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ENTRY

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 3
July 7, 2008

(This part discusses the fourth and fifth topics of the six introduced in Part 1. )

Satisfaction varies greatly from person to person. Satisfaction is perhaps one of the most variable human emotions. Because we have such diverse and temporal needs, each of us has differing levels of satisfaction. For any number of people experiencing a situation, there will be an equal number of satisfaction responses.

That's one reason I find it difficult to digest the feedback of my writing from several people at once. I used to belong to a writer's group, a very good one by the way but that's another story. Getting feedback from eight or nine people on my writing usually elicited eight or nine different responses. One reader might be satisfied with the main character having unsympathetic qualities, find them to add complexity to the character. Another might find the unsympathetic qualities too unsavory. For example, in one novel-in-progress, the main character is dealing with pathological anger and rage. His outbursts give him a dark edge to his otherwise staid and responsible demeanor. Part of the novel's suspense is wondering how and when he will lose control. As you can imagine, some people like the character, some people hate him.

As I write, I try to stay focused on the vision I have for the novel. In other words, I'm not thinking too much about reader satisfaction. Mainly because there are too many readers to satisfy. Trying to satisfy them all is impossible, because each has a unique, changing, and temporal satisfaction index. I can really only satisfy myself. And if that occurs then I believe some others will find the work satisfying. Whether there will be enough satisfied readers to sustain a career is, again, another story.

Satisfaction is relatively short-lived. The feeling of being satisfied doesn't last very long. We can completely satisfy our hunger with a meal only to be hungry in a few hours. While I'm writing, the satisfaction of writing a good scene disappears in a few moments as I work on another. The emotion is not as long lived as say happiness or grief, however, there might be a residual glow of satisfaction for a while.

Dissatisfaction can also linger, perhaps longer than its positive side. If I'm struggling to make a scene work, or a character come alive, and nothing is satisfying me, the feeling can stay with me until I fix the problem. I find that often my subconscious is working on the problem. A solution can pop into my awareness even if I'm not consciously thinking about the problem. Now that's satisfying!

A reader's satisfaction is also short-lived. We might find a novel to be richly satisfying, even perfectly satisfying, yet we don't stop reading new books. We will likely reread the richly satisfying book, despite knowing what happens. We want to relive that satisfactory experience, and find even more satisfactory experiences.

#

© 2013

COMMENTS

Number of comments: 7
click here to add a comment

Jo Reed
These two also go back to your previous post about advice. I've gotten away from seeking advice at all. Write for myself!

Todd
In the end, writing for yourself is a good strategy. The question are there enough readers who find what you do satisfying to them, enough to buy your books.

Lee Witte
Based on this, it seems almost impossible to make a living at this.

Todd
It is tough! And getting worse. But that makes publishing all the more gratifying.

Jo Reed
At least I'll have one person satisfied.

Lee Witte
If you're lucky, Jo.

Jo Reed
Ha.

ARCHIVE

date (comments)

Review: Paprika
April 21, 2013 (3)

Review: A Straight Road With 99 Curves
March 30, 2013 (1)

Gripping writing
Feb. 28, 2013 (2)

Review: Salvation of a Saint
January 19, 2013 (2)

2012 in review
December 30, 2012 (2)

Review: Ninja
September 30, 2012 (2)

Review: My Postwar Life
August 21, 2012 (1)

New interview with Colin Marshall
July 15, 2012 (3)

Book events
April 25, 2012 (2)

Subduction
March 14, 2012 (8)

Review: A Room Where the Star Spangled Banner Cannot Be Heard
January 14, 2012 (1)

Review: Plainsong
December 20, 2011 (3)

Review: The Devil's Disciple
November 29, 2011 (2)

Haruki Murakami
October 5, 2011 (2)

Busyness and demons
September 25, 2011 (2)

Characters: The Bully
July 30, 2011 (3)

Review: Manazuru
June 28, 2011 (2)

Deadlines!
June 24, 2011 (2)

Review: Butterfly's Sisters
May 18, 2011 (1)

Review: Isle of Dreams
April 20, 2011 (2)

Cades Award for Literature press release
April 12, 2011 (2)

Japan and other news
March 29, 2011 (1)

Borders bankruptcy
February 17, 2011 (2)

2010 review
December 17, 2010 (6)

Congratulations Mario Vargas Llosa
October 7, 2010 (2)

OH! wins best book award
September 23, 2010 (2)

Review: Kissing the Mask
August 22, 2010 (1)

Jonathan Lethem: Writing at the margins
July 12, 2010 (2)

Review: Love in Translation
June 22, 2010 (3)

Jose Saramago
June 18, 2010 (0)

Marketplace of Ideas interview
June 11, 2010 (2)

Imagining Memory
May 6, 2010 (1)

Upcoming Los Angeles events
April 7, 2010 (2)

Time and energy
March 30, 2010 (2)

Review: Botchan
February 28, 2010 (2)

J.D. Salinger
January 28, 2010 (1)

2009 Reviewed
December 31, 2009 (5)

Review: The Word Book
December 12, 2009 (1)

Chaat and Chat event with OH!
November 6, 2009 (2)

Home at last
November 2, 2009 (2)

Los Angeles events
October 17, 2009 (1)

Poets and poetry
October 7, 2009 (1)

Time + place
September 24, 2009 (1)

The future of books
September 23, 2009 (1)

October book tour
September 6, 2009 (1)

Blogging at Powell's Books
August 28, 2009 (2)

The evolution of an idea
August 3, 2009 (1)

The Poetics of Motoori Norinaga: A Hermeneutical Journey
July 9, 2009 (2)

Tour debrief
July 2, 2009 (3)

Book tour events
May 18, 2009 (3)

Simply in the mood
April 24, 2009 (2)

Book tour
April 8, 2009 (6)

The Necessary Book
March 2, 2009 (2)

"Murder Makes the Magazine"
February 7, 2009 (3)

John Updike
January 27, 2009 (2)

2008 misc. (good news, bad news)
January 1, 2009 (3)

Publishing woes and query letters
December 13, 2008 (4)

Punctuation compunction
November 16, 2008 (3)

The Fountain of Youth (and other Ideas)
October 10, 2008 (2)

David Foster Wallace
September 14, 2008 (2)

Ending it all
September 12, 2008 (2)

The mystery of plotting, the plotting of mysteries
August 29, 2008 (3)

Blocking out the block
August 20, 2008 (3)

"What kind of books do you write?"
August 8, 2008 (2)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 4
July 21, 2008 (3)

Show and tell
July 14, 2008 (3)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 3
July 7, 2008 (7)

Advice for first-time writers (Barry Gifford and me)
June 30, 2008 (6)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 2
June 18, 2008 (3)

To be or not to be
June 10, 2008 (6)

Theory of Satisfaction: Part 1
June 3, 2008 (6)

Virtual unreality
May 31, 2008 (4)

The purpose of this blog
May 21, 2008 (5)

Todd Shimoda's Writer's Blog home \| current \| forthcoming \| past \| contact
ENTRY Theory of Satisfaction: Part 3 July 7, 2008 (This part discusses the fourth and fifth topics of the six introduced in Part 1. ) Satisfaction varies greatly from person to person. Satisfaction is perhaps one of the most variable human emotions. Because we have such diverse and temporal needs, each of us has differing levels of satisfaction. For any number of people experiencing a situation, there will be an equal number of satisfaction responses. That's one reason I find it difficult to digest the feedback of my writing from several people at once. I used to belong to a writer's group, a very good one by the way but that's another story. Getting feedback from eight or nine people on my writing usually elicited eight or nine different responses. One reader might be satisfied with the main character having unsympathetic qualities, find them to add complexity to the character. Another might find the unsympathetic qualities too unsavory. For example, in one novel-in-progress, the main character is dealing with pathological anger and rage. His outbursts give him a dark edge to his otherwise staid and responsible demeanor. Part of the novel's suspense is wondering how and when he will lose control. As you can imagine, some people like the character, some people hate him. As I write, I try to stay focused on the vision I have for the novel. In other words, I'm not thinking too much about reader satisfaction. Mainly because there are too many readers to satisfy. Trying to satisfy them all is impossible, because each has a unique, changing, and temporal satisfaction index. I can really only satisfy myself. And if that occurs then I believe some others will find the work satisfying. Whether there will be enough satisfied readers to sustain a career is, again, another story. Satisfaction is relatively short-lived. The feeling of being satisfied doesn't last very long. We can completely satisfy our hunger with a meal only to be hungry in a few hours. While I'm writing, the satisfaction of writing a good scene disappears in a few moments as I work on another. The emotion is not as long lived as say happiness or grief, however, there might be a residual glow of satisfaction for a while. Dissatisfaction can also linger, perhaps longer than its positive side. If I'm struggling to make a scene work, or a character come alive, and nothing is satisfying me, the feeling can stay with me until I fix the problem. I find that often my subconscious is working on the problem. A solution can pop into my awareness even if I'm not consciously thinking about the problem. Now that's satisfying! A reader's satisfaction is also short-lived. We might find a novel to be richly satisfying, even perfectly satisfying, yet we don't stop reading new books. We will likely reread the richly satisfying book, despite knowing what happens. We want to relive that satisfactory experience, and find even more satisfactory experiences. # © 2013	COMMENTS Number of comments: 7 click here to add a comment Jo Reed These two also go back to your previous post about advice. I've gotten away from seeking advice at all. Write for myself! Todd In the end, writing for yourself is a good strategy. The question are there enough readers who find what you do satisfying to them, enough to buy your books. Lee Witte Based on this, it seems almost impossible to make a living at this. Todd It is tough! And getting worse. But that makes publishing all the more gratifying. Jo Reed At least I'll have one person satisfied. Lee Witte If you're lucky, Jo. Jo Reed Ha.	ARCHIVE date (comments) Review: Paprika April 21, 2013 (3) Review: A Straight Road With 99 Curves March 30, 2013 (1) Gripping writing Feb. 28, 2013 (2) Review: Salvation of a Saint January 19, 2013 (2) 2012 in review December 30, 2012 (2) Review: Ninja September 30, 2012 (2) Review: My Postwar Life August 21, 2012 (1) New interview with Colin Marshall July 15, 2012 (3) Book events April 25, 2012 (2) Subduction March 14, 2012 (8) Review: A Room Where the Star Spangled Banner Cannot Be Heard January 14, 2012 (1) Review: Plainsong December 20, 2011 (3) Review: The Devil's Disciple November 29, 2011 (2) Haruki Murakami October 5, 2011 (2) Busyness and demons September 25, 2011 (2) Characters: The Bully July 30, 2011 (3) Review: Manazuru June 28, 2011 (2) Deadlines! June 24, 2011 (2) Review: Butterfly's Sisters May 18, 2011 (1) Review: Isle of Dreams April 20, 2011 (2) Cades Award for Literature press release April 12, 2011 (2) Japan and other news March 29, 2011 (1) Borders bankruptcy February 17, 2011 (2) 2010 review December 17, 2010 (6) Congratulations Mario Vargas Llosa October 7, 2010 (2) OH! wins best book award September 23, 2010 (2) Review: Kissing the Mask August 22, 2010 (1) Jonathan Lethem: Writing at the margins July 12, 2010 (2) Review: Love in Translation June 22, 2010 (3) Jose Saramago June 18, 2010 (0) Marketplace of Ideas interview June 11, 2010 (2) Imagining Memory May 6, 2010 (1) Upcoming Los Angeles events April 7, 2010 (2) Time and energy March 30, 2010 (2) Review: Botchan February 28, 2010 (2) J.D. Salinger January 28, 2010 (1) 2009 Reviewed December 31, 2009 (5) Review: The Word Book December 12, 2009 (1) Chaat and Chat event with OH! November 6, 2009 (2) Home at last November 2, 2009 (2) Los Angeles events October 17, 2009 (1) Poets and poetry October 7, 2009 (1) Time + place September 24, 2009 (1) The future of books September 23, 2009 (1) October book tour September 6, 2009 (1) Blogging at Powell's Books August 28, 2009 (2) The evolution of an idea August 3, 2009 (1) The Poetics of Motoori Norinaga: A Hermeneutical Journey July 9, 2009 (2) Tour debrief July 2, 2009 (3) Book tour events May 18, 2009 (3) Simply in the mood April 24, 2009 (2) Book tour April 8, 2009 (6) The Necessary Book March 2, 2009 (2) "Murder Makes the Magazine" February 7, 2009 (3) John Updike January 27, 2009 (2) 2008 misc. (good news, bad news) January 1, 2009 (3) Publishing woes and query letters December 13, 2008 (4) Punctuation compunction November 16, 2008 (3) The Fountain of Youth (and other Ideas) October 10, 2008 (2) David Foster Wallace September 14, 2008 (2) Ending it all September 12, 2008 (2) The mystery of plotting, the plotting of mysteries August 29, 2008 (3) Blocking out the block August 20, 2008 (3) "What kind of books do you write?" August 8, 2008 (2) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 4 July 21, 2008 (3) Show and tell July 14, 2008 (3) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 3 July 7, 2008 (7) Advice for first-time writers (Barry Gifford and me) June 30, 2008 (6) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 2 June 18, 2008 (3) To be or not to be June 10, 2008 (6) Theory of Satisfaction: Part 1 June 3, 2008 (6) Virtual unreality May 31, 2008 (4) The purpose of this blog May 21, 2008 (5)