mood: contemplative
pandora/ipod: "telegram sam" by bauhaus
Heh heh heh.
Everyone's got an opinion. Especially once they hear you're a writer. People start crawling out of the woodwork offering advice on how to write, how to get over writer's block, how their aunt's second cousin's stepson got "published" online...
Coworkers. Classmates. Your mom's hairdresser (true story.)
Most of this "advice" is offered unsolicited, and as much as you'd like to bitch slap the friend of a friend currently telling you all about how writing fiction really isn't that hard and he could TOTALLY get a novel published, it's usually best to just smile, say thank you, and silently wish herpes on him.
I'm kidding. I wouldn't do that. I probably wouldn't do that. I mostly probably wouldn't do that...
Smile and nod, Gretch. Smile and nod. Moving on...
There are times, however, when we specifically ask for someone's opinion about our writing. I have some trusted writer (and non-writer) friends whom I rely upon to give feedback on my manuscripts. These are people that I respect, whose writerly opinions matter to me, and who - I feel - make me a better writer.
That said, even from people whose opinions I respect, not all feedback is going to end up effecting my manuscript.
Okay, so that concept sounds simple. You can't take EVERYONE'S advice ALL the time. But with writing, which is such a naturally insecure endeavor, I find myself wanting desperately to incorporate every note, every question, every request for clarification. And it took me a long to realize that it wasn't always possible.
Sometimes you get a piece of feedback that's awesome, insightful, amazeballs. But it also might send your manuscript off to someplace you don't necessarily want it to go. Sometimes Reader A loves your main character while Reader B hates her. Sometimes a story or plot point just doesn't connect with one of my readers, which is reflected in their notes.
All valid opinions. And I'm thankful for all of them. But as a writer, you need to listen to yourself first, especially in choosing which feedback to use, and which to set aside. Reader A and Reader B are both "right" - but I couldn't possibly address both of their notes on my main character. I have to choose which opinion resonates more with me. Maybe Reader B's arguments as to why she didn't like my main character strike a chord, or inspires a tonal shift that perhaps had been niggling at my but I didn't quite know how to fix. Maybe Reader A's arguments in favor of my main character reflect the exact voice I was going for.
Hard to say. But there's only ONE person whose opinion on your writing you can trust 100% - your own.
Great post! I've recently gotten advice from a trusted friend on a MAJOR change to one of my characters, one I'm really not sure I want to make. Not b/c of the work it'll be, but b/c it doesn't fit how I envisioned that character. But I have to concede that her points are valid and that it could potentially improve the character relationships. I'm still torn lol.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post on opinions. One note -- "...not all feedback is going to end up effecting my manuscript" -- the "effecting" should be "affecting", non?
ReplyDeleteOne grammar nazi, signing off :P
The "affect" vs. "effect" battle rages on! You're right, of course. But I'm leaving my error in. Proves I'm human. :D
ReplyDeleteLori - let the notes percolate a little bit. Let them inspire some brainstorming. Maybe there's a way to incorporate the gist of her notes without totally changing your character?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I definitely thought long and hard about some of the feedback I received from my beta readers. It was helpful, but at times contradictory to what I wanted to convey. That is why I was so grateful to get an agent. Now that I'm revising with her, I know she understands my story. She gets what I'm trying to say and her suggestions have only helped to strengthen my craft.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, m'dear.
ReplyDeleteAn absolutely pertinent post.
ReplyDeleteIn my early writings, I was in that mindset of "change everything all the time" whenever I was given advice. Turns out to have caused more dilemmas than improvements. Take advice for what it's worth and research it, if necessary.
This was great! I might add though, that if you hear the same "weaknesses" over and over again, you probably should listen. Otherwise, yes, listen to your gut!
ReplyDeleteIt really depends on what - If it's something they are confused about - You already know the answer - then chances are you failed to make it clear - tweeky things like that are often spot on. Large vague - you shoulds - get much more confusing.
ReplyDeleteLove your advice to not try to include everything! I saw another post about how it can be uncomfortable to not include advice - as in it insults the reader who now feels invested in your story.
I am just starting to seriously look for - readers to trade advice with...both of these posts have been great warnings about what not to plant in the expectation field!
really really excitted about your book. It looks amazing
ReplyDeleteI've finally started to realize this too. One of my main, trusted beta readers has Very Specific Ideas on what she wants in a main character, and winds up not-so-subtly trying to turn all my MCs into that girl, lol. It's taken me a long time to realize that sometimes I might write a character she's just not that into, and that's okay. You can't please even your betas all the time!
ReplyDeleteAnd groooaaan, I get so many well-intentioned emails from relatives/friends about how self e-publishing is so easy now and I should totally do it. Lol!
Yep, this. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's a saying I grew up with, "opinions are like assholes, everybody's got one and they all stink." That's what I thought when I saw your subject of this blog! I couldn't agree more, though. Everybody seems to know more about writing and publishing than someone like you or me, although they've never made an effort at it, and that's annoying, but like you said, you can't bitch-slap them, although it would be quite satisfying.
ReplyDeleteEleni, that's exactly what I was referencing... :D
ReplyDelete