How much do you justify to your readers?

[CountVanBadger]

If one of your readers continuously brings up a problem they have with your story (and it's not an objective criticism like typos or plotholes) how many times do you try to justify it to them before you just say that maybe they should find something else to read? I've got one reader on RR who seems to be enjoying XNPC, but really hates how it will occasionally have flashback chapters. I've tried explaining that they're necessary to the story, but...

Them: "Every time you write a flashback, I want to stop reading."
Me: "Don't worry, it'll be back to the main story soon."
Them: "But I don't care about what happened a decade ago! I want to know what's happening now!"
Me: "There are important things happening in the flashbacks that will affect the present day story."
Them: "Maybe you should take some time off to rewrite the book so that information is included in the real story."
Me: "The flashbacks are a fun way to explore the characters' backstories and how they got where they are in the present day."
Them: "Then you need to rewrite it so that the story actually starts a decade ago, then timeskip to the present day."
Me: "I like revealing the past a little bit at a time, kinda like how Brandon Sanderson does it in the Stormlight books."
Them: "A book should never have more than one flashback, and it should never last for more than one chapter!"

 

[LiteraryWho]

Tbh, you should probably just block/mute the guy. It's okay to have boundaries.

 

[CountVanBadger]

Tbh, you should probably just block/mute the guy. It's okay to have boundaries.

I've thought about it, but he's one of the few readers who actually bothers to comment. And most of the stuff he says is positive. It's just that he gets really snippy when the flashbacks come around.

 

[ArchlordZero]

I'll just reply once, and when they start to get annoying, I'll just ghost them.

...This is how I message a girl too lol

 

[TheKillingAlice]

If one of your readers continuously brings up a problem they have with your story (and it's not an objective criticism like typos or plotholes) how many times do you try to justify it to them before you just say that maybe they should find something else to read? I've got one reader on RR who seems to be enjoying XNPC, but really hates how it will occasionally have flashback chapters. I've tried explaining that they're necessary to the story, but...

Them: "Every time you write a flashback, I want to stop reading."
Me: "Don't worry, it'll be back to the main story soon."
Them: "But I don't care about what happened a decade ago! I want to know what's happening now!"
Me: "There are important things happening in the flashbacks that will affect the present day story."
Them: "Maybe you should take some time off to rewrite the book so that information is included in the real story."
Me: "The flashbacks are a fun way to explore the characters' backstories and how they got where they are in the present day."
Them: "Then you need to rewrite it so that the story actually starts a decade ago, then timeskip to the present day."
Me: "I like revealing the past a little bit at a time, kinda like how Brandon Sanderson does it in the Stormlight books."
Them: "A book should never have more than one flashback, and it should never last for more than one chapter!"

That's hard to tell. I used to have one reader here on SH, who always took exception to a certain part of my story, regarding the MC's family.
I tried explaining why things aren't as they seem from the get-go, but vaguely explaining things with little spoilers turned out sounding weird, because it apparently seemed as if I contradicted myself. It came to the point where I explained it, thought it wasn't exactly a big twist or reveal, in a spoiler, because it was hard talking around it, while trying to make him understand why this one thing will not happen in this story.
I mean, in the end, I could have just let it go and said "keep reading and figure it out", but that was because I hadn't written anything substantial in years, and it made me anxious, for no reason at all.
In the end, I believe it makes sense to just explain something in a concise manner exactly one time and when they say it again, they can simply return to your last reply and read it again.

 

[E.Z.KAI]

If one of your readers continuously brings up a problem they have with your story (and it's not an objective criticism like typos or plotholes) how many times do you try to justify it to them before you just say that maybe they should find something else to read? I've got one reader on RR who seems to be enjoying XNPC, but really hates how it will occasionally have flashback chapters. I've tried explaining that they're necessary to the story, but...

Them: "Every time you write a flashback, I want to stop reading."
Me: "Don't worry, it'll be back to the main story soon."
Them: "But I don't care about what happened a decade ago! I want to know what's happening now!"
Me: "There are important things happening in the flashbacks that will affect the present day story."
Them: "Maybe you should take some time off to rewrite the book so that information is included in the real story."
Me: "The flashbacks are a fun way to explore the characters' backstories and how they got where they are in the present day."
Them: "Then you need to rewrite it so that the story actually starts a decade ago, then timeskip to the present day."
Me: "I like revealing the past a little bit at a time, kinda like how Brandon Sanderson does it in the Stormlight books."
Them: "A book should never have more than one flashback, and it should never last for more than one chapter!"

Don't let that person get in your head! It could influence your writing, and that would be bad. Not because the story becomes worse, but because you’re going to feel like it's not completely your oen story anymor.

 

[Little-Moon]

If one of your readers continuously brings up a problem they have with your story (and it's not an objective criticism like typos or plotholes) how many times do you try to justify it to them before you just say that maybe they should find something else to read? I've got one reader on RR who seems to be enjoying XNPC, but really hates how it will occasionally have flashback chapters. I've tried explaining that they're necessary to the story, but...

Them: "Every time you write a flashback, I want to stop reading."
Me: "Don't worry, it'll be back to the main story soon."
Them: "But I don't care about what happened a decade ago! I want to know what's happening now!"
Me: "There are important things happening in the flashbacks that will affect the present day story."
Them: "Maybe you should take some time off to rewrite the book so that information is included in the real story."
Me: "The flashbacks are a fun way to explore the characters' backstories and how they got where they are in the present day."
Them: "Then you need to rewrite it so that the story actually starts a decade ago, then timeskip to the present day."
Me: "I like revealing the past a little bit at a time, kinda like how Brandon Sanderson does it in the Stormlight books."
Them: "A book should never have more than one flashback, and it should never last for more than one chapter!"

....you justified once, explained and that is what I would leave it at. Your story your decision at the end of the day.

Rspond to him when he gives any other form of feedback and ignore, or aknowlege but do not answer whenever the flashback thing comes up again. You already told them, and when they come to bother you about it tell them that you explained your core reasons before.

 

[Corty]

Typos? I fix them.

Plot arguments?

I argue them. Even if they are wrong, I still argue, because racking up comments pushes me further up on the activity ladder. Stats are stats, baby!

If you go to the activity rankings https://www.scribblehub.com/series-ranking/?sort=3&order=1 then you will most likely find one or more of my books there.

 

[DarkCosmos]

If one of your readers continuously brings up a problem they have with your story (and it's not an objective criticism like typos or plotholes) how many times do you try to justify it to them before you just say that maybe they should find something else to read? I've got one reader on RR who seems to be enjoying XNPC, but really hates how it will occasionally have flashback chapters. I've tried explaining that they're necessary to the story, but...

Them: "Every time you write a flashback, I want to stop reading."
Me: "Don't worry, it'll be back to the main story soon."
Them: "But I don't care about what happened a decade ago! I want to know what's happening now!"
Me: "There are important things happening in the flashbacks that will affect the present day story."
Them: "Maybe you should take some time off to rewrite the book so that information is included in the real story."
Me: "The flashbacks are a fun way to explore the characters' backstories and how they got where they are in the present day."
Them: "Then you need to rewrite it so that the story actually starts a decade ago, then timeskip to the present day."
Me: "I like revealing the past a little bit at a time, kinda like how Brandon Sanderson does it in the Stormlight books."
Them: "A book should never have more than one flashback, and it should never last for more than one chapter!"

Honestly, at that point, I’d just lean into the joke and specifically warn him whenever a flashback chapter is coming. Something like “Brace yourself, flashback incoming.”

Who knows, if the reader sticks around despite constantly complaining about them, they might secretly be more invested than they realize. Sometimes the loudest complainers are also the most dedicated followers.