Into the Fire

"The interesting factor in the whole ordeal is that the average reader—with the exception of those who prefer the literary masterpieces—won’t even notice the presence or absence of passive verbs, speaker attributes, and the decorative adverbs. Not because they’re not intelligent or even that they’re uneducated, but because to them it’s all about the story. Had the author used more than his share of these foul tools, the reader would’ve taken them in stride if he was enthralled with the story. It seems we often overestimate as well as underestimate the readers of novels. Have you ever heard a complaint from a reader [who isn't also a writer] declaring she didn’t like the book because there were too many 'ly' adverbs? Usually the complaints range from 'I didn’t like any of the characters' to 'I couldn’t get into the plot'. And while it could be argued that the adverbs or SAs or passive verbs gave the story pacing problems, isn’t it really the guts of the story—its appeal and depth and captivating characters or its outrageous humor, irony, or drama that sustain a reader? I realize it’s kind of like making a fine piece of clothing. When the inside of the piece is examined, every seam is neat and finished, no loose threads to unravel and fray. Some are hand sewn with meticulous, exacting strokes. This is an expensive piece of clothing where the workmanship is obvious and admirable. A writing craftsman wants to equal that kind of attention to detail and produce valuable results." (March 6, 2008)

"I have a great time finding out what readers want. I often ask them as I browse the fiction rows in bookstores. If they respond with any tangible inkling or order and it happens to coincide with what I like, I immediately recommend my choices according to their preferences. I’ve shared with you how I evaluate “the average reader”. It’s based on my experience with several readers of all ages and discussions with many more people with either a voracious appetite for fiction or a steady pursuit of reading novels or even those who dabble at selective fiction. Readers of all kinds maintain expected various opinions, but most of them have a general desire to simply enjoy the story. Most of them will not comprehend the particular styles of writing choices from the authors they choose to read unless it’s unique, distinctive. For the most part it’s just not important to them. The exceptions include those in the publishing industry and those readers who prefer what’s been termed “literary fiction” where names like Flannery O’Connor or Madeline L’Engle pop up repeatedly. If you choose CBA fiction, you’ll likely hear the names of Tom Morrisey, Tosca Lee, or Chris Fabry mentioned as artful writers. There can be a real gap between what publishers want and what readers want. . . . I’m all for publishers producing well-written fiction, but sometimes what they consider well-written and/or commercially viable simply aren’t. The average reader might recognize skillful writing, but what they will celebrate or recommend to their like-minded friends is the story. Those overrated rules which might be observed or broken will not even register on their reading radar. Some professionals insist it’s the observance of those very rules which contribute to making the reader experience pleasant and more meaningful, but when you consider a few of the bestsellers either in ABA or CBA fiction, you know it’s just not always true. Some writing purists and publishing professionals complain about the lack of quality in fiction and berate the absence of excellence in certain bestsellers and other novels. To what end? Books making money push the industry along and readers are the ones who spend the bucks to make the machine go. We can lament quality if we choose, but it’s all about the story for most readers." (Nov. 30, 2009)

Reading fiction is a practice that millions of people enjoy. All over the world, people read novels. Why? The most obvious reason is they like stories. The ever-increasing genre classifications capture all kinds of interested readers. Those who read speculative might detest romance or vice versa. Right here in the comments on this blog, Brenda Jackson decries the saturation of romance in historical fiction and writes to purify and remedy the love of straight historical fiction. I used to read a lot of romance, but rarely do I read straight romance anymore because, for the most part, it's too formulaic for me and lacks honest passion. A lot of women enjoy women's fiction, a lot of men enjoy thrillers. I mostly read thrillers, suspense, mysteries, political thrillers and the like. I read stories because I've loved them for as long as I can remember, but even as a child I was selective. We all have our preferences, our favorite authors.

So how can I suggest there is a group I term "the average reader"? Basically I give this very large category a name because of the same reasons described above from two and three years ago. The average reader – who is not a writer – pays the most attention to the story as opposed to how it's composed. They're forgiving, they make investments in the literature they read, and they usually qualify their recommendations with an emotional response instead of an analytical proffering. I will grant you that if you break this group down to those who specialize in individual genres, there are likely to be a few substantial variations. And it's important to note here I've alread stipulated that readers who favor the literary tomes are a separate group but often create some "average" tendencies peculiar to them within their niche.

I see this term as a mere grouping, not an insult, not a finger-pointing accusation or some kind of degradation to anyone, singular or cumulative. While not scientific by any stretch, it carries some weight in recognizing the broader scope of those who select fiction over non-fiction. It's simple observation based on personal experience from an interested investigator. That's all it is.

Father, we are who we are – except when we're not. I'm so glad you have a sense of humor, Lord. I need your grace, your encouragement, your Spirit always. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.