Reader hates character...what do?

So I'm writing this one story, a reboot off of another story, and my (only) reader despises this one character. The problem is that this one character is really important to the plot. However, the reader refuses to read anything to do with the character because he dislikes her. The main reasons why he dislikes her is because she is rather promiscuous and engages in recreational drug use.

Anyways reader wants me to drop the character, except I can't because she's kind of important. I rebooted the story and basically made her Lighterand Softer but he still stubbornly wants her to go.

I'm not sure what to do or say. He's now saying things like "oh, so this character is more important to you than my feelings". H-HELP ME TVTROPES!

edited 7th Jul '11 9:51:50 PM by blorgit

Kindred spirit! My main character is an unlikable jackass!

...if your reader refuses to read about a character because of their moral choices...I think there is something wrong with the reader. Demographics wise, anyway.

Read my stories!

I'd like to ask you to clarify further what the reader dislikes. Does the reader dislike any form of promiscuity and any drug use, or does the character break some sort of promise? Furthermore, is the character portrayed as someone the reader is supposed to sympathize with?

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful

If the character is really important and the story depends on her—plus you already did your best to improve her by changing a few things, to no avail—then keep her.

edited 7th Jul '11 8:13:33 PM by BetsyandtheFiveAvengers

Get another reader. That's a dumb reason to drop a character, that her moral choices are different from this one reader's preferences.

Although feo's post is good too. I can't tell which one it is for sure without reading the actual thing.

In either case I think it would be better for you if you can get second/third/fourth opinions on your work, unlikeable character or no.

edited 7th Jul '11 8:15:57 PM by melloncollie

@feotakahari: The reader dislikes any form of promiscuity and drug use. Also yeah, the character is supposed to be sympathetic, even though the aforementioned two things are pretty much big loaded guns when it comes to sympathy...

edited 7th Jul '11 8:15:44 PM by blorgit

Do you really need to have the reader's recognition? Trying to please everyone never works. And from what I read, I don't see why this character should go.

If you really must, you could simply write a completely new character who touches the same plot points but doesn't engage in recreational drugs and isn't promiscuous. Unless it's necessary for her to be so, then you'd need to tweak them. Not worth the effort, IMHO.

What exactly does this character do in the plot?

That's Feo . . . He's a disgusting, mysoginistic, paedophilic asshat who moonlights as a shitty writer—Something Awful

Look, personally, I hate drugs. But I'm not going to hate a character because they use them. I think you need to put your art first, here.

Read my stories!

@feotakahari: The character mainly is a sort of Jerk with a Heart of Gold who is pretty loyal and protective of her sister, and through the character's guidance the character's Shrinking Violet sister manages to break out of her shell and get together with the main character. (no drug use/promiscuity was involved, though I'm pretty sure that the character's personality would be drastically different without it. It's supposed to how a contrast between her 'outside' and 'inside' life) Also, said character also proceeds to help out on a bunch of future events. Really, the drugs and sex is supposed to be a thing she does on the side instead of something character-defining like, say, Panty from that one anime, but she wouldn't do the things she did without the experiences of her promiscuity and drug use. It's hard to explain...

I second the above (). A work's merits must not be entangled with morals or ethics, particularly if there is disagreement from only one person on these grounds.

edited 7th Jul '11 8:24:01 PM by Morgulion

This is this.

Are you writing this story specifically for that reader, or something? If not, I don't see why you would be obliged to change it. Your story, not theirs.

edited 7th Jul '11 8:25:19 PM by LoniJay

Be not afraid...

@Loni Jay: Well, the line gets blurred here because this reader is my only reader, so at the risk of alienating my only reader said reader has a lot of power over the plot...

edited 7th Jul '11 8:26:39 PM by blorgit

Here is what you do.

You type up story.

You post on tv tropes.

You get second opinion.

Read my stories!

"Only reader" doesn't necessarily mean "last reader". Or at least shouldn't.

Just what's the reader's role? Does (s)he has the power to judge or something? Otherwise, I still fail to see why you should try to please (s)he.

The reader's a pretty good friend of mine, which is why I'm loathe to alienate him, but this character is becoming a prettyyyy big issue. I kind of want him to realize that the story is just a story and that he shouldn't bring his own personal views into it, but I can't quite think of a way to put that tactfully.

Anyways yeah I really need to get another reader O_O;

We have a critique club. Post it there. Post it here. We will read it. We will be your reader.

Read my stories!

The main reasons why he dislikes her is because she is rather promiscuous and engages in reccreational drug use

Yes do share

Seriously though you can't rewrite a character solely on one man's opinion. If everyboby hates then you might have a problem but one guy? unless he is your editor no way.

edited 7th Jul '11 9:02:40 PM by joeyjojo

hashtagsarestupid

Echoing what everyone's saying here. Stick to your guns and don't compromise your work too much.

My blog of random AARs and stories.

@joeyjojo: Yeah, it's not like I do drugs or sleep around but I find the character likable in her own way...lol.

Anyways gasp, posting my work here for everyone to see!? S-suddenly I feel nervous...first time showing my stuff to more than one person...well, I'll clean it up and start gathering courage.

edited 7th Jul '11 9:42:27 PM by blorgit

It seems like it's been covered, but I'll add my voice to the chorus- what this person is saying is pretty strange, and you shouldn't mangle your story on their account.
As a totally unrelated aside, I suspect I would strongly dislike this reader in real life.
Even if the character were actually unlikeable, as opposed to just making moral decisions the reader doesn't agree with *

, there's still a place in fiction for that sort of character as well.

Also? I'm sure the critique thread has seen worse. I've posted excerpts of my stuff there three times, for instance.

edited 7th Jul '11 10:10:23 PM by deathjavu

Look, you can't make me speak in a logical, coherent, intelligent bananna.

TV Tropes is searchable on google.

If you want to publish your work in the future, don't post it here, PM it to interested readers.

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.

If your friend is that level of judgmental, you're probably better off without his critique anyway. Get a reader who is a little more attuned to the way the real world works.

edited 7th Jul '11 10:48:39 PM by kashchei

And better than thy stroke; why swellest thou then?

Seconding everyone else. Just don't share this particular work with this particular person anymore. It really, really doesn't sound like the character is a problem in and of itself.

edited 7th Jul '11 11:09:34 PM by jewelleddragon

You should clarify the reader that if the character is a protagonist or important to the plot, it means she will get development and in the future, she may chane her habits as a way to deliver An Aesop. Even if this is not true, and the character never changes (Which would suck, because every important character has to change in some way), you've just hooked your reader into checking the whole story to know how and why the character changes.

That's my idea, at least. Expectation and surprise are the strongest weapons of a writer.

You used that starlight to guide me… I´ll use this starlight to guide you back! Matrix Evolution!