Don’t Read Another Review Until You Read This! via @BadRedheadMedia

I’ve recently had to re-evaluate several things. There are a lot of people that I trust and I do ask their opinions–but in the end, I am the one that has to live with my decisions so I have to go with my gut. The hardest part is, I’ve done this before and I’ve been wrong. But, a few times I’ve been right. Thanks, Rachel.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘That being turned down and rejected makes us better writers. That waiting years to be vetted by the traditional industry is still the only way to sell books.’. It’s more that it weeds out the people who aren’t prepared to do what it takes and put in the hard yards – the hobbyists as it were, the ones who aren’t interested in studying and improving their craft.

There are other ways to achieve the same outcome – crit groups, beta readers, editors etc. – and then self-publish. The danger is only that self-publishing doesn’t force that outcome. People can write something, never take a single writing class, workshop, or even class on grammar, never show it to anyone, and then publish it. As a first draft. Don’t even get me started on the ones who think editors are the spawn of all evil and a waste of money.

Plenty of indie writers are doing the hard yards. It’s just plenty also aren’t (or think they can cut corners).

That said, crit groups, beta readers and editors are not to be listened to wholesale. If it’s a technical writing issue, their opinion should be weighed carefully, but if it’s just ‘I don’t like this’ – well there is no such thing as a piece of art that makes everyone happy. Nothing can appeal to everyone. And a writer has to trust their vision when it comes down to that, recognise when someone is not part of their target audience, and then disregard than feedback.

I don’t read reviews and I don’t worry about rejection. I accept that while some people will love what I write, some people will hate it or feel neutral about it or perhaps even find it offensive.
Writing is a piece of art. Art is subjective. People project themselves onto your art. Your creation is ambiguous and therein lies the beauty – readers can decided for themselves what they think of your work.
Of course some readers are easily influenced by peer pressure – but you aren’t writing for those readers.
The truth is you can’t please all the people all the time so you’d better please yourself.

Writing honestly is the only way I know how. I’ve given up a long time ago pleasing others because what it meant was I put others ahead of me – not good – not for anyone.

It’s not to sound arrogant, but as an adult, I need to take care of me, and that’s not an easy thing to say. We are always looking for validation from others that we’re on the right path. Sooner or later, we all need to be responsible for what we want to do. That means not blaming anyone if we fail, but also taking the credit when we succeed.

eden

If I worried about wide-scale appeal I would never write at all! seriously, though, I know my work is on the edge and I want it that way. I even warn people it isn’t for everyone, topic wise. So when someone doesn’t like it I am not hurt, I’d be more worried if everyone did, then I wouldn’t be doing it right!

I think there can be common connections that everyone shares in their life and it doesn’t matter what you write there will be someone somewhere who likes or identifies with your writing. I am a big believer in writing from my heart and soul and I have been fortunate so far with my blog to receive some very nice feedback.
I tend to take both good and bad feedback with a pinch of salty cynicism as I think some people are too nice to offend and pay lip service. On the other hand you have those who will just slate your writing with no constructive comments and they need to be dealt with in the same manner. Th truth always lies somewhere in the middle.
Ultimately, if you write for yourself then you will know whether it is good or not.

I think it’s a good idea to have your completed manuscript critiqued, and you should seriously consider the feedback you get then, especially if you get similar feedback from multiple readers.

But I’ve learned not to follow – or solicit – advice at the story-planning stage. The reason for this is that there is a huge difference between outlining a story idea, and executing it. If you tell someone your story idea, they might say it sounds totally implausible, or stupid, or just like some other book they’d read. And they might be right… then. But what neither they nor you yet know is how your story is going to be executed. And if you do it right, you’ll make it work, you’ll make it smart, and you’ll make it unique.

This may sound totally obvious to writers with more experience than me – how can anyone properly critique your manuscript until it’s actually written? – but it took me a while to realize that a lot of problems get solved in the execution, so you shouldn’t worry about – or bother other people with – those problems, until and unless they remain in the completed manuscript.

Excellent points, Rachel, and your work is impressive. Just keep writing is a mantra of mine. No one else can do it for me, not even a ghost; it still wouldn’t sound like me. I have read all the comments and dig what each author/writer says about the writing process, how to take negative and positive criticism before and after publication. An opinion about a book, is just that, one opinion, for good or bad. I read both types of comments, and usually, what is being said is more about the writer of the comment, the bias, either way, than about the work, and the merit of the work.

I agree with your lorrie moore quote and that’s the kind of material that’s going in my own memoir. I have read some pretty shitty self-published books recently, but have also recently read amazing work (Mancode Exposed, not blowing smoke up your ass, et al).
I think, as a fellow writer, you do, although it sounds “cheesey,” need to look inside yourself and ask your own heart and head. You never know if what you’re writing can help or heal or make laugh ONE OTHER PERSON. If I do that, my goal is achieved.

Jaime Smith

PS. I left my personal website in the link area above, which I never do, because, until recently, I was too afraid to associate the depressing poetry on there with my persona… check out the poems section… the other stuff is just random and REALLY old.

Another good one Rachel. Trust your gut…AND get good editing. That’s a winning combo.
Aloha
Toby Neal

I don’t like everything I read in trad pub or indie published books. Why would I think Everyone is going to love all of my work?
Sometimes I don’t know whether a story works or not, but there r no readers here but me, so I put them(my short stories) out there (wordpress)before they even go to the writing group.
When I self pub, I’ll get it ready for the prom properly. With all the billions of people on this earth, someone is apt to like it. Someone dislike it too, but you can’t please everybody.
Sometimes you just have to please yourself. #GardenParty

[…] Trusting Your Vision Implicitly Makes Your Work Better var dd_offset_from_content = 40; var dd_top_offset_from_content = 0;Rachel ThompsonRachel Thompson aka RachelintheOC is a published author and social media consultant. Her two books, A Walk In The Snark and The Mancode: Exposed are both #1 Kindle bestsellers! When not writing, she helps authors and other professionals with branding and social media for her company, BadRedhead Media. She hates walks in the rain, running out of coffee, and coconut. Buy Now : A Walk in the Snark * Mancode: ExposedMore Posts Follow Me: […]

Trusting Your Vision Implicitly Makes Your Work Better via @BadRedheadMedia http://t.co/a6hdFPau via @badredheadmedia