What is your view of obvious ideas in a book?

[jennifer_bloom]

I came up with a very good book idea but looking back, I feel like my ideas are so common sense that a smart person might think I am insulting their intelligence by writing it. The book is designed for people who lack common sense and need a reminder cause a very smart person might think I'm babying or coddling them with very very very basic ideas. I have seen reviews on Amazon where readers complained about how predictable and easy a book was.

[RealMarek]

Try reading a variety of books that convey moral principals or common sense ideas. Pilgrim’s Progress is one example where the principals are spelled out explicitly. It is considered an important work in English reformation literature, but would seem weird today. But you can probably pull it off if you are subtle enough. You could make characters that represent different virtues or vices, or have the consequences of different actions portray common sense in action. You can make your point without spelling it out for the reader.

[TheorionMage]

Keep in mind that in any audit of the 'average' audience of Readers... fully HALF of those polled are BELOW even THAT conservative 'base line' of understanding!

YOUR perceived 'perspective audience' may well read your works and being amazed, say: "Well, THAT is news to ME! I never stopped to think of THAT..." ;)

[letuswaltzforthedead]

Only if it's written in a completely boring and bland way. I've read books and watched movies that take very, very basic ideas/tropes and still spin it in an amazing ways. An intelligent person might notice but if it's written well, I doubt it would be a big deal.

[collie22]

Yeah predictable is sometimes not as interesting or it could feel like I'm brilliant

[ultimatenightmare]

Jennifer, can you tell me how your "stalker" accesses your GAG account?

[Fudgeinmycreampie]

I approve of your concept