I know that sometimes when I read stuff like fanfiction online, I like to read stuff that wouldn't necessarily be acceptable to be publish in terms of the style. The writing is way more causal is what I mean with less descriptors. When you guys read on tapastic, do you seek stuff more like real books or stuff that's more causal and quick paced?
Dec '20
Dec '20
More casual. If it's more like a print book, it has to be completed because I'm more likely to binge it like a real book.
I'm not sure if you'd dub it "real books" or "casual", but the stories I've read online (both fanfiction and original fiction) that I prefer/gravitate towards are the stories where the author has practiced and polished their work. I know it's a really vague way to put it. I've read some awesome fan fiction, and I've also read stuff that makes me wonder why these grown-up, "mature" adult heroes would want to spend time with childish "self-insert".
When I read a story, I don't necessarily want to see myself as the protagonist, I want to be able to picture a fully-developed protagonist that I can form a connection to. If it's a full-length story, I relish in the extra details. If it's a fast-paced story, I want to be on the edge of my metaphorical seat.
Real books’ style, as much quality as possible without dedicated editorial staff, but with a nod to the on-line publishing, i.e. incredible handle on tension and border-line melodramatic emotional narrative.
I seek writers from whom I can learn to write popular books, specifically for the Internet.
I definately prefer books that are written more like classic books, that have enough description to carry the dialogue. But it really all depends on the book. If it's meant to be a screenplay straight up, I can read that without wondering where the description went. Same with Light Novels (although I don't read those.) Webnovels aren't all novels.
I wouldn’t say on the level of self insert. What I mean is a good plot and ideas but maybe written in a rushed way without all the detailed narration and descriptions you would find in a book. Does that make sense?
Yeah, it kind of does. You're talking about how a writer paces the events in a story, yes? If we're both thinking along the lines of how an author might rush through a story when readers would beg for more time/detail to fill out a scene or make a reader beg to delete 50% of the story? - it still depends on the story and writer's skill level to craft a story for me. If a storyteller does their job right, a short period of time can be a full story.
I am no snob. I actually don't really care much about writing style, as long as it is something understandable and not too casual or unrefined. I am in that phase when supposedly "good" or "eloquent" styles no longer sway or interest me, and "bland" or "stiff" styles are just averagely normal. That is why people think I have no writing style.
About pacing, I don't really fit with faster-paced book. The details and explanation in a series actually help me slow down and immerse more.
Do you mean, it's all simple dialogue, full of 3 to 5 words exchanges, and short, choppy senetnces all starting with "I" or characters' name?
Also, what is good plot/ideas? The plots in the simply written stories is, in my experience, pretty basic. Someone wants their throne back. The guy got hit by a bus and now is reborn into a life where he is a sex-magnet. The world had ended and that last girl is hunted for breeding by the aliens. etc
I have a hard time imagining an intriguing plot and deep characters delivered in the "I go, I see, I do" style.
Honestly, as long as it’s entertaining I’ll have a read.
I really love Terry Pratchett’s books because he added lots of little details and backstories throughout his stories. I like the conversational tone too - it’s almost like he’s reading the story out loud to me. 
It doesn’t work for all genres, but he’s one of my favourite authors. 
But his narrative shows the mastery of the writing—pretty much anyone would kill to write a book that immerses and flows naturally. It is one of the hardest narrative styles to recreate though. On the net, you have a couple of beginner styles that stand out.
One is the extremely simple, empty sentences heavily leaning toward the basic structure of I/she/he did/was with filter words felt, heard, started, finished, etc. taking place in a white room.
The second is the run-on sentences, with purple prose trying too hard to pile on adjectives and adverbs to mask the absence of immersive narrative/balance. Usually, the grammar does not bear out the complexity of it either.
Both styles are tiring to read.
It’s people who overall get the balance right who get the reads. Or those who write completely broken texts on the level so simple, it is one notch above illiterate
I guess an easy way to think of it is the difference between a novel and a light novel. light novels can be very interesting, but aren't written as professionally if you know what i mean? I really don't know how to explain it much better than that
Light novel is all dialogues, so people are reading scripts. I used to like reading scripts when I was young, but usually, it was funny, like Oscar Wilde funny. What light novels I saw so far, all fell into the one notch above literate category. It’s just not interesting to read and I don’t like that feeling of IQ draining as I read.
I definitely search for stuff that is written more like an actual book since I was raised on actual books and still love them to death (I am rediscovering it by reading Dune after being unable to read an actual book in many moons). I love the slower pace, the more in-depth character work, and the more intensive descriptions. Not only does it make the story easier to understand, but it allows you to latch onto the characters and world more. I'm also not often fond of the more casual writing styles unless it is in favor of good comedy or is being narrated by a kiddo or teenager with a more limited vocabulary.
However, I do definitely understand why some people might prefer a brisker pace. Heck, the audience who frequents Tapas is definitely looking for a brisker pace and something less-involved/intensive as that's how the site is advertised. With a brisker pace, you get to the good stuff faster and you get more character development quicker, and if it's a romance, characters might get together quicker, too. In fact, one of the most consistent critiques I've obtained for my story on this site is that it's really slow-paced, and one of the biggest critiques I tend to give out is that other people's stories are too fast paced. 
Nothing against either style, though. Sometimes I'm in the mood for a good, fast-paced story.
Same here. I love all the details and world building.
Dune is something I have been wanting to read, but haven’t yet. Would you recommend it?
I prefer not to read dialogue/play style because it hurts my eyes lol. It feels hard to get engaged with it too. So, I prefer "traditional" writing which is what a majority of users here write in tbh.
Balance is so important to me. I love the lighter stuff, like a story following 5 women through 50+years of friendship. It can be great. I remember reading one guy's story where he did an amazing job describing this out of the way gas station, but the characterization was nil. I had a hard time staying engaged because I had no idea why this guy was there.
Hmmmm... good question.
I would recommend it if: You are a fan of sci-fi and you would like to write a sci-fi book (even if you end up hating it, the book is such a classic and nails those sci-fi themes really well). You like sprawling epics and amazing feats of imagination, interesting concepts, unexpected characters/character development, great descriptions and creations of scenes and feelings, and fascinating themes.
I would not recommend it if: You don't like sci-fi, don't like a slower pace, like stories that are a little more straightforward and to the point, and are not fond of the style it was written in. I think a lot of the biggest complaints I hear about Dune come from the style (which I don't have a problem with) but some people might find it rambling or drawn-out.
Dune highlights why it is so hard to write Sci-fi. Most people consume Sci-fi in visual media, vs book form, because without the familiar platform for the imagination to spring up and visualize things, it all has to be laid out in text. Even though Dune is similar to Star Wars in being sci fantasy, rather than sci Fi in its imagery and social build, it is still struggling with what is going to be wordiness in modern terms, plus some weirdo stuff that I guess was cool in Herbert’s times, like including Russian words at random.
Heh, sorry about the rant. I love writing sci fi, as in space opera, but the audience is practically nil for it
