SPOILERS FOR NEXT CHAPTER
First of all: I had to type this up like four times, because tumblr likes to just eat my text posts. Omg. WHY. Why does CMD+Z for ‘undo’ (which you could normally use for undoing a text replacement) erase THE ENTIRE POST YOU JUST WROTE? 😭 Who decided this change was GOOD? 😭 It never used to do that!
Okay.
Anyway.
So.
I’m having a conundrum with the next (few) chapter(s).
I decided I’m absolutely breaking this update up into multiple parts, because while trying to trim it down I somehow managed to bloat the chapter up in size to 22k words lmfao (DO NOT ASK ME HOW. I DO NOT KNOW. 😭) And I am not posting that lol (It’s bad enough I go over 10k at times for extra long chapters. That would be insane.) However, now that I’ve found a good spot to slice off at for the next update, it puts me in a pickle because it’s in the middle of some stuff I could completely edit out (thus, rendering the update a lot shorter).
For context, this next scene focuses on Bakugou and OC talking while eating. He’s discussing a few topics—things he likes and fan stuff regarding All Might, but then turns the tables on OC and starts asking her about things she enjoys—favorite heroes, hobbies, specifics about her quirk and family. Stuff like that.
A nice bonding moment.
This wouldn’t be a problem if not for the fact that I’ve been trying to keep OC as vague as possible (since she is supposed to reflect the reader).
My question then becomes: how detailed am I allowed to get with her?
Some readers in the past have asked me to go into more details about these exact things, saying they already see her as her own character and not a stand-in for themselves. They have said it would make her a more interesting character, too, since it would broaden the plot.
And on that point, it’s really interesting for me hearing that as the writer of this piece specifically, because I have tons of headcannons for her! 😅 All sorts of info I never bother to add into the story and just kept to myself lol. Stuff she likes. Hobbies. The way she looks. Her family (and extended family). All sorts of thoughts regarding other heroes and pop culture… Her favorite songs, books, etc. I’m constantly thinking of new stuff to add in 😂 I just… never do.
It’s not a huge problem for me (or it hasn’t been, anyway). And I’ve indulged a little bit here and there in the past. Ya’ll have been kind enough to overlook content regarding her family dynamics, assumed height, food preferences, etc. I just don’t know how far I’m allowed to go where people will still be interested.
I’ve tried to veer on the safe side, not just with canon as a guideline, but also keeping in mind I have a lot of readers from different lifestyles and cultures than myself. I guess I don’t want to say she likes XYZ and then readers hate her, or be turned off from her possible perspectives on things. 😅
And I know I’m probably overthinking it; that as the author I can do as I please. But with this story I’ve tried to be mindful of the reader’s point of view since the beginning, and I think that it’s also part of the story’s charm. I like incorporating your thoughts and feelings. It feels like a bit of a group effort. 🥰 And I don’t want to ruin a formula that seems to make most readers comfortable.
I would really love to hear your thoughts regarding this, whichever way you feel. I can continue to write it the way I have, and that wouldn’t be a problem (I wouldn’t be upset!). But it might be more fun for us if I indulge? I could even ask about some specific opinions from the readers and try to incorporate that, too. It would certainly open up a lot of doors for content I could write.
I have a few things I’m considering revealing in one of these upcoming updates, but I don’t want to divulge just yet what that is (Maybe my next blog post). It’s not something serious or prominent to the plot, but it’s revolving around one of her potential hobbies and possible club activities she partook in at her old school.
I did a lot of research on a few topics for it, but it’s just something that I thought was interesting, and not a necessity to the plot. 😂 It’s also not something I think a lot of people will care about, so I’m contemplating cutting it specifically because of that. (It’s fluff, really. I know I could always just blabber away here to what it is lol but I did think of a way I could incorporate a callback to it in a later chapter if I wanted.)
But yeah, it’s late and I’m just rambling at this point lol
With that all out there, I’m going to try and get all my editing and formatting done later today for this chapter (I’m on my way to bed!), that way I can post between late tomorrow night and sometime on Sunday when I get home. Here’s to hoping I can finish on time! 💪💪💪 There’s still a little bit left to refine! ٩(⁎❛ᴗ❛⁎)۶
