All right folks, I've had enough.
Want some good writing AND some good plot? Here, have some.
Ain't happy yet, despite the difference in writing and plot? Then maybe you should try premium content, because these are some of the best I could find on here 
Eh, I always just think that the writing should suit the story and vice versa. It's obvious a story should be enjoyable to read, but there has to be something beneath the words too, or whats the point? Part of the "reading experience" has to come from reading a compelling story. Perhaps for me "plot vs reading experience" is just to simple, because it leaves out the actual content which for me is a pretty important factor?
A good story is the sum of it's parts. Plot and reading experience are just two parts.
Reading experience and plot are both very important to a story and each has their own function.
Reading experience is never an objective thing. Someone could find a story overflowing with "fanciful" language as a poor reading experience and then someone else can think the exact opposite. I could fill my stories with fanciful language, overflowing with words just for the sake of it or I think it's pretty, but most people won't want to read it. You're telling a story, sometimes a long one, the plot is important you need to move it forward, you need to make sure your readers are engaged and understand what's going on.
Then again there are a lot of good stories that people out there like to read that use "complex" "fanciful" words (what's complex and fanciful is different for every reader).
Knowing your audience is important. There's a general trend of people liking a good plot told in a simplistic but engaging fashion (at least that's what I've seen).
Also, words are just words if there's no meaning behind it (it's why poetry is so powerful those pretty words have a meaning) the same needs to be applied in a story, whether it's simple or complex or there's no point.
I read for the plot. I've read a lot of literature back in my university days filled to the brim with symbolism, allusions, artistic formatting, and grandiose vocabulary, and it wasn't the BEST experience.
I can read Paradise Lost because the PLOT is good, despite the elevated language.
I can read the Epic of Gilgamesh because I'm in it for the adventure of the King and his Friend, and gloss over all the poetry inside. I loved The Count of Monte Cristco, because even though the words were hard to understand, the carefully planned, decades-long revenge of Edmond Dantes was too amazing for me to stop.
If I had to read something with grandiose language, but the plot is not engaging enough, I would give up and put my dictionary away.
I'm also willing to put up with simple writing with only a drop or two of dramatic irony because the conflict is what's engaging me, even if it's a fight described in simple words and direct attack names.
I'm used to reading translated novels where the translator does not have English as their first language, and the writing is very awkward or jarring due to the grammar of the original language.
So plot matters to me. I need my multi-factional conflicts, hidden power levels, exploration, and face-slapping goodness.
i think a good plot is kinda integral to a good reading experience for me - if theres nothing to something, no matter how pretty, is it well written?
and by good plot, i dont mean really interesting concept and story - i mean well executed plot and structure. i want the story to drag me somewhere by the nosehairs. thats a good reading experience in my book.
unique concept is kinda whatever - its a really good thing to have, but only worth something if you can wield it right. a by the books boy meets girl blah story can still be enjoyable if skilfully executed - although most are just passable.
i think simplistic prose can do fine if it fits the book - i recently read do androids dream of electric sheep, which is written in this very straightforward, matter of fact, deeply male prose style that normally id hate, but it does work with the book (which i really enjoyed and whizzed through.) (it was deeply male bc he kept describing womens tits despite it being irrelevant - not as bad as neil gaiman though, that man loves referencing front bottoms and i hate him for it). sometimes it serves a work to be unassuming or minimalist, sometimes it suits it to be more stylised - but keep away from purple prose. its just amateur.
but yeah, prose style should serve the work - its really just a surface aesthetic, whats really pulling the reader in is the story and structure
I’m all for the content more than everything else. I refuse to read something that’s only oozing in pretentiousness.
Then... find novels you like? Saying that "typical, modern novels" represent something wrong with society is pretty damn disrespectful, and exaggerated.
People disagreeing with you doesn't necessarily mean they're upset. I wasn't upset, and I don't think I used any language to suggest I was. (I am aware you aren't specifically talking about me, its just easy to use myself as an example)
Did they say that? They changed the original post so I have no way of double checking, but I don't remember anything that inflammatory being said?
It doesn't seem to me like folks are upset with you -- they just feel differently from you! I don't see anyone being angry or upset that you brought up the topic. Sometimes when you make a topic and get replies from 10 different people who don't agree, it can feel like people are unhappy with you -- but that isn't the case! It's important to remember that they're not like, arguing with you or mad at you -- they're expressing a different view in response to the topic!
I think it's way classier to avoid naming names when you run into work you dislike, and it's generally better to describe and talk about the problem than to call out the specific work, so imo you made a good choice there! But I think for any creator on these forums, when starting a topic, it's a good idea to consider if you're curious about others' thoughts and approach, or if you just wanna vent somewhere -- because if you just wanna vent, then it might be frustrating when you inevitably get a mixed response (because creators are a varied bunch). Make sure that's what you actually want!
That said -- honestly, if your general problem with the novels you're describing is "there's a bunch of boring, mediocre work out there," I wouldn't say I disagree? But "there's a bunch of boring, mediocre work" is not a new societal problem... like, there will always be mediocre work. The majority of work will generally be mediocre, as a general rule, and it's okay to not like most of it. It's okay to not like a lot of things that other people like, and to not see what's so great about the things that the majority love. And it's fair to be frustrated when the things you LIKE, the things that make a novel fun and interesting for you, are rare and hard to find.
But whenever you can, I think it can be helpful to try to keep that frustration from turning towards the people making the things you don't care for -- like, instead of focusing on "these novels don't have the elements I enjoy, they're a chore to read, why do people like them???" -- it's okay to feel that way! But I try to focus instead on "these novels really don't do it for me because I tend to prefer novels that have X, Y, and Z!! I want to see more of X because it's my jam!! It's so hard to find Y and I want to see more stories with it!!!" It's the same feeling, but a more positive expression of it that's easier to reach out with and find likeminded folks!
I see! Thank you, I totally missed the between editing. The whole thing is just getting kind of silly. XD
Though I may have come off as vulgar I wasn't upset. It was just my opinion, which you invite people to contribute.
I just say I like none confusing, straight to the point writing that is easy for me to understand because my English is not the best, and getting overwhelmed by trying to read a bunch of sentences in-between dialog that is filled with words, phrases and similes I don't understand is not a fun experience for me.
I don't mind learning 'a few new English words' when reading, but if I can't understand ANYTHING or I have to look up a word that is being used that has not been active in the English language since 1873 but was used for the sake of not repeating the word 'said' then I'm not having fun reading.
I wasn't offended by your original topic; but I was worrying a bit, like, 'oh god, I hope they didn't read mine and it made them depressed' or something. XD Honestly, I think I was just a little confused by it like some other people were. Reader experience is important, but I think reader experience is based largely around the plot of a story and the language used to convey it. Regardless, I think the most important thing of all is for the writer to tell the story they want to tell and not worry about reader experience. If the writer focuses on making themselves happy about their story first and foremost, readers will be more likely to have a good experience with it, too.
Like, I fully admit most of my stories are kinda downers, dark, and depressing, and I get that not everyone's gonna like that, but I just don't care because they're the stories I want to tell and the feelings I want to express and the topics I personally have an interest in. I knew writing a story about a male prostitute would alienate a lot of people and make them uncomfortable, for instance, but I did it anyway because it's just a topic I have interest in as I've never really seen it done before.
I myself have always had a preference for more engaging, but still meaningful, writing. At this age in my life, I can't abide pages and pages of descriptions of places anymore; I like authors to move the plot forward, but in an artistic and pretty way that doesn't take up pages and pages. My dad says you should always give the reader just enough of a description to give them a clear image in their mind, and not to go beyond that, and I think that's pretty sound advice.
I also think being kinder with your language is just nicer, too. The internet is a toxic enough place already which I think is why some people may have taken offense at you calling a lot of the work on Tapas boring and mediocre. For all we know that author may have put their heart and soul into that work! XD But no worries, I didn't personally take offense. <3
I want to grow not only in readers but as a writer. So I don't mind some criticism as long is it is not done with malicious intent...
In fact I preffer when people interact aswer my questions and give me the well desired feedback.
This isn’t really a self promotion thread, maybe you ought to find somewhere else to post your story? Good luck to you!
Actually, the OP mentions clearly that people are allowed to advertise their novels in this thread now. With that, the post is totally acceptable.
@Pan uhh... what about this?
