27 replies to this topic

[Born from a NaruSaku Lemon]

I've been noticing that a LOT of NaruSaku stories right now include either Angst, or tragedy. Now, I don't know about you, but I feel that some of these Angst stories, especially Angst/Romance stories, are going either too far, or are getting so close to being a S.O.G. (some Other Guy)/Sakura story that it's making me want to stop reading all the new stories that show up in the NaruSaku filter.

So I was wondering, how far is too far in a NaruSaku Angst/Romance story? How far can an author go before he loses readers instead of gaining them?

[Gnosismaster]

I agree with you. There is only such much that you can withstand before snapping.



Off topic - How is JFO going?

[Derock]

You know what...

I think most of those authors (who are not die-hard NaruSaku fans) are trying to kill us with the angst. especially those who are also NH/SS/NS(yaoi) fans

[Shouri no Hana]

That I have to agree with as well, the only angst I'll read it temporary angst, where it isn't a huge role in the story. Life is already depressing, I won't want to read it as well.

SOG/Saku gets to me as well, more or less it pisses me off or when an author changes a pairing halfway through the story and doesn't change the filter... urgh.

[narutokage]

You know what...

I think most of those authors (who are not die-hard NaruSaku fans) are trying to kill us with the angst. especially those who are also NH/SS/NS(yaoi) fans

lol I think you are on to something.

I think angst mixed with fun moment and between favorite pairing can still be tolerable but when you have total OOCness and then you see the girl or the guy cheating on their partner with another or just leave them to be with another without author specifying in the beginning. It becomes too much.

I would rather read action, adventure and romance genre because sometimes real life is already as depressing as they come I would rather not have fiction go the same path

[chouzu_tao]

I agree with a lot of what Ceras wrote here. He's made the points I would have.

In every art form there is generally a cycle of "styles", when it leans too far one way (Fluff) then people revolt towards the other spectrum, (Angst), and vice-versa.

I guess now is the time when we try to flow the other way as authors, but I think as Ceras has said, in any good work, there is usually balance. What one should do when introducing their piece or having a mini-scenario, as on FF.net, is include whether or not the piece is fluff or semi-realisitic.

On the topic: It's too far angst when every waking moment Naruto is depressed, and has no signs of his former, child-like self (in terms of energy). Unless justified realistically.

Other guy/Saku, I have no problems with, if it were real life, there's always a chance someone else may come in between the characters. I guess purists of NaruSaku may just hate them seeing others as attractive, even though in any relationship, even if you're bf/gf, you still notice how attractive others are. I don't know how other than again, to just warn others, there's another person?

Really the best any writer can do though, is justify the actions, believably. The examples Ceras gave, especially of Saku/sex with other guy, or vice-versa with Naruto, are....... a little too far, but I might believe it if "somehow" they justified the action realistically... but even then using sex to create drama, tension, or shock value I think is a weakness as a writer.

But again, with any art, it's all in the eye of the beholder. As any fanfiction writer may have known or seen at some point in their career, there are aspects of characters you view as True that others don't see at all. It all boils down to interpretation.

..... boy I prattled on for a while, hopefully someone understands.

[Vyse]

While I don't like fullblown angst fics, I don't really mind some angsty moments in a fic. If a fic starts out with something bad happening, it would make the turn to fluff and sweetness all that better. If Naruto for instance is all "I'm not worthy of anyone" or something OOC like that, the moment where Sakura molest him in the name of NaruSaku smex is awesome! Angst and Romance can walk hand in hand if you ask me, and their lovechild is called Hurt/comfort and never leaves home without his favourite teddybear, Drama!

[Gnosismaster]

Hehe, I like what you said.

[Born from a NaruSaku Lemon]

Me too, it was True and funny. Also, I'm not saying Angst ain't good, just that too much is bad.

[MagusKyros]

Angst is only enjoyable if the characters aren't OOC, and it ties into the story. Otherwise it ends up looking corny, and the angst is there just for the sake of it.

[narutokage]

While I don't like fullblown angst fics, I don't really mind some angsty moments in a fic. If a fic starts out with something bad happening, it would make the turn to fluff and sweetness all that better. If Naruto for instance is all "I'm not worthy of anyone" or something OOC like that, the moment where Sakura molest him in the name of NaruSaku smex is awesome! Angst and Romance can walk hand in hand if you ask me, and their lovechild is called Hurt/comfort and never leaves home without his favourite teddybear, Drama!

very well put. It was intriguing and I totally agree with what you said :thumbs:

[FullmetalNinja25]

I'm fine with a little angst but not to the point where you start imagining the characters with black streaks in their hair, huge bags under their eyes and bloody bandages wrapped around their arms.

[Leney]

As long as everyone involved is relatively IC then I can be masochistic and read the angsties of angsty angstiness. Although, people like to write Naruto as overly bitter and vindictive in some of these fics. I really don't think he has a vindictive bone in his body. Maybe he might feel pangs of bitterness at times, but he'd get past it, or else he would have ended up like Gaara a long time ago. IMO anyways.

That's why he's perfect angst fodder.

And I don't care how angsty your damn fic is. Naruto loves Sasuke like a brother! He's not going to hate his guts, because Sakura like(s/d) him. I don't even like Sasuke that much, but I do think stories that don't acknowledge their bonds w/ each other are lacking something.

Also, I don't understand though why neither Sakura or Naruto can't have sexual relations with other people? I don't see sex as the manifestation of TRUE LOVE. In a lot of these fics they're old enough to do these things w/ other people. So why not? Surely the mindblowing NaruSaku sex has to come from somewhere, hehe.

(This reminds me, I really liked the exchange between Sakura and Naruto in Experiments, when Sakura learns that Naruto isn't a virgin, by any means: "You're...kinda loose aren't you Naruto?" "It's just I can't afford to be picky.")

[Strausenhat]

Clean Through is my limit on Angsty, if there's any story more filled with angst, it'll be filled with wrist slashing or suicide or something really bad and I really don't want to read that

[narutokage]

As long as everyone involved is relatively IC then I can be masochistic and read the angsties of angsty angstiness. Although, people like to write Naruto as overly bitter and vindictive in some of these fics. I really don't think he has a vindictive bone in his body. Maybe he might feel pangs of bitterness at times, but he'd get past it, or else he would have ended up like Gaara a long time ago. IMO anyways.

That's why he's perfect angst fodder.

And I don't care how angsty your damn fic is. Naruto loves Sasuke like a brother! He's not going to hate his guts, because Sakura like(s/d) him. I don't even like Sasuke that much, but I do think stories that don't acknowledge their bonds w/ each other are lacking something.

Also, I don't understand though why neither Sakura or Naruto can't have sexual relations with other people? I don't see sex as the manifestation of TRUE LOVE. In a lot of these fics they're old enough to do these things w/ other people. So why not? Surely the mindblowing NaruSaku sex has to come from somewhere, hehe.

(This reminds me, I really liked the exchange between Sakura and Naruto in Experiments, when Sakura learns that Naruto isn't a virgin, by any means: "You're...kinda loose aren't you Naruto?" "It's just I can't afford to be picky.")

ah experiment. that was a good little piece and you are right I really liked that line as it summed up quite a few things regarding Naruto in one line and Sakura understood it as well.

[Wilson]

As much as possible! :devil:

Nah, as long as it's reasonable, i'll accept it.

[Rick (Bonta-kun)]

I think I'll be under fire once I write this (as I have what most of my readers classify as "the angsty NaruSaku story,") but...

Perhaps this rise of "angst/tragedy/romance" NaruSaku fics may be a sign of:

A. Writers departing from the fairy-tale, "fluffy," sunshine-romance that is also prevalent in the NaruSaku category

B. The guy-best-friend-holding-unrequited-love-for-main-girl-girl-doesn't-return-affections ploy, I think, is a pretty malleable idea. It can go in a comic, cute, romantic direction or to another extreme: angsty, betrayals, intense sadness, etc. There's alot you can do with this kind of scenario and maybe writers are going in the latter direction.

The SOG/Sakura, I've noticed (and partially used myself) tends to be a device to intesify drama and suspense, most often to "attract" readers. However, as you questioned and assumed, this can backfire very easily if it isn't "executed" the right way.

I feel that non-conscientious writers will consequently lose their readers if they render this plot device to utter nonesense: like Sakura actually having sex with another guy while she's presumably in a relationship with Naruto...and then he goes through a "anger/emo" phase....the two fight...she sleeps with other guys to "relieve the pain of losing Naruto" etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

Now that, is going too far.

When it comes to angst, I've observed (and learned), that "moderation is key." (Of course I am aware there are some NaruSaku readers out there who digress and insist that angst is absolutely unnecessary). Its fine if there is some "sadness and tears"--I mean, come on--Naruto and Sakura live in a pretty dangerous world and undertake risky missions. If they only acquire victories instead of losses, endured virtually no stress and anxiety, and had no obstacles to face or overcome when in a relationship: let's face it, the story would be unrealistic, idyllic, and boring.

Ceras ftw

She has said everything that i think, and probably more

Ceras

I agree with a lot of what Ceras wrote here. She's made the points I would have.

Thought i should correct you, since Ceras is a WOMAN. lol.

[Kamina-Yoshi]

Too much angst?


When you kill off the characters from the story, and leaving Naruto in a depression as a drug-addict and a goth.