Negative feedback? Positive feedback? Hypercritical feedback? What do they all have in common? Feedback, and any feedback, can provide insight. Sadly, I know writers who refuse any form of feedback, and this is a tragedy. As an author, you must look past your creations and allow them to grow. Your story is a product; it is not your identity.
How do Writers Separate Their Ego from Their Work and POLISH?
Do you want your work to grow? Or are you stuck on it?
I’m a ginger, and I sunburn easily. Receiving feedback is similar to sunbathing. The sun provides life, warmth, insight, sensitivity, blisters, and sometimes crying, medication, and recovery time.
I ask myself these questions before anyone reads my work. I must question the reader’s motivations in providing feedback because it will soften the pain I feel.
- Are they highly biased?
- Do they love you?
- Are they an idiot?
- Are they avid readers?
- Do they hate you?
- Are they your Mother?
- Do they claim to be a long-lost relative?
- Are they your friend?
- Do they read in your genre/sub-genre?
- Are they the biggest nerd you ever saw?
- Did you recently meet them on the bus?
- Are you in love with them?
- Is this person an accountant? Or worse, a psychologist?
- Are they an online entity, and there’s no way of telling what they are? If so, perhaps they’re:
- a) A vampire? They’ll have exciting insights.
- b) A block of sentient cheese? They are emotionally vacant and trollish; avoid these.
Every source providing feedback should be carefully considered.
Negative Feedback/Positive Feedback – Opportunities for Growth
They may have a point, but keep their opinion in check
A random selection of people can provide drastically different feedback. Get a broad scope of feedback outside your societal norms; most of it will be heartfelt and healthy. If genuinely hard to take at times. Here are some of my recommendations.
- Don’t get so attached to your baby that constructive comments offend you; your baby needs to grow.
- If you’re unable to accept feedback, then writing is a hobby. Do you have the strength of character for success? That takes feedback.
- Don’t listen solely to your friends and family. They are a loving echo chamber, and you need sources outside of their influence.
- If a reader indicates grammar problems, typos, or cyclical statements in your material. Implement their feedback.
- If you ever yell at someone, “You just don’t get my story!” I have feedback: “Write so well they don’t have to ‘get’ you.”
- If your reader ever says, “I’m really lost here; what do you mean when you say XYZ in chapter two?” Listen to them, and ask for details.
- There is no portion of any book so sacred that it can’t be reviewed or polished.
Feedback is your sunshine; it’s infectious and drives good writers to become great writers. These examples are foundational for me. If a writer can’t handle feedback (healthy, constructive, or negative), frankly, you may not be successful.
Beware the Jabberwock, my Son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
However, if you have a controlling reader that tries to change core elements of your story, such as:
- They tell you to change your protagonist’s name.
- Advise you to change the gender or ages of your characters.
- They recommend you kill off a character and provide superficial reasons.
- Make drastic recommendations on your protagonist’s motivations or identity.
- Advise dramatic scene change catering to their outlook on life.
- Get upset when you don’t rewrite your story to cater to them.
Or, worst of all, they rewrite parts of your story for you…
Be extremely wary. From this variety, I don’t ask for feedback again. Some people get a sense of power by expressing themselves through others. Sometimes they’re well-intending, but this is your story, YOUR product.
Regardless of negative or positive feedback, always thank your reader, flash them a smile and say something like, “I appreciate this so much! You’ve given me a lot of insight here.”
THEN WRITE THAT STORY
- Polish it.
- Shall it be vast and sweeping? Good! Do that!
- If you want it short, poignant, and really sad, make it happen!
- Do you want is romantic and full of heartbreak and healing and declarations of sonorous love?! Write it!
- Suppose you want it hilarious with detailed fights and dripping with love scenes! Write that masterpiece!
Make it beautiful in all the right ways. You aren’t just a good writer. You’re a great writer. Go forth! And Write Something Great!