There was a thread below about angst from the writers' POV, and since I'm only a reader I didn't want to add my opinion. But perhaps others also want to express an opinion on angst as readers. What kind of angst is that readers love to hate, or in this case, love to dread?
I don't mean to influence writers so that they write to satisfy readers, I do understand they might feel compelled or challenged to follow creative inspiration to angsty territory, and I do encourage any writer to do so...perhaps with the appropriate warning.
But there are so many kinds of angst. "Soul-searching and agony" as Suzanne put it, external circumstances that conspire against the couple, immature/dark shift of their character to make them choose badly before they mature/reform and become able to rtuly love and be loved by each other...rivals for their affection...non-canon pairings (I'm not sure it qualifies as angst but in some cases it does). And then there is tragedy - hero/heroine death, couple not ending up together...other beloved characters' death... What is the type of angst you like (and are there ones that you'd rather avoid?
I personally think I can deal with any angst if the happy ending is promised (and if it's clarified from the beginning whether it's a canon pairing or a non-canon one). But I find I rarely choose to reread high emotional angst stories. Also, I like it if the resolution/happy ending gets enough space/is fleshed out enough to balance the long angsty road that led there.
What do you think?
I don't mean to influence writers so that they write to satisfy readers, I do understand they might feel compelled or challenged to follow creative inspiration to angsty territory, and I do encourage any writer to do so...perhaps with the appropriate warning.
But there are so many kinds of angst. "Soul-searching and agony" as Suzanne put it, external circumstances that conspire against the couple, immature/dark shift of their character to make them choose badly before they mature/reform and become able to rtuly love and be loved by each other...rivals for their affection...non-canon pairings (I'm not sure it qualifies as angst but in some cases it does). And then there is tragedy - hero/heroine death, couple not ending up together...other beloved characters' death... What is the type of angst you like (and are there ones that you'd rather avoid?
I personally think I can deal with any angst if the happy ending is promised (and if it's clarified from the beginning whether it's a canon pairing or a non-canon one). But I find I rarely choose to reread high emotional angst stories. Also, I like it if the resolution/happy ending gets enough space/is fleshed out enough to balance the long angsty road that led there.
What do you think?