Open Thread: Oracle Hotline

[mithen]

--Have you ever changed the direction of a WiP based on feedback from readers?

This obviously is for works being posted episodically, although I think it could work as a question about beta readers as well! I don't think I've ever made really major changes, but I do think reader feedback can influence me as I write, if I'm not finished. I know my sister's feedback has inspired me to go in and clear up some technical details (writing a wrestling match has the same difficulties as writing a superhero fight scene and it can get either muddled or tedious very quickly! You have to find the emotional heart of the fight and connect everything to that). I wrote over a thousand words yesterday and I am super happy about that! I'm hoping to be done with this chapter by the end of the weekend! And I just (like 15 minutes ago) read an excerpt from a freshly-published biography that confirms my suspicion about a bit of canon, so I'm very happy about that. (Now I just have to find a way to pirate the book, because the author is a Sandy Hook truther and I refuse to give her any money). I hope you are feeling vindication in your writing this week as well!

Comments

[bradygirl_12]

Once or twice. Generally I write the entire multi-chaptered fic first and then post, but while posting I can change. Usually it's a minor change but I do get some good suggestions.

Plodding along with editing. Good thing I enjoy the story! 😝

[mithen]

I like that approach, to be done with the whole thing but open to some tweaks as you post it! It's a good balance between a lack of structure and being too rigid.

[svgurl]

Yay! Congrats on all the words! I hope you're able to get a free copy of that book because yikes, I wouldn't want to give her any money either.

I've taken advice from beta readers and changed stuff based on what they suggested, but I don't think I've done that with readers. I used to write multi chapters a lot more in the past and while I sometimes came across a good idea, I also had a plan and couldn't work it in.

[mithen]

I've gone looking for a torrent of the book but no luck so far! I'm wondering if I can use a quote from it if I can just find someone else quoting it? Must I actually lay my own eyes on the text? I'm not sure...

I do tend to trust beta readers over random readers, you know? Unless they're someone I have a long-term friendship with and I trust their input a lot.