Is it okay to intentionally leave something that would seemingly demand an explanation unexplained as an artistic choice?

[JoshRaed]

Like a small thing, but something that you might ask about, but then it's never answered. It's not a super important story thing, or something all that crazy and out there, it's just a random thing. I could answer it but I feel like the explanation would just be unnecessary and just make this very small moment overly explained, and also I kind of want the character doing the unexplained thing to have an element of mystery. Also the moment itself just feels better in my head if we don't have a proper explanation for it, and it's just sort of happening.

[HGohwell]

If this is what I think, it's kinda a bad look, but ok let's take this geniunely.

No, you do not have to explain everything. And yes, people have a habit of being a bit overly critical in your threads and get into details that are not relevant, because you're constantly making threads like this and because you insist on constantly arguing. So, no you do not have to explain everything. Sometimes someone just has a lighter, but, as I explained in the last thread, you also have to be prepared for the implications people might take from that and how people might not like an important object "just being there".

[Lensing]

It is not unexplained.
All 3 things are in your story because the protagonists needs those items to solve
problems in the story. That´s the explanation.
The bucket of water which appears in the middle of nowhere, the lighter
in the pocket of a kid, the bug spray which the kid finds to fight spiders.

No need to open up another topic about your other topic

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

I feel like it would be artistic & okay IF the reader has been given enough info to make up their own explanation for "whateveritis".

[NickRowler]

I think it depends on what it is. Like if it’s not important to the overall plot, it might be worth just keeping it ambiguous.

Sometimes people are curious about minor details but you don’t want to fall down a rabbit hole of over explaining everything. Some times readers can make connections based on hints or what is implied.

If you do get to a point where readers are confused, you could also adjust your story to add an explanation if needed.

[river121693]

Generally stories need set up and pay-off to make sense. But it depends on what the thing is.
Does this thing they do fit with your character?
Does it resolve your characters' issues out of no where that it becomes Deux Ex MAchina?
Is it done for shock value or humor?

[ueonts]

Yeah I mean I think less is more if you can get away with it, but you need to think about why you are leaving something unanswered, if you leave it unanswered without intent then I would say no to be honest. It might just be a sign of laziness in that case.

[JoshRaed]

So... it's something I could easily see myself having done for literally no reason as a kid, and the character doing it is a kid, but I don't know how to make the impulse to do it make sense to an audience and feel like a natural character action.

[JoshRaed]

So when I was a kid I would sometimes consider lighting a lighter when I was alone with one, and always decided not to, but I wanted to. I think that's why the moment just makes sense to me. But I can't make perfect sense of it, it was just a random thing. How do I make it make sense to an audience, instead of it feeling like a confusing random thing?

[HGohwell]

Show it. It's that simple. If your character is the type of character who has an impulse and follows it, then show it, because that is character. Show your character thinking "oh that's cool looking" or "this'll be fun" or whatever dumb childish impulsive thought they have that shows us the character is a dumb impulsive kid. Just make sure that character continues to be a dumb impulsive kid (at least until if/when they get character development).

[Lensing]

It could work in a story but this is a short, simple story with things appearing, it doesn´t come
across natural. I´ll repeat: bucket, bug spray, lighter = it´s too much and not convincing that the things
just pop up. You can do that better

[SleepingPoppy]

I think you need to remember that the forums is full of random internet strangers. Listen to the advice, then decide for yourself what to actually apply in your story. You don’t have to change something just because some people pointed out concerns.

In terms of the kid running away, it’s one of those things that might work better when it’s drawn. There’s not much info in the script. People are picking on stuff to try and help you think, they aren’t (or shouldn’t) demand actual change.

It is okay to do whatever you want with any of your stories. Which you very well know. Don’t overthink!

[HarryM]

You don't want to leave people with a sense of confusion, but letting some things be open to interpretation is half the fun of creating stuff! Let people have their own takeaways from things.

For example, I drew this strip a while back. Originally all 4 panels had the character's thoughts, but I increasingly wasn't happy with how the thoughts were landing. Then I realized I could just axe the last two panels' words, and suddenly it's the character trailing off in thought, internally wrestling with his emotions. It worked much better, and lets the reader fill in their own blanks!

Hope that helps.

[JoshRaed]

I think you're right about it making more sense in drawing. Because I don't think it was actually communicated by the script that he was mad at her, and if he's not angry than the scene makes no real sense.

[VividRunning]

I like to use the ending of Five Feet Apart as an example.
At the end of the movie and novel, the characters don't die. We know they're going to die someday, because of their terminal illness, but the author never includes that. That's one of the things I love about that story: We can make up our own ending. We know they're going to die, but rather than making us sad, it gives us hope.
So yes, you can leave some things out. As long as it enhances the quality of the story.

[JoshRaed]

So now the bug spray exists in the RV. It replaced the bucket. Is that plot detail better now? Is the lighter okay now?

[Lensing]

The bug spray in the RV makes more sense than the bucket of water

[VersusVII]

As a character said in The longest journey game, "mystery is important, senorita". Not all questions have to be answered if the core of the story has closure and doesn't look like it has plot holes. If the unanswered questions are too much or doesn't give a sense to what it's happening, there's a problem.

[PoquitoBird]

Wow, that is a game that I haven't heard anyone talk about in years and was so good. Soundtrack, story, dialogue, everything! Sure it has plot holes that were suppose to addressed in the full trilogy, but only got around to two games.

Also Crow is one of the best written characters.

I really need to play it again...

[VersusVII]

I love that game, even if the graphic is really old now. I loved seeing some places in high quality in Chapters but that game left (and gave) more "mysterys" than the ones it answered... I think The longest journey was perfect like it was, the next games ruined the story for me