#WritersCoffeeClub 14. Do you think readers want new experiences in structure or narrative, or do they prefer what's familiar?

[ignova@mstdn.ca]

#WritersCoffeeClub 14. Do you think readers want new experiences in structure or narrative, or do they prefer what's familiar?

most people are not reading to challenge themselves. they want as little friction as possible, and never want an experience that encourages them to re-examine their assumptions. in this way, catering to what most people want is often opposed to more ambitious artistic goals.

however, the merit of attempting 'new' structures and narrative techniques is unclear. most of the experimentation possible with these things has already been done, so further attempts to get clever with them are likely to be more annoying than successful. it's more important for artistic choices like these to support the story you want to tell, rather than trying to be groundbreaking for its own sake. (and the ground is likely to have already been broken decades ago, anyway.)