your intended audience."

When I was young, I read a lot of truly horrid stuff and thought it was good. I didn't know any better. The older I get, the more discerning I become.

Some readers are where I was a long time ago. If you can interest them in a character OR a plot OR with solid writing, you're good. Others require you to have all three in line.

If you're asking, "Can I be successful by writing crap?" Of course you can!

I'm not even sure that writing well brings you more likelihood of success than writing crap. I tend to think that it does, but I have no data to back up my opinion.

My planned path to success is as follows:

1. Write really good stuff.
2. Have that stuff professionally edited and published with the best quality that I can afford.
3. Submit it to every person that I can find who has a blog and hope that it gets noticed.
4. Go back to step 1 with another book.

As one of those people with a blog, I gotta say that I'm a reader who notices all that little stuff.

 

Perhaps you're inferring an intent that I wasn't trying to convey - not that I find any accusation of condescention on my part particularly troubling as it is, perhaps, a tendency of mine.

From my perspective: When you start doing any activity, you don't have much discernment because you have no experience with which to judge. As you gain experience, that experience necessarily shapes your tastes.

If I were in high school and a QB were to throw me a football, I'd think, "Wow, that guy throws hard and is really accurate." If I somehow then later in life ended up with Drew Brees throwing to me, I'd (after icing my hands) probably think, "Wow, HS me had no idea what hard and accurate is."

Again, I feel that this applies to any endeavor.

I don't see this as a particularly controversial or condescending viewpoint. SO, one of two possibilities: You either read something there that I didn't intend or this viewpoint is actually controversial/condescending.

Perhaps the key to the issue is:

This seems to imply that I feel that everyone should have the same opinions as I do. This is not the case as writing is extremely subjective and no two people share the same experiences.

Regardless, I think that the overall point stands: You can certainly please a portion of the reading population by writing complete crap; I'm just not sure that this is a good aim for a writer or a particularly good way to try to achieve success in the marketplace.