Why Do We Flounce Angst Stories?
Angst, often confused with anxiety, is a transcendent emotion in that it
combines the unbearable anguish of life with the hopes of overcoming this
seemingly impossible situation. Without the important element of hope, then the
emotion is anxiety, not angst. Angst denotes the constant struggle one has with
the burdens of life that weighs on the dispossessed and not knowing when the
salvation will appear.
Without the hope, clearly the emotion is just anxiety. Two very different emotions. Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Angst is by far the most difficult genre to write. As well it should be because of the specifics of the emotion. It is also a genre that should not be treaded upon lightly as it is so easy for a story to fail causing tremendous feelings by the readers of said stories.
This is why we flounce. No one really likes the feeling of anxiousness. And that is what the majority of the “angst” genre stories in fandom are, pure anxiety. Because the failure to add the element of hope with said angst only leaves you with feelings of anxiety, it really is that simple. As a reader, if the hope is not clarified, if it is not seen, if it is not understood, only the anxiety kicks in and you become very frustrated and upset with the story because the storyline no longer matches the summary. And the summary of any story is what we latch on to and what leads us to read the story in the first place.
There are so many stories in fandom now that are supposedly “angst” driven. These stories have reached an overwhelming level and it seems to me so many have jumped on the bandwagon. Even writers who normally do not write in the genre are throwing in a chapter here and there. It has become a pet-peeve of mine and I have been accused of “not liking” these types of stories. This is not true, not at all. Though, I have stated I do not like “over the top angst” because it is not angst, it is anxiety. These type of stories are clearly excessive and extreme making the actual storyline all but forgotten. This is what people clearly misunderstand.
I read a story a few months ago by Saluki titled Eden Burning. This story was the epitome angst. The story clearly was dark, but the element of hope was expressed in every chapter, clearly making it angst. Was it a HEA? No, of course not, there usually is not a HEA in a true angst story. Personally, I am fine with a story not having a HEA or even a “traditional” HEA if it makes sense for the storyline. The story, Here In The Garden of Sin by Ooza is a wonderful example of a story that did not have a “traditional” HEA. And it was perfect. Ooza clearly stayed with her story line and concluded the story in line with the emotions of the story.
Which brings me to the second part of my pet-peeve, the HEA. Why are so many accepting of anxiety ridden stories as long as there is a HEA? How is that even possible? To me it’s not. I see it as a story jumping the shark. How can you possibly have trauma chapter after chapter after chapter, and then all of of a sudden the sun is shining? There are very few stories that I have read that had the ability to reel the characters back in after numerous chapters of shredding them apart to give them the “traditional” HEA. It is usually at this point that I lose interest in the story because the storyline has disappeared, causing the flounce and frustration. Frustrating because I stuck with a story in the hope that the storyline would reappear. But, sadly for me, sometimes I don’t, because the storyline at the start was so good and riveting, I stuck with it hoping at every new chapter, the storyline would appear again. That is when I become upset with myself because I know better, I have traveled that road before.
Now don’t get me wrong. There are a great many stories and writers in the fandom who do write a true angst story. Wonderful stories that pull at all emotions and keep you hooked. Sadly, these stories are not as popular aside from the fact angst stories just do not garner large reviews. And I may be going on a bit on this subject. I do have my reasons. There is currently a fandom contest going on dedicated to this much beloved emotion. And I love all the contests the fandom inspires. Though, while reading some of the entries, my mind started to wander off thinking…what am I reading?? I am extremely curious which entry will be voted the winner. I know I have made my choice already.
But this is me, I am completely stuck on this subject and have never been able to shake it.
I would love if someone created a blog that rec’s and reviews true angst stories. That would help us readers out tremendously and alleviate the trauma we suffer when falling in to the world of anxiety that was supposed to be angst.
Just saying….
First of all, thanks for pimping my story! That was quite a nice surprise. Secondly, I completely agree with you. There are many stories that claim to be “angst” out there, but very few that really fit the bill. I need a reason to root for the characters in a story filled with angst, even if the chance for hope seems slim. I don’t want to read chapter after chapter of miserable, heart break with no possibility of light at the end of the tunnel. Now, get me wrong, that doesn’t mean I want an HEA. Sometimes stories just need to end with the characters not linking arms and flitting into the sunset together. I’ve written two series that have their fair share of angst. One had an HEA, the other didn’t. I think I liked the one with the non-HEA the most because it broke with the ff tradition of everything ending up perfect in the end. I pissed some readers off, but in the end, it was the only ending that would have made sense. Anything else would be me just trying to pander for more readers. Great column, Ced!