Readers Expectations

My story has a simple title for a simple reason. I never can remember acronyms. So I chose a single word. Expectations. Of course it was suppose to convey the theme of men and their expectations for life: business, marriage, friendship, family, etc. All of their ingrained principles are tested and they must deal with what is expected of them from every angle.

my readers have their own expectations for the men. They must see Blake as a rake because they expect E&D to get together and well, Blake is charming and he is titled and he is not Wickham so they need to make him in some way bad. Otherwise they would want Elizabeth to chose him. I expected the reaction. Now whether or not he is a rake will be revealed in about 41 days. I shall start a countdown when it hits 30.

Sometimes the readers do not react the way I expect. Writers spend a great deal of time working on every sentence that when readers glance over them or comment only one a different part of the chapter you wonder what they thought of the whole chapter and every theme. I must admit it seems much of my chapters go uncommented; but then, I do cram alot into a chapter.

Only AbigailR (whom I was surprised she was reading the story) commented about the card game not be repeated the next night. I had puzzled over that one sentence in P&P where Caroline says Darcy (and not her brother - the host) did not wish for cards (and he did not join in the night before so why would what Darcy wanted hold sway?) It has always puzzled me exceedingly. If the Hursts and Caroline and Bingley wanted to play cards what right did Darcy have to say no. Well, I used my story to invent another answer. I filled in the blank with my own expectations of how it was. I believed he did it as a sign of concern for Elizabeth so I added it in my story.

I expected and was rewarded with lots of comments about the pool game. It was fun to write and fun to read the comments. I also expected some comments about the verbal jousting with Rawlings as the play by play announcer! I did get them but was surprised several readers wished that Rawlings would have thrown in a few jests of his own. I had forgotten they have come to look forward to his wit and I did not give them that so I suppose I did not live up to his expectations for them.

I did not expect my readers to find Darcy's comment about Standing guard over the pastries as cringeable! I know I made the word up but it fits. Words are nothing more than the means to express oneself in a way that communicates exactly what is intended. Cringeable fits.

I meant it as a fun charming little jest but the readers took it differently. this is what is difficult to do - write with the fewest words possible what you mean. Commenters are constantly misunderstood because, let us face it, we cannot see the body language or the facial expressions when one speaks in the written form. I guess that is why I focus on facial expresssions so much and when I looked back at the passage I realize I did not present Darcy in a relaxed chuckling sweet kind of way so the reader's expectations (acting for Elizabeth) was that he was not being funny. my readers put their own take on it to Elizabeth and after I re-read it they were right. It did come across as harsh. But sometimes writers just write what the character is saying. lol

Reader Kent (ballpoint2) announced he is pissed at Darcy. Well, I announced I was pissed at Darcy in P&P so I guess I did what I set out too. At least at this stage of the game. I did not create an immediate lovable Darcy nor did Austen.

I never expect comments from new readers so when I get them I am delighted and surprised. This week a reader from the Canary Islands (Canarias) wrote a nice long comment. She has gotten into the story and her comment it caught my breath well caught mine! I love everyone's comments and look forward to my regular posters. they help me so much by seeing if my intent is working. Most times yes, some times no. Sometimes I let them have an incorrect thought because I know it will become clearer as the chapters unfold. I just am honored when anyone leaves a comment of any kind.

Now I have yet to decide the glimpse of Heaven but soon. I expect that I will go with my beta's because they represent the readers. I am too close to my story and am not the best judge of everything. I shall let my beta's be my Rawlings.

I am needed on the homeowners association stuff today so, till tomorrow! I expect to have it all done today and tomorrow I need to read 5 plays for consideration for next year's shows. HOpe they are not dated from 1950. We need new stuff.

gayle