Glossing Over Realism in Stories

[Luxuria]

I tried to come up with a good title, but something has been bothering me in the last week. I read a comic book and got annoyed that the writer wasn't dealing with the reality of what was happening in the story very well. It might have been a writer problem, but I think it's part of what annoys me about many stories. In the comic book, a character created several different universes, then accidentally unleashes a world destroyer who wrecks all of them- and kills billions. But there are only a few panels discussing this or the character feeling sad about it. If it was my story, it wouldn't be so easily...brushed off? Or set aside so quickly? It was this book then that made me wonder what IS the difference between how I write characters and how others do.

I want to say I focus a lot on the consequences of characters actions- although they don't always get what they deserve. But I think there is this weight and sense of emotion I feel when I focus on the reality of the story. Which one might concider 'angst' in fanfiction terms. It also leads me to wonder WHY some writers just gloss over things so easily and are like, 'oh, these characters had a sad moment, let's move on!'. It baffles me.

I know I am rambling here now, but I am trying to get down to why this approach personally bothers me and if as writers, we should focus more on the reality of what's happening to the characters. I mean, to me, they are living people in their own worlds. Does anyone else feel the same about any of this?

I have also heard people say my writing is dark, which it is, but is that because of my grasp of in-story reality? I don't know. It's just how I write. I just wanted to discuss this.

 

[Naomasa298]

If it was my story, it wouldn't be so easily...brushed off?

OK, but the key point is that it's *not* your story. Someone else wrote it and made the narrative choices that they did, which won't work for everyone, but will work for some. Clearly, it worked for the editor who chose to publish it.

Perhaps they didn't dwell on it because it wasn't important to the main theme of the story, given the amount of space they had to work with.

 

[Luxuria]

OK, but the key point is that it's *not* your story. Someone else wrote it and made the narrative choices that they did, which won't work for everyone, but will work for some. Clearly, it worked for the editor who chose to publish it.

Perhaps they didn't dwell on it because it wasn't important to the main theme of the story, given the amount of space they had to work with.

That's true. And I suppose you're right about theme. Which superhero comics are usually direct opposite of themes I usually enjoy. But sometimes I like reading them. This one just irked me, because BILLIONS of people died and I was like... aren't we going to say more about this? Space is also an issue, I agree.

 

[Rigor Mortis]

BILLIONS of people died

Statistics! Until we hear about that one kitten.

I'm with you to a large degree, though I reckon our reading material is generally diffierent. Easy resolutions, loose ends all tidied up, are the things that I find irksome.

 

[Luxuria]

Statistics! Until we hear about that one kitten.

I'm with you to a large degree, though I reckon our reading material is generally diffierent. Easy resolutions, loose ends all tidied up, are the things that I find irksome.

Haha, yeah. Exactly that.

Thanks, I am glad to know I am not the only one. But yes, I agree with you. My reading material is very different from yours. I like all my loose ends tied up. But the story doesn't have to have easy resolutions.