Do you adjust your story based on reader's reactions?

[Comic.Kikikora]

Do you adjust your story based on reader's reactions?

From small changes to changing the main story, character or even ... The ending ? Like making the story less or more brutal ....?

[Pony_wearing_a_hat]

I might in future... but for my current novel I can't. The story is already written, I'm just uploading it. I did get one bit of critique that caused me to rethink a certain line that comes far later and I adjusted it, basically I removed something that would be triggering. Other than that I only make changes based on what I think are mistakes. I say again that this is not my golden standard, and I could very well change a story based on reaction in the future.

[rajillustration]

Nope

It's sort of why I tend to write a bit offline before I post online--because I don't want to feel pressured to change the direction just cuz some people really like a character that they don't know is an asshole yet. I have this problem where I do feel insecure when an update lands that is more emotional or vulnerable. If I give myself an excuse to do what is softer so I don't make people feel bad or whatever, then what was the point of writing my story? Then it's not my story anymore.

[Inspector_Spinda]

Not based on reader's reactions because I haven't gotten many negatives, but I have asked for critique from people before. Usually I already know something is off so it's more tips for how to tightening it up. I don't plan on large plot changes from reader feedback.

[HippieGhost]

As a collection of stories my series has a unique advantage in this regard. There are some things I set in stone and I have some stories that I haven't "planned" per se, but I know what I want to have happen. That said, if my audience is reacting well to a certain character or asking about a place, or commenting on whatever, I can include that in future short stories to sate their appetites. I won't change the direction of a story in place, but I absolutely take reader feedback and reactions into account when thinking about new content. (For example, I had a few people ask to see Arin from the shopkeeper again. I have no plans to include them at the moment, but that may well change!)

[IndigoShirtProd]

Readers, no, granted I have yet to have a reader request a change or find issue with the plot as of right now. I have changed details or certain aspects of my comic, though not major plot details, after critiques. Someone mentioned to me that there weren't good transitions between scenes in a certain chapter, so I added a page for a more seamless transition. Things like that I'm willing to change, but plot details are left to me alone.

[therosesword]

No.

caveat would be if they find a timeline error, or something is missing etc. I usually put up completed pieces and not works in progress.

[Eiranyx]

Most likely no, but I do based their 'assumptions' regarding the plot sometimes.
Like most of the comment that have 'reactions' are usually the type of readers who assume the what they think will happen next in the story (which most of them gotten wrong, so in the first place btw lol) and also It just so happened that my script is the opposite of what they assume most of the time -- so I go for it and don't change the story its a way to keep them intrigued in away that 'because their earlier assumptions was wrong, maybe they might get it right in their next try ' type of thing but if I think that some of their reactions actually makes a good sense and can be a good addition to the plot I consider some of it.

[mcarrowolga]

I do that with my comic. Sometimes, my reader's questions tell me that giving an extra in-story explanation of something is a good idea, some comments can inspire me to choose a different plot twist from the one I had planned to use before. Also, readers suggest better character names sometimes, so I use them.

But with my novels - nope. They are all written 16-10 years ago, I'm just translating (or, rather, retelling) them into English now.

[Teddy-Stonehill]

Not in the sense of trying to please people, exactly.

But reader response can tell me a lot about how my story is coming across, which plot hints are being picked up, what people are missing, etc. I have adjusted which hints I drop where and also how soon certain plot revelations dropped based on how readers are responding to stuff.

If people aren't getting what I want them to out of the story, I don't think there's any problem with making adjustments so that my goals as a storytelling are being reached better.

[WinterFall]

Hmm... it depends. I've only ever gotten a reaction with my grammar and words, not my plot. I do adjust my grammar and punctuations, but that's it. As for the plot, nope. My novel is quite new and "small" at the moment, and right now there are only two chapters, so I've never really gotten any comments about my plot yet, since the story hasn't even reached the climax; it's not even near there.

However, if I were to get comments about it, I don't think I'd adjust or change the ending/climax. You see, I'm still writing my novel, my story isn't wholly written yet, but my whole plot is already solid and planned. As for my characters... it also depends. After all, your readers can only assume or think of what would happen next, they don't really know what will happen; if a character would have development, if there would be a plot twist, or if there is someone who'd die. They are only able to go with the flow by reading the most recent chapter, soooo...

[artemficta]

It depends. My script is already written (and some things are set in stone) but I would take into consideration anything a reader said and evaluate it. If it were something I thought worth changing (and that I could) then I would. If it were offensive to someone in particular I would consider changing it.

[AmysGames]

I mean, I definitely take reader feedback into consideration. Though usually that manifests less as me changing the story itself so much as clarifying things that readers found confusing.

[julipow]

Interesting question. I think for me it depends. Would I ever change something about the characters or the plot/ending? No. But I do take feedback into consideration, but you have to think about the fact that this your story. It's just not possible to please everyone and have everyone be interested in your story. Sometimes readers start to dislike where your story or plot is going, but changing the plot just because of that would take away the reason why you decided to make the plot this way. You always have to remember that your readers don't know everything about your story, so most of the time they simply don't have enough understanding to suggest some major changes to you. Of course, feedback when it comes to pacing, grammar or flow of the story should always be considered along with critique of any kind. But I think you will have to keep in mind that you can't please everyone with your story and changing it majorly just because one (or more) people said they don't like this about character name's personality or about the plot/universe in general would be bad for you and your loyal readers that do enjoy the story. Of course, fixing plot holes reader notice is a good thing to an extend, so I truly think it depends. But personally, I would never change a lot or something drastic because of reader's reactions.

[DasIstWunderblyat]

"Reader's reaction"?
What is that? How do you get it

[arxianfall]

Only when it comes to readability and accessibility. My best friend is partially blind so he's my reference point. If he can read, then the comic is fine.

Story based, I plan a lot before I get into a project. And I try to simply things without dumbing them down. Again for accessibility.

[shapeshiftingmel]

Not really. However, I do sometimes get inspiration from my readers as I read through their comments.

[FritzC]

Generally no.
My readers are reading my comic and thereby expecting me to tell them a story, for better or worse.
Sometimes if i can tell by the comments that almost everyone entirely missed the point of a scene, I'll try to show "subtle" things and undertones more clearly in the later storyline though.

[myumyudapao]

not really, since it's my story, though I might have evaluate some parts that has similarity opinion which I accidentally didn't notice that it was a flaw in my story, but generally I will not.

[darthmongoose]

I try not to change the plotline, even if people in the comments have guessed correctly what's going to happen, because they don't always hit the mark on their predictions, and rather than cheating to make it so they were wrong, I'd rather they get the satisfaction of their attentiveness to the clues I dropped paying off. Like yeah, you caught me, Excalibur totally got pulled by X like you thought, well done!

I think I do subconsciously alter how characters and jokes are written or the pacing based on reader feedback. I've been a Dungeon Master for tabletop games for... god... something like 15 years, and I now have a sense for when people are losing engagement in a narrative or they're just not feeling something, as well as when they're really interested in a particular character. For example, if people hadn't really warmed to Subo in chapter 2, I would have pared back his role to just what was necessary, or toned down his character a bit, but since readers actually reacted really well to him, he got more jokes and funny moments where he was the centre of attention. I think it's going to be a similar process with Jules this chapter; how much Jules can people take? Does this character engage readers or are they tuning out? I'll probably steer things based on how people react.