The Reject Station

When Sylphalchemist and I started this blog, I told her, "I just hope Fucking Shoujo lasts longer than milk." We laughed. The "Haha It's not going to last that long" laugh.

Male lead's just Clark on super red kryptonite.

And now it's been two months and I feel like a giddy fourteen year old who reached the two month mark since stalking her celebrity crush. Like my ten year crush on Tom Welling, male lead of Smallville. Dude dropped off the face of the earth after the show ended. Strange that his old love interest is on a new show without him.

But anyway, I've been brainstorming new ways to keep this blog alive since most of the manga I've reviewed were series that I read a long time ago.

Sylphalchemist: Read more manga.
Me: I think I'm growing too old for this shit shoujo.
Sylphalchemist: How dare you insult the majestic rainbow kawaii desu wonder that is shoujo. Naoko Takeuchi, author of Sailor Moon, would be ashamed of you! You should be in Moon Prism--Prison! Yeah! What say you, dreamless troll! [This part may or may have not been made up. I have a problem with mixing up real life experiences with fiction.]

How to Lose Fans and Alienate Readers

I'm going to take a break from the usual format (introduction, one or two manga examples of topic, 'desperate attempt to wrap things up' conclusion) to write about my frustrations about something that is supposed to take my mind away from the crappy facts of life.

I depend on the internet to numb my brain. Manga is one sedative that I'm used to. But every now and then, a series comes by and riddles my brain full of holes like a drive by shooting.

And I get angry. But I usually put down the book or rather close the window. I don't have to read it.

Just like I didn't have to screen cap Anya's eyes open for this pic.

What frustrates me the most are the series who lure me into loving them. I accept them into my home, let their pages catch my tears on the days when I'm upset, and share them with my friends, only for them to betray me in the end with filler chapters and confusing plot twists.

I understand when television shows do that--they have a staff of writers. They have to collaborate, and each writer has their own style. The writers also have to write characters in or out of a series based on the actor's contract.

However, books, manga written by one author doing that? I'm already sharpening my pitchfork.

But since I love my expensive laptop, and I don't live on a farm, instead I'm going to compose a list of the top three ways to lose fans and alienate readers.

The Top Three Ways to Lose Fans and Alienate Readers

1. Confuse the reader (ex. absurd plot twists, drastic changes in character)
2. Go on a hiatus
3. Have your plot move at an excruciating pace