I see a pattern forming here

[nakdsub]

So far, with almost every story I've written, I've had my readers say they were disappointed in the end. In most cases, I was persuaded to write a sequel. Well, it has happened again.
I have been flooded with request for a 4th chapter to be added to, "Bill and Amber." Yes, I have just completed it and have posted it here. I'm sure it will take 4 or 5 days to be published.

It could most likely stand alone; however, I'm sure it will make more sense to those who have read the prior 3 chapters.

If you should be so kind as to take the time to read it, please let me know what thought.

I promise to put more into the ending of my stories from now on, and hopefully be able to break the cycle.

Thanks.

 

[CWatson]

First off:
Take a deep breath, man. Sheesh. =) The story hasn't been posted yet, it won't be posted for a week or so. You can wait that long to ask for assistance. =)

Second:
My advice in this case depends on what, precisely, your readers are complaining about. It's good to know when to listen and when to ignore them. I did a story a few years back that got two separate complaints about the ending. One was that I hadn't set it up correctly. To those readers I issued an apology and then rewrote the story until it made sense and could be seen coming.

Others, though, just didn't like the ending. Its whole point was that sometimes we don't get what we want, sometimes we have to watch someone make mistakes and live with them choosing to make us both miserable... and people didn't like hearing that. To them I said, Screw you. Because in the end, I don't care what The Reader thinks. In the end, The Reader is irrelevant. I'm here to tell my story, regardless of what anybody thinks. And if even one person is able to read that story and say, "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't get the girl," then I've done something useful, and the nay-sayers can't take that away from me.

Third:
Take a deep breath, man. Sheesh. =) As a writer, your focus has to be on the story, not on the reader response to it. Has to. Because there's no way to please everyone. If you care more about popularity than the art, each negative comment will drive you mad. You need something untouchable to hold onto for when the shit inevitably hits the fan. So focus on the art of it, on the creativity of it. Care about doing a good job for its own sake. It'll keep you grounded. =)

Good luck!

 

[estragon]

Or, as the old song says: "It's all right now/I've learned my lesson well/If you can't please everybody/You got to learn to please yourself."

 

[PennLady]

CWatson has excellent points, as does estragon. You have to write the story that you want to tell, not that everyone else wants to hear. Everyone knows I like a happy ending; but more important, I like the right ending. Just because a reader criticizes it doesn't mean they're right. It's worth considering, but it doesn't mean you're wrong.

 

[Bob Waters]

Being asked for sequels is nice - it means you've done what you're supposed to do and that's 'leave 'em wanting more'. I get asked for sequels often and I rarely write them. When I do it's because I want to. It's not like you're getting paid for this, write what you want, whatever story you feel you need to tell, do the best job you can at it for your own personal satisfaction and if they like it, great and if the don't F 'em.