Thoughts on a story line

[BrokenSpokes]

Hey all, throwing this out there for discussion.

If anyone has read my current storyline, Wheels In Motion, you'll know one of the main characters in a medical student at GW hospital.

My storyline is a lesbian romance, with hurdles, obstacles, reunions... working towards a possible happy ending for at least one of my characters. I've published two chapters and I have three and a half more completed. If I do the HEA, I'll finish after Chapter six.

However....

I have this storyline add-on in my head. It's about the doctor, and the COVID-19 outbreak. I can't decide whether to go there or not. If I do, the storyline won't be sexy. It won't be upliftingly romantic. It'll be brutal. And unpleasant. And sad. And I'm not sure LitE is up for it. But it's in my head.

So the question is, do I just wrap my story up as I'd planned, then write this part just for me and never release it? Do I publish it? It's not going to be optimistic or uplifting, at least the bulk of it. And I'm not sure that the world needs a story like that.

I'm just rambling here, because this story has been intruding itself into my brain and I don't know what to do with it, so I'm just opening myself up to people thoughts.

Take care of yourselves friends....

 

[Salacious_Scribe]

My rule is I write for me, I share because there are some people who for whatever reason like what I write.

Write your story. Some people will like it, some won't.

Right now Plague Inc is one of the most popular apps to download and Movies like outbreak are popular too. So there is a market for pandemic stories. Personally, for me, I have enough reality in my life. I want my escapes to be enjoyable, not full of doom and gloom.

 

[Blind_Justice]

The very high-level answer would be "What is art if not a reaction to the world around us?"

Write it.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I have this storyline add-on in my head. It's about the doctor, and the COVID-19 outbreak. I can't decide whether to go there or not. If I do, the storyline won't be sexy. It won't be upliftingly romantic. It'll be brutal. And unpleasant. And sad. And I'm not sure LitE is up for it. But it's in my head.

So the question is, do I just wrap my story up as I'd planned, then write this part just for me and never release it? Do I publish it? It's not going to be optimistic or uplifting, at least the bulk of it. And I'm not sure that the world needs a story like that.

Write it and release it. One of the purposes of art is to record history. Think of the world without Anne Frank's Diary. You're in the middle of a history making moment, take it.

The best source material for social history is always letters and journals, because they tell the personal stories. Newspapers and treatises give a different viewpoint - yours is equally important.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Go for it!

 

[Haulover]

I'd suggest you could do both.

I.e. I'm sure you'd be able to have a happy ending despite the severe Covid-related background.

The contrast between the happy ending at the personal level vs. the stark pandemic would make the romantic side shine.

 

[BrokenSpokes]

Thanks all

Thanks for the input. Consensus seems to be that I should write it.

My fear is the storyline in my head is not a happy one. i have a hard time not letting my stories go where they take me. And while I appreciate the ethos that art doesn't necessarily exist to make the consumers of it happy, my stories are known for their uplifting endings. I hesitate to do something bad to my readers.

Especially these days, when we all need uplifting.

Still thinking about it.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'd suggest writing it and publishing it as a completely separate story, although it's in the same fictional universe as the other story.

 

[ElectricBlue]

My fear is the storyline in my head is not a happy one. i have a hard time not letting my stories go where they take me.

That's the key. If it's aching to be written, it will be. And once written, words should be read. People appreciate good writing, whatever the subject matter, and yours is good writing.

I'd never not write something just because I thought readers might not like it. That's almost the same as writing something I don't want to write just because readers would like it. To me, that's negating yourself as a writer and pandering to readers' (assumed) sensitivities too much. If they don't like it they can always stop reading. So what if they don't like it?

 

[HeyAll]

IMO keep the current story consistent.

Then make another story with the virus theme. I wrote a few stories already with the virus theme and people actually liked that it was a twist on current events. I've written other stories with themes from the news and people enjoy that.

 

[UsuallyPresent]

I'd suggest writing it and publishing it as a completely separate story, although it's in the same fictional universe as the other story.

This. Give a brief author's note to start it off, explaining (with a link) where you're diverging from the prior story, give fair warning ("This isn't a pleasant story, and you probably won't get a sexual thrill from it. Frankly, if you do, I don't want to know about it!') and write! Get that plot bunny nailed down and well digested before it starts procreating!

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Thanks for the input. Consensus seems to be that I should write it.

My fear is the storyline in my head is not a happy one. i have a hard time not letting my stories go where they take me. And while I appreciate the ethos that art doesn't necessarily exist to make the consumers of it happy, my stories are known for their uplifting endings. I hesitate to do something bad to my readers.

Especially these days, when we all need uplifting.

Still thinking about it.

I'd say, write it, finish it, let it rest for a while and then decide whether to publish.
You may realize it's not as sad as you think, or that the balance with the rest of your stories works well. If you want to publish it but still worry about the reaction of your fans, then an author's note can provide a warning.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I say write it as it needs to be written. The first two segments of my story arc have ended badly for one of the protagonists so happy endings are not always necessary or real. <spoiler alert>In fact the third part of the story arc will have a not so happy ending also.</spoiler alert>

Movies sometimes have alternate endings...why not publish both endings and let the reader decide which one they want to read. Truth be told, they'll probably read both endings if you present them both.

By the way, I don't think you could write anything I wouldn't like anyway...

 

[vanmyers86]

Thanks for the input. Consensus seems to be that I should write it.

My fear is the storyline in my head is not a happy one. i have a hard time not letting my stories go where they take me. And while I appreciate the ethos that art doesn't necessarily exist to make the consumers of it happy, my stories are known for their uplifting endings. I hesitate to do something bad to my readers.

Especially these days, when we all need uplifting.

Still thinking about it.

Your readers will roll with it. As an example, one of my favorite authors is Connie Willis. She has written several novels with a time travel premise, and using recurring characters. Most are serious, but one is a straight-up comedy. You know what? It still works.
Write what wants to be born, and trust your readers.

 

[BrokenSpokes]

Well...

Your readers will roll with it. As an example, one of my favorite authors is Connie Willis. She has written several novels with a time travel premise, and using recurring characters. Most are serious, but one is a straight-up comedy. You know what? It still works.
Write what wants to be born, and trust your readers.

I guess that could work, but my stories tend to be pretty uplifting, with happy moments. This would turn really dark. That's a whole different kind of turn.

Especially these days, when everyone needs good news.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

I guess that could work, but my stories tend to be pretty uplifting, with happy moments. This would turn really dark. That's a whole different kind of turn.

Especially these days, when everyone needs good news.

Some people like good news in stressful times, some people like horror.
It sounds like you've got doubts, so maybe just jot down some notes and see if you still want to write it a week from now.