Data-Driven Daoist

I rewrote the chapters 10 and 11. The revamp is major, so I would recommend readers to re-read the story from there again, otherwise the following chapters might feel confusing (since I also rewrote/edited every chapter from chapter 10 so that the story is consistent).

Check it out here: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/97091/book/chapter/1887314/chapter

I would like to write a letter to you guys.The reason I rewrote was because during chapters 10 and 11, a certain traumatic experience happens to a character. I feel like I wrote the scene well. Most other authors I showed the scene (some whose story I’m sure you’ve read) agreed that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with writing such dark scenes in fiction either, and that there was nothing wrong with the scene I wrote. The fiction was tagged with ’Sensitive Content.’ Keeping up with Royalroad guidelines, I made sure that there were no detailed descriptions of the traumatic event. It happened off-screen, and what we saw was the events leading up to it and the consequences afterwards. The action wasn’t glorified in any way. The main character of this novel might start out as a narcissistic scumbag, but he had his boundaries, too.

Fiction is fiction. Reality is reality. Dark scenes have been written in far greater detail in great works such as A song of ice and fire (Game of Thrones), and Outlanders. Some might say: ”Well those are written by brilliant authors. They have the writing skills to make such dark topics work.” I reject such statements. Nothing is off limits in fictions, no matter what the skill level. Otherwise, how is an author to learn his craft, if he doesn’t at least attempt to write a challenging subject? Should he just be happy writing about happy people in happy land where nothing ever goes wrong?

I believe that humans are storytelling machines. Story is how we explore this vast universe. We make up the most heinous and the most happiest fantasies imaginable, put them into words on paper or a document, then ask the question: ”then what happened?” Our species evolved to tell stories, whether it’s a comedy or a tragedy. We write stories as a way of simulation. If a tiger attacks the village, what is to be done? Ancient storytellers probably pondered these questions too. They wrote a story to tell it to the villagers. I can be based on a real tiger attack. It can be brutal, tragic, and apologetically real. The villagers now at least have a semblance of an idea of what to do next. Is the storyteller is good? Well, the villagers will have a good time too. If they are bad, at least the villagers know there are tigers in the world. Everyone can be a storyteller. Me, who has middling skills at best. G.R.R. Martin, with his monumental skills with the pen, or a budding author who has never written a single word before. My skill level has nothing to do with my qualifications to write. If I’m good, it just means more people will read my story and enjoy it.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Finally, what an author writes in a fictional setting is not some hidden clue to their ’real personality.’ If Thomas Harris writes about cannibals (Silence of the Lambs), does that mean he eats human meat? If my neighbour Leah writes she is a Space Princess, does that actually make her one? On the other hand, if anthere was an actual cannibal, does that in reverse say something about his writing skills? Some people confuse reality and fiction because of medical conditions. Some are simply so self-righteous that they are blind.

So why did I rewrite the scene?

I’d like to explain it first by the valuable wisdom a reader of the story (and fellow writer, MDW) shared with me in the comment sections:

There are no masters but fellow disciples stumbling in the dark while trying to walk the narrow righteous path. Remember to be like the Bamboo rather than the Oak. Both attempt to reach the heavens as they grow. Though mighty, Oak is inflexible. Bamboo bends to the wisdom of the storm and survives, while Oak breaks before the implacable winds.The problem was the sudden and jarring tone-shift. Some fellow authors pointed this out to me. It wasn’t a problem to keep the scene. I was in my right to do so. But, the synopsis of the story, the chapters before chapter 10, and the title of the book do not point to a story with such dark elements, especially not at the beginning 10 chapters. After sleeping on the issue, I agreed. So I kept the ’trauma’ but changed ’how it happened.’ Other authors and some dear readers (on discord and Patreon too) have told me that the rewrite suited the tone of the story much better. I hope you all will think the same too.

Thanks for reading this even though it wasn’t a chapter. I probably made a ton of logical fallacies in this letter. The next real chapter comes out in 6 hours! (I might remove this ’chapter’ in a few days).

I’m now on RS rank 40 I think? I couldn’t have done it without you guys. You, all, rock. I’d hug you if I can (please don’t show up at my door at midnight).

Best regards,

CatVI