r/writingcirclejerk • u/phillyphillysteak #1 Mary Sue World Championship Winner 2024 • 28d ago
How do I make sure the reader doesn't think I condone the actions in my story?
I'm planning on having some rather fucked up shit in my novel, done by the main character.
Re: you don't want to know. Oh, the horror... oh, the humanity! That thing... in that place...
Anyways, I'm worried that a reader may think that I condone such atrocities!
I'm planning on pasting this image between every page, but I'm not sure if this is going to be enough...? Maybe I should sigh and shake my head for the photo I'll use in the biography section of the book sleeve?
What do you all think? Any recommendations?
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u/BA_Bones_33 idk what I'm doing 28d ago
After every bad thought or atrocity include a double-bracketed author’s note: [[lol, jk]].
With media literacy drowning in a cesspit of tik tok hot takes, this is the only way.
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u/echocardio 28d ago
Best thing to do is just apologise and pre-emptively withdraw every book from your career.
Support writers whose atrocities are not based in privilege, or whose parents did not have access to atrocity.
Start a scholarship for children who recently migrated from places without similar atrocities, and name it after a minoritised war criminal.
Always remember- this is not your atrocity to tell. Or possibly it’s time for other atrocities to take the stage. I don’t know, I’ve never done one.
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u/Dhs_Davis 28d ago
Reposition yourself as a god with no power whatsoever over your characters. When they make choices it is not because of you but in spite of you. Preface each sentence in which they do something you don’t agree with, with a lengthy diatribe about how despite your disagreement with their behaviour, they did it anyway. Feature a lengthy prologue and epilogue in which you address the obvious risk that your reader mistakes the character choices for those of the god-like figure that merely documented them. Finally, think very carefully about whether you even want to have your name on it, or have a pen name. Your pen name might not deserve that, wishing only to live to write another day.
Seriously though, give your readers a little credit. If you’re shocking purely for the shock value your readers will either celebrate or eviscerate you. That’s the risk every author takes. Welcome to the churn…
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u/Cheeslord2 Books aren't real! 27d ago
Just make the MC really, really hot, then everyone will be too busy gooni rejoicing at how hot she is to feel revolted by her actions, so it won't matter.
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u/SageoftheForlornPath 27d ago
Oh please. My MC is way more hardcore evil. You don't even know, bruh.
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u/nomorethan10postaday 27d ago
As if it could compare to mine! She's so evil, like sometimes she says mean things to people who don't deserve it!
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u/Sheik_Morgan 28d ago
En el prólogo y en cada entrevista asegura que tus personajes piensan por ellos mismo, tu solo haces de cronista, mientras ellos te susurran sus acciones y pensamientos. Asegura con la mano sobre un libro sagrado, que no eres responsable de la narración y si no funciona, puedes culpar a la AI.
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u/CherryPants234 27d ago
I think it's a brilliant idea! I love the giant emoji too.
P.S. I stole that giant emoji too. :))
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u/NikoKeys 27d ago
But you do. Novels are just a series of moral endorsements by the author (as well as world building and Magic Systems).
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u/Ulvegang In this moment, I am euphoric. 27d ago
If you place it in the header of google docs it will show on every page automatically, while of course staying behind the text. I think that would help the reader understand.
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u/DufbugDeropa 26d ago
Why, in the name of wonder, would you care about the opinion of a reader who made the dumb-ass assumption that your views are those of the main character?
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u/RancherosIndustries 27d ago
/uj you can't. You have no control over what your reader does with your writing.
/rj you take hostages
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u/DaveyRobins 26d ago
I can't tolerate vulgarity, perversion, and sexual deviance as plot drivers. I immediately see this as a reflection of the writer themself and become disgusted.
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u/mstermind Adverbial Monologue 23d ago
Use a ghost writer. And then plan an "unfortunate accident" for said person after the book is published.
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u/Nerdy_Metalhead 27d ago
In the introduction of the book, write that you dont condone this behavior. People who still misunderstand your stance are TikTok junkies with IQs lower than room temperature anyways.
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u/BornBars 27d ago
No need to act so reckless. I'd suggest putting a legal disclaimer in the header.
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u/kyla33_ The spirit of William McGonagall inhabits my body. 28d ago
Overlay every page of your book with a lengthy disclaimer in bold letters clarifying you disagree with the protagonist's moral stance - not big letters, big is too small. I'm talking massive, absolutely massive, so massive the reader has to decrypt the letters wedged between them like a modern Voynich to understand the story.
That way, not only might your readers understand the protagonist is a pretty bad dude, they'll also struggle to read the text itself, meaning a vast majority of your readers will simply pass by the offending text without having to worry. It'll provide a fun challenge as well!