being anti-mainstream just for the sake of being anti-mainstream

[Kilolo]

the title might be confusing but it's actually exactly how it is.

lots of author wannabe i know (i'm not calling out anyone, so please don't feel like being called out) are often trying to express an idea that they think it's novel, original, groundbreaking, unique, or whatever you call it is, but not because it's efficient or effective, but just because it's seems cool that way.

for example having the main character wielding a weird ass looking weapon (like imagine the MC using a weapon like a chakram attached to a stick) because they think it would be cool if their main character using this weird weapon and somehow become a proper main character, and then trying to figure out the special ability of such weapon.
or another example is when main character having a weird class build, like how the MC is a mage but they make it the mc shot fireball directly from his palm and makes the mc fight in a close combat manner. and then from there starting to figuring out in what situation this kind of build could be used.

why? Just because it's seems cool that way.

I think most of them are actually getting it backwards, a problem with impossible answer should come first, and then unconventional solution afterwards.
what some wannabe do instead, are the other way around. they make the unique solution first, and then trying to figure out what kind of problem could be solved with this kind of solution.

to which, i think it's pretty jarring. i mean like. why the heck they even try to be unique first before even trying to be proper.

what do you guys think?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

You should chill and let people do whatever they want.

 

[Zirrboy]

Those stories are about main characters being cool/quirky, any problems addressed are surfaces to project onto. So in that sense, all is how it should be. You not wanting to read that is perfectly justified, but so is wanting to write it imo.

Now I think your point is that people would end up writing stories they themselves would like better, but that doesn't stop their desire to write cool MCs and from my admittedly short lived amateur editing experience, there's nothing more detrimental to a story than someone going against their own wishes especially if they are subconscious.

 

[SilvCrimBlac]

I don't know. All I know is, everything has been done, nothing is original. Anyone claiming they have written something new, original, unique, and etc, are laughably deluding themselves. The only way one can be unique and dare I say it, "special" nowadays is by taking a used concept, and somehow telling it in a fresh way with a twist, and even this is hard to do nowadays because so many others are doing this too.

So in the end, its getting to the point where everything is about a person's personal style or flair, rather than about the idea itself. It's how the person puts their personality into it, their....quirk? Or something along those lines. I mean, you can only tell a story from any specific genre a certain amount of ways, and you can only retell it with fresh twists and new takes a certain amount of times.

 

[Lloyd]

As an Isekai writer I have this to say. The rule of cool is epic and also based.

 

[BenJepheneT]

what i'd say is this: feel free to steal those ideas. i don't know about you but half the time, these guys don't even plan past their premises. they just make some really cool concept, follow it up to about 30-50 chapters before dropping them entirely. it is what it is. they realize they had no idea how to spice things up, procrastinate forever, and then never touch it for years. but you can.

search up for webnovels. look for the ones with next to no views or readers. grab their ideas. Frankenstein that bitch, and make it yours.

these guys can't make a solution to an impossible question.

but you can.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

the title might be confusing but it's actually exactly how it is.

lots of author wannabe i know (i'm not calling out anyone, so please don't feel like being called out) are often trying to express an idea that they think it's novel, original, groundbreaking, unique, or whatever you call it is, but not because it's efficient or effective, but just because it's seems cool that way.

for example having the main character wielding a weird ass looking weapon (like imagine the MC using a weapon like a chakram attached to a stick) because they think it would be cool if their main character using this weird weapon and somehow become a proper main character, and then trying to figure out the special ability of such weapon.
or another example is when main character having a weird class build, like how the MC is a mage but they make it the mc shot fireball directly from his palm and makes the mc fight in a close combat manner. and then from there starting to figuring out in what situation this kind of build could be used.

why? Just because it's seems cool that way.

I think most of them are actually getting it backwards, a problem with impossible answer should come first, and then unconventional solution afterwards.
what some wannabe do instead, are the other way around. they make the unique solution first, and then trying to figure out what kind of problem could be solved with this kind of solution.

to which, i think it's pretty jarring. i mean like. why the heck they even try to be unique first before even trying to be proper.

what do you guys think?

Some of my characters are non mainstream just cuz they're crazy bitches. Well, okay, only one is like that. Damn drug addict. Well, I love chaos anyway so I do enjoy his antics

 

[Viator]

Whatever tools you use, I believe a good story is often defined by the concepts the author wants to explore with their MC's struggles. What their character is 'about,' the kind of philosophy being explored behind the lines of text. Whether the building blocks of the story are struggling to stand out, or are all of the commonly used variety is a secondary concern. It's more important as an author to figure out what you want to say with your work rather than how you say it, in my opinion. If someone wants to "work backwards" as it was put to fit a neat idea they've had as an element in their story? Well there are many different ways an author can work, and if it helps them say what they are trying to with their Voice I don't see an issue.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

Their fucking business how they want to write their stories.

 

[Ilikewaterkusa]

the title might be confusing but it's actually exactly how it is.

lots of author wannabe i know (i'm not calling out anyone, so please don't feel like being called out) are often trying to express an idea that they think it's novel, original, groundbreaking, unique, or whatever you call it is, but not because it's efficient or effective, but just because it's seems cool that way.

for example having the main character wielding a weird ass looking weapon (like imagine the MC using a weapon like a chakram attached to a stick) because they think it would be cool if their main character using this weird weapon and somehow become a proper main character, and then trying to figure out the special ability of such weapon.
or another example is when main character having a weird class build, like how the MC is a mage but they make it the mc shot fireball directly from his palm and makes the mc fight in a close combat manner. and then from there starting to figuring out in what situation this kind of build could be used.

why? Just because it's seems cool that way.

I think most of them are actually getting it backwards, a problem with impossible answer should come first, and then unconventional solution afterwards.
what some wannabe do instead, are the other way around. they make the unique solution first, and then trying to figure out what kind of problem could be solved with this kind of solution.

to which, i think it's pretty jarring. i mean like. why the heck they even try to be unique first before even trying to be proper.

what do you guys think?

The writer is a chunnibyou. Explains it all

 

[megu3]

If you're writing isekai, it's already mainstream

 

[RepresentingCaution]

I'm anti-mainstream because I am happier that way, and I think that others might be happier that way too, but they might not have the courage to lead their lives the way they want yet. I'm here to tell them that it is OK.

 

[Astrokitten]

I think trying to be inventive with weapons or fighting etc isn’t actually being anti-mainstream. I’m pretty sure that’s what a lot of readers are looking for — a little something or quirk that sets the story apart from the hundreds of similar stories.

I think what actually bothers me when I think of people just being anti mainstream to be anti mainstream is when people are mocking or being unnecessarily cruel about the interests of others. Like, there’s a time and a place for dog blood stories but maybe being graphically violent to own the haters isn’t as subversive as you think and your attitude about what’s mainstream and feeling averse to including anything mainstream is a roadblock in terms of being able to learn and grow as a writer and your story suffers because of that.

 

[Deleted member 1244]

Mainstream? Antimainstream?!

Nah, besides being too fluid to define, such words are not useful qualifiers

There is only stuff and non stuff.

*Stumbles in with a poster*

Welcom to postmodernism.

The good, bad, pro, wannabe, amateur, art, trash, original, cliche, ground breaking, assembly line manufactured story. Etc etc.

None of that matters. Only thing that matter is if it exsit or it does not

To exist is to extrude meaning, to have meaning will have contextual significe to a "reader", this is already value added to wider cultual tapestry.

At least that is what i thing this moment in time

 

[SakeVision]

Mainstream? Antimainstream?!

Nah, besides being too fluid to define, such words are not useful qualifiers

There is only stuff and non stuff.

*Stumbles in with a poster*

Welcom to postmodernism.

The good, bad, pro, wannabe, amateur, art, trash, original, cliche, ground breaking, assembly line manufactured story. Etc etc.

None of that matters. Only thing that matter is if it exsit or it does not

To exist is to extrude meaning, to have meaning will have contextual significe to a "reader", this is already value added to wider cultual tapestry.

At least that is what i thing this moment in time

and you call yourself postmodernist?

all existence is meaningless.

in fact, the very concept of meaning is meaningless, if you think about how fleeting it is, how fallible human perception is, and how our memories erode, our desires change, our personality changes, what was good now will be bad tomorrow and the day after tomorrow we won't even remember it


you only 'thing' and 'exist' at this point in time, but once this point is over, it's gone. the present already turned to the past and became a mere memory, and time will distort that memory and after a couple of years, it won't even resemble what it really was, if it even was.
then you die.

 

[Deleted member 1244]

and you call yourself postmodernist?

Nope i do not subscribe to labels, i simple "am"

To call myself postmodern or an absudist would be going against the idea of being one. thus i am not one except in moments that i am. And at that time i wonder if i would call my self one... hmmm...

I think. I simple live by those ideas when it suits me. And not when i dont. To be free that is whan being an absudist no?

i say, just enjoy being. To make meanings even knowingly its meaningless. because making meaning is good(?)
or may be
not ..
Hmm...

all existence is meaningless

Yes it is.
Isnt that great!
That means it can be ANYTHING you or i want. It can even be both! Delightful!

 

[SakeVision]

Yes it is.
Isnt that great!
That means it can be ANYTHING you or i want. It can even be both! Delightful!

You can even be nothing!!

though

it's probably an oxymoron

 

[bigbear51]

Really the main problem just boils down to caring so much about the "what" rather than the "how". Trying to do something different, instead of bothering to care about doing it right.

And honestly, for all the shit from others in this thread about letting people do what they want. Fine, they can, but don't bitch when myself or other people don't like it and rate it accordingly. Fuck off.

 

[Kilolo]

Really the main problem just boils down to caring so much about the "what" rather than the "how". Trying to do something different, instead of bothering to care about doing it right.

And honestly, for all the shit from others in this thread about letting people do what they want. Fine, they can, but don't bitch when myself or other people don't like it and rate it accordingly. Fuck off.

dude, chill

 

[bigbear51]

dude, chill

I mean, it's not like their responses aren't full of crap. Or that they can't handle any sense of criticism.