A number of people will tell you to write for your audience and to consider the fans as you plot out your book. They think that if you focus on writing for the people who are reading your book, it will make your work more popular.

However…

Authors should be willing to step up and take control of their story. They should do what’s best for the book, even if it goes against the predictions and hopes of the readers. You’ll have an infinitely better manuscript at the end if you stay true to the characters, the plot, and your vision.

But you can’t just tell your readers to set aside their feelings. Yet you shouldn’t give up your creative freedom.

So how does an author say “NO”?

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Plot for the story

Your story still needs to make sense, even if readers are theorizing and hoping for a specific outcome. Shoehorning key events into your book to make readers happy might seem like a great idea but will it make a good story and will you be happy with it in the end?

There might be times when a theory just makes sense and is a great addition to your work, especially in relation to a series, but other times it might be to the detriment of the work as a whole.

Develop characters based on the world

The characters you create should reflect the world of the story. Your characters should feel as though they are a part of that world rather than just a description on paper. Represent them in a way that feels authentic to your story.

Diversity is important but not when it’s just a way of making your book more acceptable in current society.

If you’re writing fantasy that includes the merging of races or creatures, it can be helpful to make timelines for yourself to keep everything as accurate as possible.

Don’t be swayed toward common tropes

If you don’t want to put a specific trope in your story but you’re seeing readers asking for it or critiquing that it would be better if it had that, don’t feel pressured. Just because a trope is common and people are into it right now doesn’t mean that it has to be in your book.

There’s no reason you have to put enemies to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden love, etc. into your book if you don’t want to. As you write you should be able to see what’s best for the story. Forcing things in, hoping it will make your book more popular, usually won’t meet expectations.

Write in a tone or POV that’s comfortable

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to which point of view they enjoy when reading a book. Many people are very vocal about this but it doesn’t mean that you have to cave to one or the other. Write in the POV that best tells your story and is the most comfortable for you.

You can even write in multiple points of view if you want. Just make sure that each one is essential to the story rather than just helping you rack up your word count.

Regardless of point of view, StudioLink is the perfect place to post your work and find the audience who loves the way you write.

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It can be tough not to cave to the demands of the people reading your book but staying true to your story and characters will make your work better. That’s why saying no and standing up for your writing is important.

Obviously, just saying “no” isn’t going to do anything. You have to block out the opinions and write the book how you think it should be portrayed. You want to share the best version that you can and even if it goes against what people think should happen, it’s your book and you should be proud of it.

If you’ve finished or are close to being done with your book and are looking to publish, Third Wheel Publishing is looking for new authors. Get the benefits of traditional publishing even without an agent. Submit now!