Writing Is this interesting? Should I pursue this?

[Tblew]

Think of the most basic isekai/reincarnated male harem protagonist.

He is overpowered, he has all the most unique and rare skills and can one-shot anyone and everyone because alls his levels are maxed out. You know, the basics. Anyway, appearance-wise, he is okay. Just okay. Not too handsome, but not ugly at all. If you had to, he would not be the worst choice, ya know?

Our basic 30-year-old shut-in Japanese boy wakes up, and it's the usual reaction. "Le gasp, am I in another world?" Cue camera zooming in and out dramatically, or somethin'. Let name him Sato, or Seto...or Kiri-

Our MC is pumped, and he gets right into it because, at this point, he knows K? He walks around, bumps into monsters, slays them, levels up 100 skills, bumps into a girl...then another, and another and-

So anyway, we got the basic cliche and isekai tropes but I would so very much like to add some salt. I mean, what would you do if you are living out your fantasy, only to bump into someone who knows you. Not the OP protagonist, but the coward and shut-in you once had been. Before they saw everything good about you, they saw everything bad.

On top of this, turn out, the body you are in? It is not yours. It looks like you, seemed like you, but thinking back, you had been quite dirty when you arrived...as if someone had dragged you from a gra-

Thoughts? :))))

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I get this feeling that I saw something similar already. Though do note that my memory often fails me.

I don't know about the majority, but I would probably not read it. Depending on the way you write\combination of tags, I might give it a look. But, the chance is minuscule.

I think no matter what kind of an isekai you write, it will feel somewhat secondary. Simply because there is oversaturation with isekai novels. So if you want to write it as a hobby, go ahead. If you want to gain a lot of readers\earn money, write something else.

 

[moeforsushi]

Not for me.

/ "I mean, what would you do if you are living out your fantasy, only to bump into someone who knows you. Not the OP protagonist, but the coward and shut-in you once had been. Before they saw everything good about you, they saw everything bad."

Somehow interesting concept, but I feel like it is not enough to carry your novel. + I'm pretty sure I've read something like this before.

The biggest problem with all of this is that it feels way too random and superficial. Ideally, things should happen for a reason.

"and won't do it-the princess pouts and stomps her feet-so he does it." <- And I don't mean something like this. This alone could scare away 50% of potential readers, tbh.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

If his name is Seto, he'd better be hot.

 

[Tblew]

It boils down to making the most generic and 1D protagonist interesting. More of a challenge, than anything. What would it take to make a doormat protagonist change and grow a backbone?

Hmm, the most similar thing I can think of is that anime about a really scummy guy, but honestly, all that amount to was him becoming a decent person with morals (kind of).

I think the main focus would be genuine character development. And this story would not be hundreds of chapters long either, because I myself cannot stand such characters, but more like an extension of another story but could be a stand-alone. A way to expand my universe and have another perspective of my fantasy world.

I mean, a shut-in who is is thirty years old with minimum contact is given a second chance. But I want to go way beyond wish fulfillment, you know? A LOT of isekai's just kind of forget about their first life. All their previous problems and hang-ups get left on their other world and they sprint off and become their best self almost instantly.

Not for me.

/ "I mean, what would you do if you are living out your fantasy, only to bump into someone who knows you. Not the OP protagonist, but the coward and shut-in you once had been. Before they saw everything good about you, they saw everything bad."

Somehow interesting concept, but I feel like it is not enough to carry your novel. + I'm pretty sure I've read something like this before.

The biggest problem with all of this is that it feels way too random and superficial. Ideally, things should happen for a reason.

"and won't do it-the princess pouts and stomps her feet-so he does it." <- And I don't mean something like this. This alone could scare away 50% of potential readers, tbh.

It would certainly be for a reason. This story would connect to another. To be blunt, the one currently in my signature. But I do think I should not linger after establishing the most basic premise. I should lay down the narrative, and then skip off into a different direction. At least, that is the goal.

 

[Snusmumriken]

the issue here is that you need that twist extremely early in the story. We are talking about the first few chapters, potentially 1st chapter. Otherwise you start it off as generic isekai by the time you get to the twist you will only have readers who only there for said generic isekai. Which might cost you even more readers.

 

[Zirrboy]

The oversaturation SailusGebel mentioned imo goes to the point where even subversion of isekai tropes has become a trope itself.

But if you want to follow through on your idea, then my best guess is to expand said character development to the other characters, too.
How do the king and princess react to the revelation that this seemingly invincible shield gets sniped in a filled room?
What do the harem members/support cast think of his change?
And I don't mean as a unified front, the opposite rather. Might some actually prefer his irresponsible self and struggle with the change he undergoes, maybe even leaving him in extreme cases?
Have him return to the apex of power by defeating whoever got him?
While others could be genuinely happy at his change.

Now this is a rather big thing to suggest, and might completely pass by whatever you really want to write, but having so many 1D characters introduced aside would imo turn into major baggage later on.

As for a story following the same concept.
Idk the name
but it's a manga about a guy who lives the high live by leeching off of successful women he romanced with a power that lets him see what they (dis)like
then his childhood friend reappears and tries to have him for herself.
and since she has a power herself while his is useless against her, he loses big time in the beginning

 

[Tblew]

the issue here is that you need that twist extremely early in the story. We are talking about the first few chapters, potentially 1st chapter. Otherwise you start it off as generic isekai by the time you get to the twist you will only have readers who only there for said generic isekai. Which might cost you even more readers.

Right? I was thinking the same. It would have to happen pretty fast.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

It boils down to making the most generic and 1D protagonist interesting. More of a challenge, than anything. What would it take to make a doormat protagonist change and grow a backbone?

Hmm, the most similar thing I can think of is that anime about a really scummy guy, but honestly, all that amount to was him becoming a decent person with morals (kind of).

I think the main focus would be genuine character development. And this story would not be hundreds of chapters long either, because I myself cannot stand such characters, but more like an extension of another story but could be a stand-alone. A way to expand my universe and have another perspective of my fantasy world.

I mean, a shut-in who is is thirty years old with minimum contact is given a second chance. But I want to go way beyond wish fulfillment, you know? A LOT of isekai's just kind of forget about their first life. All their previous problems and hang-ups get left on their other world and they sprint off and become their best self almost instantly.

It would certainly be for a reason. This story would connect to another. To be blunt, the one currently in my signature. But I do think I should not linger after establishing the most basic premise. I should lay down the narrative, and then skip off into a different direction. At least, that is the goal.

From a personal experience, I am TRYING to write a 'real' character development. Fail miserably, but I'm trying. I do fail as an author. BUT there is another small, tiny, problem. A part of people doesn't care about 'real' character development. Any kind of development that isn't a straightforward transformation into a chad, isn't welcomed that much. If you are stretching that transformation, many people would go away. Some people expect different things from certain tropes\tags. And yeah, there are already isekais with 'real' character developments. (oversaturation)

Doing a generic 1D character isn't hard as well. Well, the fact is, it will eventually boil down to being assessed by your readers. And the way readers perceive things vary greatly. Some would say your character is the most boring piece of log. The other is going to say it's the most brilliant piece of work.

So what can I say from a personal experience? I can repeat myself. If you are doing it as a hobby, go on. If you are writing to earn money, drop this idea or tweak it. Or if you are a good author, you can ignore my advice.

 

[witch_sorrowful]

This is basically the main conflict of Wheel of Time, but Rand, the MC, is not an isekai. Also, not a shut-in, so go ahead. It will be interesting.