The simpler, the better?

[Nik]

The more complex is the plot, the more original - the underlying idea, the harder it becomes to pull it off nicely and the more far-fetched - to expect a broad readership.
Or maybe not.
What do you think?

[Graeme]

I've been told that my stories have a complex plot, and an original underlying idea - so I had best work my butt off and 'pull it off nicely.'

[Ian]

I think it depends. I have gambled on finding readers who want to have something to think about. Maybe they are extinct :-(

[Graeme]

Hi Ian. There are a lot of variables involved in finding an audience.

[Melanie]

However complex the plot may be, I feel the key to keeping the readers hooked is not to make them have to work extremely hard to figure it all out by over-complicating it. I found this in a recent book, felt exasperated with it and nearly gave up - even though I like challenges and surprises in stories!

Some authors manage this seemlessly - however complicated the plot.

[Graeme]

Melanie wrote: "However complex the plot may be, I feel the key to keeping the readers hooked is not to make them have to work extremely hard to figure it all out by over-complicating it. I found this in a recent ..."

Agreed. The last thing to do is make reading hard work.