Please help me out, friendslist! A fragmentary old story idea is finally coming together, but there is a reader perception question that I need input on
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Cool, thank you! This is very helpful. It can be so difficult to gauge how things that appear obvious to me (obviously, because they originate in my own brain *g*) will read to someone else.
That is a very cute icon, btw. :-) And don't worry, there's no need to worry about this fictional poodle's welfare.
Would your initial impression change if any or all of these factors came into play:
1 - the main character is warned by his handler to leave the initial fictional universe as soon as possible (which seems strange, since it's a nice and peaceful scene) 2 - when the main character tells his handler he's been followed by a poodle and describes the fictional scene the dog came from, the handler emphatically instructs him to stick to non-fantastical worlds (with no magic or mystical elements whatsoever) for now 3 - a character in the initial fictional scene addresses someone else as "Dr. Faust"
Well, I would wonder if Main Character is now stuck with the dog or if the dog can somehow go back to their original world/timeline, and how much of an impact the dog will have in the story.
same, im worried if the dog will be ok but I would also think that since the dog got teleported with him they are supposed to work together/be friends! like maybe the dog is his companion lol
Great, this really helps - thank you! :-) I do think I have a better idea of what readers will think by default now...
Might I ask you one more thing? Would your initial impression change if any or all of these factors came into play:
1 - the main character is warned by his handler to leave the initial fictional universe as soon as possible (which seems strange, since it's a nice and peaceful scene) 2 - when the main character tells his handler he's been followed by a poodle and describes the fictional scene the dog came from, the handler emphatically instructs him to stick to non-fantastical worlds (with no magic or mystical elements whatsoever) for now 3 - a character in the initial fictional scene addresses someone else as "Dr. Faust"
nope none of those things would change my opinion though they would make me wary or interested in why he was told that but it would not change my opinion of the situation.
they are very specific questions tho so now im wondering if they refer to something I don't recognise
(I’ll try and make this quick since I’m off on vacation in a few minutes ^^)
For me it’s all in how it’s built up. Unless it’s too heavy handed and clumsily done (which I’m not afraid of it being since it’s you) I’d say that for me it depends on how the circumstances around are described. How lost is the main character, how worried? The setting seems pleasant enough, but is he stressed by not knowing where it is? Do you get any vibes about what he thinks about the dog before they are carried away again? Is the dog as lost as he is as they arrive at the next destination, or does it find it’s bearing quickly? Is it a stray or a family dog? Is it a “now we are lost together” or “now I accidentally brought you with so I feel responsible” setting?
Sorry for all the questions, but depending on how you depict it I could either not care at all or just as well be super worried and instantly fond of the dog.
Excellent questions, and very true - the setting is everything, pretty much. :-) The main character is somewhat worried, yes, but not terribly so; he's used to handling crises, and the setting seems benevolent on the surface of it.
He doesn't pay much attention to the dog at first, because it seems non-agressive and that's pretty much all he cares about just then.
The dog finds its bearings very quickly. It seems to be a stray, and is very self-reliant and entirely unafraid.
Is it a “now we are lost together” or “now I accidentally brought you with so I feel responsible” setting? It's more of a "WTF, what went wrong there and how did this dog end up here, I thought it was impossible for other beings to travel through with me??" kind of thing
( ... )
I'm worried that the dog will be abandoned or will run away and the human can't try to get it home. (If it didn't get home after some effort but someone kind looked after it, that would be fine.)
Cool, thank you! :-) I'm very glad for this feedback, because I did not anticipate that readers would be worried about the dog's welfare - even though it makes perfect sense.
Would your initial impression change if any or all of these factors came into play:
1 - the main character is warned by his handler to leave the initial fictional universe as soon as possible (which seems strange, since it's a nice and peaceful scene) 2 - when the main character tells his handler he's been followed by a poodle and describes the fictional scene the dog came from, the handler emphatically instructs him to stick to non-fantastical worlds (with no magic or mystical elements whatsoever) for now 3 - a character in the initial fictional scene addresses someone else as "Dr. Faust"
i dislike poodles so unless the narrative had tipped its hand somehow by implying it was a specific poodle belonging to someone famous from that time/place, i wouldn't be bothered by what happened!
How about if any or all of these factors came into play:
1 - the main character is warned by his handler to leave the initial fictional universe as soon as possible (which seems strange, since it's a nice and peaceful scene) 2 - when the main character tells his handler he's been followed by a poodle and describes the fictional scene the dog came from, the handler emphatically instructs him to stick to non-fantastical worlds (with no magic or mystical elements whatsoever) for now 3 - a character in the initial fictional scene addresses someone else as "Dr. Faust"
then i would know the poodle was mephistopheles and this was probably going to become an *issue*. and despite my dislike of poodles i would read on in the hope of mephistopheles assuming non-canine form!
(Would you say all of the above devices - 1 to 3 - are strictly necessary...? I'm guessing it'd probably be best, but I confess I am a little too well-marinated in the plot to be able to judge what a reader coming to it for the first time would feel was enough, and what too much.)
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That is a very cute icon, btw. :-) And don't worry, there's no need to worry about this fictional poodle's welfare.
Would your initial impression change if any or all of these factors came into play:
1 - the main character is warned by his handler to leave the initial fictional universe as soon as possible (which seems strange, since it's a nice and peaceful scene)
2 - when the main character tells his handler he's been followed by a poodle and describes the fictional scene the dog came from, the handler emphatically instructs him to stick to non-fantastical worlds (with no magic or mystical elements whatsoever) for now
3 - a character in the initial fictional scene addresses someone else as "Dr. Faust"
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And thanks, it's one of my fave icons. :D
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Might I ask you one more thing? Would your initial impression change if any or all of these factors came into play:
1 - the main character is warned by his handler to leave the initial fictional universe as soon as possible (which seems strange, since it's a nice and peaceful scene)
2 - when the main character tells his handler he's been followed by a poodle and describes the fictional scene the dog came from, the handler emphatically instructs him to stick to non-fantastical worlds (with no magic or mystical elements whatsoever) for now
3 - a character in the initial fictional scene addresses someone else as "Dr. Faust"
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they are very specific questions tho so now im wondering if they refer to something I don't recognise
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It's going to be up to me to make the story work for readers who don't know the canon in question, too!
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For me it’s all in how it’s built up. Unless it’s too heavy handed and clumsily done (which I’m not afraid of it being since it’s you) I’d say that for me it depends on how the circumstances around are described. How lost is the main character, how worried? The setting seems pleasant enough, but is he stressed by not knowing where it is? Do you get any vibes about what he thinks about the dog before they are carried away again? Is the dog as lost as he is as they arrive at the next destination, or does it find it’s bearing quickly? Is it a stray or a family dog? Is it a “now we are lost together” or “now I accidentally brought you with so I feel responsible” setting?
Sorry for all the questions, but depending on how you depict it I could either not care at all or just as well be super worried and instantly fond of the dog.
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He doesn't pay much attention to the dog at first, because it seems non-agressive and that's pretty much all he cares about just then.
The dog finds its bearings very quickly. It seems to be a stray, and is very self-reliant and entirely unafraid.
Is it a “now we are lost together” or “now I accidentally brought you with so I feel responsible” setting? It's more of a "WTF, what went wrong there and how did this dog end up here, I thought it was impossible for other beings to travel through with me??" kind of thing ( ... )
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Would your initial impression change if any or all of these factors came into play:
1 - the main character is warned by his handler to leave the initial fictional universe as soon as possible (which seems strange, since it's a nice and peaceful scene)
2 - when the main character tells his handler he's been followed by a poodle and describes the fictional scene the dog came from, the handler emphatically instructs him to stick to non-fantastical worlds (with no magic or mystical elements whatsoever) for now
3 - a character in the initial fictional scene addresses someone else as "Dr. Faust"
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1 - the main character is warned by his handler to leave the initial fictional universe as soon as possible (which seems strange, since it's a nice and peaceful scene)
2 - when the main character tells his handler he's been followed by a poodle and describes the fictional scene the dog came from, the handler emphatically instructs him to stick to non-fantastical worlds (with no magic or mystical elements whatsoever) for now
3 - a character in the initial fictional scene addresses someone else as "Dr. Faust"
...?
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Thanks for your input, it helps a lot! :-)
(Would you say all of the above devices - 1 to 3 - are strictly necessary...? I'm guessing it'd probably be best, but I confess I am a little too well-marinated in the plot to be able to judge what a reader coming to it for the first time would feel was enough, and what too much.)
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