Firstly, WELCOME anyone stopping by as part of the insecure
writer’s group! (and anybody stopping by for any other reason). It’s first Wednesday, when we share our
insecurities or offer up wisdom to cope with said issues. So be sure to stop and visit some OTHERinsecure writers today, too!
As for me…
I am in that wonky bipolar phase of getting feedback. I’m
up, I’m way down, I’m up again… Can I address this? I’m not up to it. OHMYGOSH
THIS IS FABULOUS!
And what I’ve come to that might help some of YOU is this…
when you are feeling DOWN because the feedback points out something HARD to
cope with, keep the faith. It IS hard… but it is what makes the work better.
Pushing yourself to fix something that either you breezed past too quickly or
maybe just weren’t up to doing the first time… LEARNING to do it right on the
rewrite…
This is GROWTH friends!
And this process of pulling and pushing us to help us grow
is GOOD! They just should maybe call us
taffy. *shifty *
Someone reminded me of a Neil Gaiman Quote yesterday: When someone tells you something is wrong in your writing, they are usually right. When someone tells you exactly how to fix it, they are usually wrong.
28 comments:
Have you considered assembling these snippets in a booklet for aspiring authors (or anyone who has to learn and grow?) I did like the point you made.
...But (forgive me, it being Earlye in the Morning) I can't help thinking of The Blob when I look at your last photo...
Write on!
Diana at About Myself By Myself
This is the kind of encouragement I need right now! I hate getting feedback about stuff that's not working, but at the same time I'm grateful because OBVIOUSLY I want to put the best possible book out there, and stuff that doesn't work should be fixed. Sigh. Keep the faith, as you say! (And look at pictures of weird animals...)
Yes, it's hard to hear that something isn't working. But it's true you've got to keep the faith during those times. And step back. Often the suggestion is a good one and you can fix what doesn't work.
Just so long as they don't call us Daffy.
Just because we weren't up to it the first time doesn't mean we can't do it right this time.
Just yes to that! Yes and yes and yes.
Yeah I get in that place too. I hate when you worry something might be broken, but you don't know how to fix it, or are worried you don't have the skill yet to fix it. That's the worst
Taffy, that definitely fits!
Love the analogy - because feedback is great, but sometimes it leaves us scratching our heads! And then we work a bit more and it comes out even better than we expected! Even those parts we thought we already perfect. Funny how that happens!
Diana-Oh, if only I were that organized! Or had more time... But the only books I have time for at the moment are the fiction, and that's compulsion....
Rachel-EXACTLY! It's like eating your vegetables.
Natalie-At least HOPEFULLY you can fix it! We at least need to TRY!
Alex-oh, come on... let me call you Daffy! *snort*
Jan- :)
Sarah-sometimes requires some meditation or power walking or SOMETHING... but we CAN, it just sometimes takes some time to figure out HOW.
Yolanda, really points out how important feedback is, eh?
I love that Gaiman quote. I appreciate when a critique buddy tells me something isn't working but doesn't rewrite it for me. Questions and suggestions are always the best.
Elizabeth at Scribblininthestorageroom.
The Gaiman quote is wonderful.
The photos are spectacular.
Love that quote! Hadn't heard that before...but it sure does ring true. Great advice in this post, Hart.
No pain no gain they say. If it was easy, everyone would do it.
HA! I love the pictures :)
I wrote an IWSG post on editing - not so far off from feedback. Sort of the same family of awkward-crazy-fantastic-horrendous-other-people-reading-your-writing stuff. Which is to say, yes on all counts!
Or the other one. A novel is a long piece of writing with something wrong with it.
As hard as it is to see those problems pointed out to me, I know I learn something. Which means there's less chance I'll do it wrong again the next time.
The ups and downs will probably never go away.
I completely get this! Feedback always makes me cringe, not because the feedback is wrong, but because I didn't see the problems myself. I always feel like I should've known better. But feedback helps us grow, and that's a good thing, even if it can make us feel like we're on a non-stop roller coaster. :)
Great post! Feedback can be scary, but if something's wrong, I'd rather know before it's published or submitted!
I'm with you, my friend! Round two of agent edits just sent off. She's pushing me to look at things I glossed over and it's hard, but so worthwhile.
Btw, is that really a pair of two-headed giraffes? Photoshop, right?
Great quote! Creepy pictures!
Oh, we're taffy, that explains everything. :)
I love Gaiman's quote! Great posting today.
Kim Lajevardi
(This Writer's Growing)
Excellent advice, dear Hart ;-)
Tina @ Life is Good
There's a big article in the NY Times Magazine this week profiling Stephen King and his family; except for the daughter, everyone is a writer. And they're ALWAYS critiquing and editing each other 'cause even if they're solid, good writers they ain't perfect and their stories need fixing. I'm keeping that in mind as I edit my stuff, and it helps keep my spirits up.
As for your writing, Hart, it really is fabulous. You know how to create real living, breathing, drinking cussing naked and clothed human beings.
It truly is an up and down road that's also highlighted by multiple patches of plateaus. Thanks for your reality post and your encouragement. Writer’s Mark
Love the Gaiman quote. I truly love getting feedback, when it's not too harsh, and I don't mean constructive. You can be constructive without being a douche. I love seeing what people see in my work that I don't see and having those ah-ha moments of what I may have been missing.
Feedback is scary yes, but good. Put on your thick skin suit and prepare yourself. The feedback is coming.
Ha, I hadn't heard that Gaiman quote. I like it. I love those a-ha moments after getting feedback--those moments when I think, 'How did I not see that?' lol.
Love the Gaiman quote :) And when I give feedback I try not to say "how about do this instead?" but just say "this doesn't feel quite right" or "that reads wrong" or whatever.
I love the last quote. So true.
One of my creative writing professors said if one person says something needs to be changed, take it or leave it. It's your decision. If three or four people say it's not working, change it.
I lost track of you lately. Sorry about that.
Love the Gaiman quote--that's so true! I find that feedback, although I hate it at first, really jump starts my thinking. I don't usually fix it how I was advised, but hearing what's wrong inspires me to rethink things.
Loved the pictures you added to this!
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