/lit/ - Literature

Anonymous
06/12/12(Tue)23:26
No.2716902

File: 1339557997806.jpg-(28 KB, 500x491, 1328401960235.jpg)

Anonymous 06/12/12(Tue)23:26 No.2716902

So, when I was 18 I wrote a book. It was a pretty childish book. As I got older I decided to rewrite it and try to publish it.

The first thing I did of course was remove the Mary Sue character I'd made. With all the complaints against Mary Sues out there I thought it was important that he go. I kept him in 2 scenes that were rather important then ditched him for the rest of the story.

Couldn't get the book published. One of the complaints from people who read the book is the most interesting character in it said a few lines and vanished.

My second book was about a girl who succeeds naturally at many things, goes on a quest, and saves the day. It got published almost immediately. (it sold ok)

If I followed the advice of people I meet on the internet the only people we want to read about are people who try hard, fail at everything, and die.

But what sells is the exact opposite.

Explain please.

Anonymous
06/12/12(Tue)23:34
No.2716924

Anonymous No.2716924 06/12/12(Tue)23:34 No.2716924

People would like to project themselves with greater depth than they have, implying that they can appretiate work which does not end in a good way. But when it really comes down to reading a book for real, not just projecting the awesome cool edgy reader image they wish to display on the web all they want is happy ever after. Just a thought.

Anonymous
06/12/12(Tue)23:37
No.2716927

Anonymous No.2716927 06/12/12(Tue)23:37 No.2716927

>>2716902
> It was a pretty childish book
It's safe to say you're target demographic is different to that which makes up /lit/.
Take Eragon, it's fucking terrible but I loved it as a kid

Anonymous
06/12/12(Tue)23:39
No.2716929

Anonymous No.2716929 06/12/12(Tue)23:39 No.2716929

>>2716927
Hmmm. Indeed, that's true.

Anonymous
06/12/12(Tue)23:40
No.2716930

Anonymous No.2716930 06/12/12(Tue)23:40 No.2716930

>Dollars damn me; and the malicious Devil is forever grinning in upon me, holding the door ajar. My dear Sir, a presentiment is on me, -- I shall at last be worn out and perish, like an old nutmeg-grater, grated to pieces by the constant attrition of the wood, that is, the nutmeg. What I feel most moved to write, that is banned, -- it will not pay. Yet, altogether, write the other way I cannot. So the product is a final hash, and all my books are botches. I'm rather sore, perhaps, in this letter, but see my hand! -- four blisters on this palm, made by hoes and hammers within the last few days.
That's hardly a revelation OP

Anonymous
06/12/12(Tue)23:48
No.2716946

Anonymous No.2716946 06/12/12(Tue)23:48 No.2716946

looking to sell != mastering human expression

Anonymous
06/12/12(Tue)23:55
No.2716963

Anonymous No.2716963 06/12/12(Tue)23:55 No.2716963

>>2716946
Hahaha, yeah.

Anonymous
06/12/12(Tue)23:56
No.2716966

Anonymous No.2716966 06/12/12(Tue)23:56 No.2716966

you should've already known not to trust internet opinions. where did you get them from, random people? or someplace dedicated to critiquing like critters?

Anonymous
06/13/12(Wed)00:01
No.2716977

Anonymous No.2716977 06/13/12(Wed)00:01 No.2716977

>>2716902
Mary Sue has become a completely meaningless term due to the internet OP. If I went by internet definitions just about every protagonist in history is a mary sue. The point of a mary sue isnt that they win or that they are even a self insert(it can work), its that they are too fucking perfect and its infuriating.

Also keep in mind that most examples of mary sues came from fanfiction which has a low quality. Trigun has a very mary sue-ish protagonist, but hes a well done and likable character.

Anonymous
06/13/12(Wed)00:04
No.2716981

Anonymous No.2716981 06/13/12(Wed)00:04 No.2716981

People who are stupid think that pessimism is a sign of depth. There are a lot of stupid people on the internet.

Anonymous
06/13/12(Wed)00:17
No.2716999

Anonymous No.2716999 06/13/12(Wed)00:17 No.2716999

I wrote a short story a little while ago.

Never managed to get it published, so I just posted it on the internet. Get a few hits a day, so better than no one reading it at all.

Anonymous
06/13/12(Wed)00:20
No.2717007

Anonymous No.2717007 06/13/12(Wed)00:20 No.2717007

Most people here think books are a valid way to explore the human condition, meaning of life, etc. Cute, isn't it?

Anonymous
06/13/12(Wed)00:27
No.2717018

Anonymous No.2717018 06/13/12(Wed)00:27 No.2717018

Harry Potter is a Mary Sue. As is Poirot and Miss Marple.

Anonymous
06/13/12(Wed)00:31
No.2717029

Anonymous No.2717029 06/13/12(Wed)00:31 No.2717029

How much money did you get for it. OP?

Anonymous
06/13/12(Wed)00:44
No.2717045

Anonymous No.2717045 06/13/12(Wed)00:44 No.2717045

>>2717029
OP, pls