The problem is: it's all down to preference. Someone doesn't like first person, present tense, don't go and change the whole book into past tense. Some think a particular scene could be deleted, some don't. I guess what I'm saying is that you have to stick to your guns, trust yourself, listen to the advice and ponder, but don't change everything that someone suggests, unless it really makes sense and you love it even more after the changes.
Many beginners are insecure and listen far too often to others than to their instincts. People talk differently, in different speech patterns, the more you try to please those who criticise, the more you're losing your voice.
I, for instance, have sent out my literary fiction novel to five people. Two only wanted to do me a favour, but it was clearly not for them, one got back with suggestions that would alter the whole concept of the book, one got back with excellent suggestions and the confirmation for what I had the feeling might be wrong: it lacks 'excitement' in the middle part, and one loved it so much to actually pass it on to an editor who loves it equally.
I've had men and women reading the book and I got valuable feedback from all five readers. It helps to know your writing, your voice and to see where the changes might affect it. Step back from your ms and think as a reader for a while, would you be excited by the book or do you think it could be improved? Get advice from a hand full of people and take every comment into account. I've once posted an excerpt on facebook and someone went to rewrite the whole scene. Though well-meant it wasn't my voice anymore.
What I look for are suggestions that make the story stronger, not the voice. Some people who mean well, but don't know how to critique will start fiddling with your wordings, change your vocabulary and the way you write in general and they will start correcting each other; if you start listening to those, you'll easily lose your voice by changing it back an forth.
Same goes for the so-called 'rules' in writing. Some people will try to edit everything out of your manuscript, adverbs are not bad, you just need to keep them under control. I see those 'rules' as guidelines, not as set-in-stone rules to follow. Though you should know the 'rules' to break them.
Best is to have mentor who will teach but doesn't influence you.
Intriguing post, Stella. An author, or any other artist, has to possess a certain amount of stubborn bravado while remaining open to a degree of criticism. When too many people start tugging at a manuscript, it's easy to lose sight of the initial spark. I think this is what happens to movies when producers, directors, and studios put too many hands into the creative process.
ReplyDeleteHello, David
ReplyDeleteLong time no see ;-)
Yes, movies can suffer from that, too. It's all down to: who do I want to listen to and why? And also to know your voice, so that nobody will be able to touch it.
It's one of the worst disappointments a self-publisher can experience. When I first got into this, I considered myself a pretty fair proof reader/editor. Coming to terms with the fact that I am to editing what Nick Clegg is to integrity has been one of the hardest parts of the whole business. And expensive.
ReplyDeleteBut not as expensive as getting someone else to do it and sitll finding errors. I've got shelves full of professionally published books with all manner of typos and I expect you have, too.
Like most things (well, almost most things) it pays to do it yourself.
Nice blog, by the way.
Hi, Russel
ReplyDeleteI take it this is a comment to the 'Boy was I in for a shock' post. I'm rather good as a proof-reader, as long as the grammar is fine. But it takes me ages, since I go through it line by line, word by word.
Just not with my own ms, and certainly not when I just went through it beforehand.
Couldn't agree more, Stella. It horrifies me that some writers alter their book substantially on the passing opinion of one person.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Speak at Night.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find is that writers who do that, aren't confident, they question anything and everything immediately.
Only change things when you really agree. Try it out first, step back and read it again. Does it flow better? Keep it, if not, discard the comment.
Readers like differnt things, but as writers/authors we have to stick to our guns, bending over backwards to please everyone 1. won't work and 2. will result in us losing out voice.
You just can't keep everyone happy.