lulloyd replied to your post “Terror means nothing if that’s all you write. Same with tragedy, gore, heartbreak, abuse. Saying that you write HONESTLY about these topics is disingenuous, because you avoid joy, you avoid character development, you avoid healing and hope. There has to be balance for either extreme — good or bad — to have any meaning. By continuing to search for a more powerful punch, or more despair, or more pain for your characters, you’re not writing honestly. You’re not serving the story, just an agenda.”
I'm in complete awe in how you told that anon off. Its such a shame really, if the anon actually read your stories instead of just blindly targeting you, they would realize how silly they sound.
Well, that's why I was sort of shocked into cracking up initially - I've been accused of many things, but lacking character development or not offering hope has never been one of 'em. Ah well, I think everyone has a point to make, but rarely does one wish to actually pay attention or listen.
And despite all that - if I DO want to write without hope or healing, that doesn't make it a 'poor' story - this person is obviously not well read in general. Many classics depict terrible suffering in the absence of hope or healing. But obviously someone who would make such a statement would never stoop to reading widely, but rather remain within their comfort zone.
Keep writing, people. Don't bend to the whims of the few. Never!
