Has anyone ever said "I don't get it" after reading one of your stories? What does that even mean? My reader could not elaborate.
I don't get it
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It can mean a whole lot of things, ranging from the whole story not making sense, to a certain plot point or twist not making sense. The best thing to do would be to ask your reader to be more specific about what they didn't get.
In this instance, it probably means you need a better reader, unless there's a very clear plot-twist thingy that is the obvious thing he/she's referring to, or they can elaborate if you ask some more direct/specific questions.
I've tended to get that sort of response from people who aren't familiar with my genre and its tropes (I write space opera) or -- and I *think* I'm getting better at this but maybe not -- when I've spent enough time working with a particular plot that it just seems more and more obvious to me with each reread/revision, so I keep trying to subtleify it more, when in fact it was already quite inobvious to someone who didn't have the writer-brain cheat-sheet thing going for them and what I've gone and done is made it downright labyrinthian obtuse.
Is this a short or a novel/novel portion? Have you tried SYW?
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It means they didn't get it. Which means there might be something you should tweak in your story. But if they can't elaborate, the feedback doesn't help.
You need a reader that can tell you where and hopefully why they got lost.
You need a reader that can tell you where and hopefully why they got lost.
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In my experience, "I don't get it" has meant
1. the reader does not have the same vocabulary as you
2. the reader is unfamiliar with the genre and references therein
3. the reader wasn't actually paying attention and sees nothing in it for them
YMMV
1. the reader does not have the same vocabulary as you
2. the reader is unfamiliar with the genre and references therein
3. the reader wasn't actually paying attention and sees nothing in it for them
YMMV
Okay. Then i'd ask the reader to elaborate. If they're unable to, get a second opinion (or more).
Yeah, they have to say a bit about what they don't get! Ask them what sort of thing they normally read and compare that to what you are going for. Maybe it makes total sense why they don't get it.
I get folks saying they like more straightforward stories than mine tend to be, and that explains a bunch. OTOH, I really can be too vague about some things and need betas who tell me when I am entirely too obscure. But they need to know how obscure I'm going for.
Do you have in mind what you are going for, exactly? That's important. Is it supposed to take some thought, or is it straightforward?
I get folks saying they like more straightforward stories than mine tend to be, and that explains a bunch. OTOH, I really can be too vague about some things and need betas who tell me when I am entirely too obscure. But they need to know how obscure I'm going for.
Do you have in mind what you are going for, exactly? That's important. Is it supposed to take some thought, or is it straightforward?
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The only way I can see it making sense is if it felt to the reader that you were trying to make a point in the narrative, but failed to, or the point they thought you were trying to make didn't make sense, or didn't work given parts of the narrative.
I agree the best thing you can do is ask them to clarify. If they can't, find someone else to read your work for you.
I agree the best thing you can do is ask them to clarify. If they can't, find someone else to read your work for you.
Never assume you need a better reader because one says he didn't get it. Most often, it means you did something wrong, not the reader. This is a common editorial complaint, as well, and it's almost always valid.
It's also one difficult to clarify because it's already about as clear as it gets, or as clear as you need. It means exactly what it says. I don't get it. I don't understand it. I don't see the point, It makes no sense to me.
However it's phrased, it means I don't get it.
Writers always get it in their own stories. They know what they meant to say, know what a story is supposed to mean, etc. This doesn't mean readers will get it. When one says he doesn't, it's probably the most valid complaint out there because it takes no expertise, no knowledge of stories, or the genre, or anything else. When anyone reads a story, any story, they either get it or they don't.
When they don't, you probably did something wrong.
It's also one difficult to clarify because it's already about as clear as it gets, or as clear as you need. It means exactly what it says. I don't get it. I don't understand it. I don't see the point, It makes no sense to me.
However it's phrased, it means I don't get it.
Writers always get it in their own stories. They know what they meant to say, know what a story is supposed to mean, etc. This doesn't mean readers will get it. When one says he doesn't, it's probably the most valid complaint out there because it takes no expertise, no knowledge of stories, or the genre, or anything else. When anyone reads a story, any story, they either get it or they don't.
When they don't, you probably did something wrong.
Yes, but if they're not able to tell a writer what, specifically, they mean, where, how, whatever, by that cryptic phrase, they're not helpful to the writer, imho.
"i don't get why that character did that when someone told her not to" is totally different from "i don't get how that character got that gun when she didn't have one a minute before."
I second zanzjan~post your wip on SYW and ask for specific feedback.
cat
"i don't get why that character did that when someone told her not to" is totally different from "i don't get how that character got that gun when she didn't have one a minute before."
I second zanzjan~post your wip on SYW and ask for specific feedback.
cat
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And both are entirely different than "I don't get it."
The last, as Cathy, myself and others are trying to say, is not helpful. It doesn't provide any hint as to what is wrong. No one is saying a writer needs a better reader because this one "didn't get it". We're saying a writer needs a reader that can articulate where or what they didn't get. Why isn't necessary.
"I didn't get it" full stop is as unhelpful as "the car is broken" when no other information is forthcoming. How is it broken? It won't start? Won't stop? It's making funny noises when it turns? Is it the battery? The tires? The headlights? The windscreen? The windscreen wipers?
A reader whose entire commentary is "I didn't get it" is not helpful. It absolutely, positively, 100% is not as clear as you need.
My parents did, when I was around twelve. In response to which I locked myself in the bathroom and wouldn't let them in for a long time.
(Yes, I'm already out)
Funny, it was my mother who said it. Part of me wanted to lock myself in the bathroom, but I'm too old for that.
Anyway, I rewrote the ending today. I am not sure if it made it better or will make anyone get it, but it is different now. I am pretty happy with it. I think it is ready to send out and see what an editor thinks.
Actually, rereading my story I have mixed feelings about the new ending. I feel like it ties things up to the beginning of the story. Is that bad?
Sent it anyway. Moving on.
Sent it anyway. Moving on.
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Where do you people get all these readers? I'm not a huge fan of sending my work off to strangers. Also, I can't imagine having three people that want to read a story a week from me.
That's a good question. I've not had much luck getting beta readers.
As to your original question, I try to look at the story with fresh eyes, if I can, and see how I might not have been clear. I start with trying to see in what ways they are right. part of learning to write is learning which input is valid and which is not. Sometimes I just have to accept it that not everyone is going to connect with a story. I read plenty of award winning stories and say "how did THAT win an award?"
I've met my best critique partners and beta readers here in SYW. Even if you don't want to post your own work, critique work that others post. After you build a relationship, you can approach them about being a beta reader.
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All the time.
As others have said, one reader's opinion can't tell you whether they're the problem or the story is. You need more input.
Need input! (oh dear, now that's stuck in my head)
As others have said, one reader's opinion can't tell you whether they're the problem or the story is. You need more input.
Need input! (oh dear, now that's stuck in my head)
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Could be a problem with the story, or the reader. Either way.
No one has said that to me, yet (likely I haven't written enough stories), but I have said it about stories I've read. I've said it about published stories, so clearly it was me that missed something.
No one has said that to me, yet (likely I haven't written enough stories), but I have said it about stories I've read. I've said it about published stories, so clearly it was me that missed something.
I have had someone say that about one of my stories but it had already been published so I didn't care.
I have also read short stories in mags and journals that I "didn't get."
I have also read short stories in mags and journals that I "didn't get."
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