Everyone will have a different opinion about a book, but it always amazes me how varied the responses are. The subjective nature of a reader's experience with a story makes each instance unique. It also proves that an author can't please everyone. What one person loves, another will no doubt hate. The writing advice I keep hearing over and over is to stay true to the story you want to tell. Do you think that's true? Or do authors have an obligation to deliver something that their readership wants/expects?
I'll be honest--the wild swing of opinions about a book makes me scratch my head sometimes. Even famous/popular authors get slammed every now and again. I don't mind when a reviewer states that they simply didn't care for the book or point out legitimate problems with it, but when someone starts slamming the author and saying how the book should have gone, it always takes me back to that original question: Do authors owe it to their audience to deliver an expected or popular product? Or do they have an obligation to themselves, to write the story in their heart, even if it's unpopular with readers? (I'm thinking of the turn JR Ward took with her BDB series, which disappointed a lot of fans, including me!)
It can't work both ways.
3 comments:
I think we must write the book of our heart. That said, it's always helpful if readers like it! Reviews are opinions and no author can satisfy every reader. Since there's no pleasing everyone, I think we must go by our own barometer. Good post!
Yeah, I think it's crazy when I look at one of my favorite books on Amazon and see that anyone dared to give it just one measly star when I think it's the best ever!
As it's clearly impossible to please everyone, I think that writers should be true to themselves and write the stories that are in their hearts.
As Daddy always said, opinions are like navels. Everybody has one, and one is about as useless as the next. ;)
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