Nov 2020
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milejdyvan
Nov '20
2

Interestingly, this question actually fits me a lot :smiley: I do actually try my best to appeal to as many readers as possible. Do I have more than two main characters? Yep! I have 20 lol! All are very diverse and unique. And while the first book heavily focuses on one character, slowly as the books come, they all will get their time to shine. I honestly believe that representation is really important in story-telling, especially in this time and age when everybody is so divided. It's really important to show that everyone matters. Plus the diversity in my story isn't forced either. It makes canonical sense why everyone is the way they are. Plus, the power system in my story "spirit" heavily enhances their "Individuality" hence the title of the story :grin: but I do not like to call it "pandering". Calling it that is actually pretty offensive to someone who genuinely cares about inclusivity. I am not pandering to anyone, I am merely writing what I want. Not sure if you are interested but if you are, here it is.

ChaoticConstellation
Nov '20

I don’t think a long form story can do this. Too many opinions, and characters, actions or personalities are likely to turn some people off. But typically a short story, can have a very wide appeal. Certainly nothing can appeal to everyone. But something like Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is fairly well known, and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but people usually will read the whole thing, and want to talk about it, which is appealing in and of itself. Since you can’t appeal to everyone at least make something worth reading, discussing and that you personally like.

KelheorRegular
Nov '20
milejdyvan

It's only offensive if you think it's offensive. No one is calling you out on creating a huge diverse cast. But if someone wants to create a huge diverse cast just to please everyone and hit every possible person, then it is pandering. Nothing really bad in its core too, but it is what it is.

milejdyvan
Nov '20
1

I didn't say that anybody was calling me out. How would they? I'm not well known here or anything 🤣 I am just saying my opinion on the matter. And since the word pandering was mentioned, I just said what I thought about it. And yes indeed, that is how "being offended" works. Not everyone is offended by the same thing, which BTW, I am not offended if you think that is the case. But if someone were to point at me directly and said I was pandering than yeah, I wouldn't like that. That was the point I was making.

Oh and yes, there is a lot of bad in the core of pandering. Just by the definition, it's an immoral or distasteful thing to do. So not sure what you were trying to say there.

nickolaidas
Nov '20

You don't. You make what you like, and target it at people who like what you like.

If you make a story containing homosexual characters, homophobic readers will be turned off.
If you make a story without homosexual characters, homosexual readers may feel disinterested to read it.

If you make a story without violence, gore fans may get bored.
If you make a story with violence, readers who only like romance and comedy will be disinterested.

If you make a story that has everything, it will only appeal to people who have no problem with anything. And those aren't everyone.

So, theoretically, while you CAN have everything in your story, it won't catch the interest of everyone, because some readers do NOT want a story to have everything. Remember that 'a jack of all trades is a master of none'.

Also, if you DID make a story that has everything and everyone would be inclined to read it, you need to have the appropriate quality to keep their interest.

nickolaidas
Nov '20
Kelheor

Agreed. A creator's story should be about what they want to make and what they want to say, not about ticking boxes.

ChaoticConstellation
Nov '20
milejdyvan

I just mean if someone has chosen to view your story, they probably already like some aspect. If nothing appeals to them then they would probably just pass over it. I have a comic that is BL romance with a sci-fi twist. No one who reads my comic complains about it, but I know that someone who doesn’t like BL or romance probably won’t read it. Or someone who DOES might put it down because they don’t like sci-fi. Just putting a bunch of things into your story for the sake of appeal can backfire. Something that one person likes might really turn off another.

R.n.P
Nov '20

Just don't, you cant please everyone and cant pander to everyone, just write and create characters that suit your tastes

NickRowler
Nov '20

The only time I have seen someone pull it off is when the media is wholesome enough to appeal to some one as young a 4 and as old as 90, while being silly/mature enough to appeal to teens and young adults who want something that is not only for kids.

A good example is Toy Story 3.

You might be surprised. I feel like there is a lot of crossover between media that appeals to straight women and gay men. There has also been media that was meant for a female audience but gained a large male audience, like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. And there has also been media meant for a male audience that gained female fans because they thought the male leads were cute.

DiegoPalacios
Nov '20

It's impossible to appeal to every single human being, because people have different tastes and some tastes are incompatible to each other. Everything is liked by some and hated by others.

Removed
Nov '20
NickRowler

Precure, and Teen Wolf too. :smile:

Removed
Nov '20
nickolaidas

I don't agree because I remember a few successful writers saying that their story is 50% for them, and 50% for their audience, one of them even said that they audience have a bigger percentage. (that last one isn't a writer tho, he's a mangaka)

Jenny-Toons
Nov '20
1

Here's the thing -- you're assuming what has worked for them could work for you or anyone else.

Never assume it'll pan out the same way just because it helped a few people get famous.

Their journey is not your journey.

If pandering to everyone worked all of the time, my response would be different. But as many have said -- you can't. You simply can't. You will break your spine trying to bend over backwards for everyone, banking on the hope that they might read your work or might support you with money.

Another thing -- readers are not stupid.

People can tell if someone is trying to pander to a demographic rather than make a story they enjoy. People can tell if someone is only in their fandom for popularity and money. Some creators are better at hiding it than others, but over time, it becomes apparent when someone doesn't like the work they did (and still don't like it). If you're gonna go to all that trouble trying to make people like your stuff, you might as well enjoy some part of it.

Because if you're doing this just to appeal to people and make money, and don't include the things you like -- you're in for a long, disappointing journey.

Edit: Also remember -- we're all consumers. We like and dislike media just like everyone else. Being a creator doesn't change that. And if others cannot always gather our attention, why should we break spines trying to do the same? Some people just won't like what you put out -- it be like that.

domisotto
Nov '20

I think I still would prefer that more works either removed the fixation on bouncing boobs and flowing locks the moment femme walks in, or added swinging codpieces and moonlit abs the moment homme shows up.

milejdyvan
Nov '20
nickolaidas

Only because you responded to someone who was responding to me, please let me explain in case I was misunderstood. Because that's what I feel is happening. Me writing a story about a diverse cast IS what I want. I don't want to write a cast filled with white people who are all the same because that is boring to me. I like designing different kinds of characters and of different cultures. I'm not thinking about what others want, I'm thinking about what I want in my story. It just so happens that that is something that is inclusive of others 🤷🏼‍♀️ just saying.

carloswebcomic
Nov '20

Just put a rapping dog wearing a backward cap and sunglasses in your story and everything will be alright.

CursedBeasts
Nov '20

I don't think it's possible because different demographics have opposing demands that probably can't exist in the same piece of media without clashing.

That said, I think everyone takes something of their own away from each piece of media they consume.

nickolaidas
Nov '20
Removed

I think it's the same with Medicine. A person should theoretically become a doctor because he wants to cure sick people, but there are successful doctors that did it for money, recognition or simply because they were good at it.