: A few ways to avoid Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy: Learn from the dark. There are times in life when we feel that we have too much to do and not enough time to do it and that things

@Dunderdale623

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A few ways to avoid Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy:

Learn from the dark. There are times in life when we feel that we have too much to do and not enough time to do it and that things are intent in dragging us down into a pit from which we can't escape. But then we find a way to overcome all that and succeed. And your characters can too. Sure, throw them into all sorts of poisonous, dark situations, but then let them learn something, either about themselves, life, others or nature, and then let them use that knowledge to overcome whatever darkness they're in. When you do that, your readers will recognise that they can use the same principle in their own lives, which can lift apathy whilst reading.

Pause on the stairs. Walking up stairs can be hard. It might not feel so if you're ten and there are only twelve steps and you can bound up them three at a time, but when the flight of stairs is longer, or you're older, you get to appreciate a rest every now and again. It's possible to build that kind of principle into a dark narrative. Have your characters pause every now and again to smell the flowers, feel the breeze against their skin and wash their hands in nice hot, soapy water. Then launch them back into the fray. This will refresh characters, prose and readers alike.

Wise like a fool. One way to use humour without introducing tonal disparity is to launch a jester into the story. This character will be funny, but also wise. They will be able to bring levity to a scene, but in an appropriate way. Because your jester is wise, this will provide a means for characters to grow and learn in a subtle way. Done well, especially in an otherwise dark tale, this light counterpoint can lift the mood and help to prevent apathy.

Light up the scene. Let your readers see what's happening by describing the scenery in an entertaining and informative way. Strong images tied in to the story can really bring things to life for a reader. Obviously don't go wild with this - you don't want to distract readers by purplish prose about effulgent, refulgent, lambent or fulgurat sunlight in the trees when the real focus of the scene should be the sword slicing slippery flesh with spurts of blood and dying etc. But still, appropriately done, good description can lift a reader's spirits.

Paint something fresh. Darkness is dark. People are accustomed to falling asleep in the dark. But a darkness that is full of new things is something to stay awake for. Novel gadgets that do exciting things in ways that have never been seen before and that make interesting noises while they do so can keep anyone awake in the darkness. Add something new into a scene and you will keep a reader's interest despite the overall tone being darker than dark.

End on a high. The promise of a resolution to a plot that involves light at the end of a tunnel can be something that can keep a reader plodding onwards through the darkness. Dante's Inferno works in part because it's dark, but also in part because we know that our hero is heading towards Purgatorio and Paradiso. Harry Potter's trials are dark and numerous, but in our hearts we know that he will defeat the bad guy and live happily ever after - and that's one part of what keeps apathy at bay whilst reading.

There are many other ways to avoid Darkness-Induced Audience Apathy, but these have worked for me and I hope they will be useful to you too.

Good luck with your trilogy - it sounds exceptional.

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