Do my readers influence me?

Today, a reader question from Jordan: How much of what you write is influenced (or could possibly be influenced) by the feedback from critics and/or fans? For example, with relationships: if one character has two possible relationships and you hear a lot of fan feedback in favor of one or the other, could this in any way influence which way you take the story? I promise I have no ulterior motive here, I'm just curious, I promise : )

Since I'm writing these books for you all, you're always in the back of my mind while I'm writing. I try to write what I think you'll like, and about who I think you'll like. That being said, the big plot elements (and yes, I'm talking about the Raine/Mychael/Tam relationship thing) has been worked out for the past two years, and is now hard-wired into my brain, so I don't think I could change that outcome even if I wanted to. I'm trying to make all of you happy, and I think you will be. : )

But I also know you all love reading about Phaelan, Talon, and Piaras. And you like Uncle Ryn and Vegard. So I try to give everyone at least one or two good scenes. It's not easy to fit everyone into a story, but I aim to please. While I'm writing along, I'm very aware of what will annoy you and what would piss you off. And it's pretty much the same things that would annoy or piss me off, so I don't write those things. I don't like reading them in other people's books, so I don't put them in mine. I figure if any of you want to be depressed, you can just turn on the TV or go over to CNN.com.

As to critics/reviewers, if enough of them say the same thing, it just might be worth considering. But for the most part, reviews are the opinion of that one person, and I'm growing a thick skin when it comes to that. Not all people are going to "get it." I've had reviewers have a problem with my using modern speech in a traditional-setting fantasy book. Jeez, that's what makes my books fun to write and to read. I figure that I made up the setting and characters, therefore I make the rules. And since the place came out of my imagination, who are they to say how my characters should speak?

That's something that those of you who are writers can apply to your own work. It's YOUR WORK, not your critique partners, not your writing class members, not even your writing professor's. Only YOU know if it's "right" or not. And in the end, you have to write what YOU want to write, not what other people expect you to write.

Lisa