:Writing:: Just how fickle are readers?
Very. 🙂
I could end this post right there, but I have data to back up my claim (as if you didn’t already know that!).
No matter whether you are for or against ‘traditional’ publication … the ultimate answer to the question…
Am I any good as a writer?
… isn’t going to come from your agent, editor or the publisher.
It’s going to come from the ‘Court of Public Opinion.’
There are plenty of good books that didn’t reach their potential and plenty of ‘bad’ books that reached the masses and another set that seems to reach ‘everyone’ in equal measure. The reality is … the books reached the public, and the public spoke … sometimes, in volumes (pun intended).
The key is that everyone has an opinion and the opinions vary from one person to the next. We like what we like. We fall in love with what we fall in love with. We despise what we despise.
We don’t do these things because of the writer … but because of our own preferences. My friend Julie, for example, doesn’t particularly like witches even when written by one of her favorite authors.
Now, let’s twist this to me for a moment (since this is my blog and all). 🙂 I recently submitted the first 5 pages of my manuscript Hide & Seek to a contest. I didn’t win. I didn’t place. I could cry about it, but instead, I looked at the feedback and realized something rather profound.
I did nothing wrong in my story … two of the judges loved it. Two of the judges … did not. I do not appeal to everyone. Neither will you. This is applicable in everything we do … I do … you do. Photographically, if everyone loved my artistic eye, I’d be rolling in money. If everyone loved Starbucks, there would not be Caribou Coffee or any competition.
We are all different and our likes, dislikes, loves and hates comes from our past experiences. Am I angry at those two judges? Not at all. My story simply wasn’t for them … if it really and truly sucked, then I wouldn’t have gotten a perfect score from one judge (and yes, folks, *I* got a perfect score). Me. Little ‘ole me.
Just to prove it …. here are my scores
— 100% (50 out of 50 points): Judge: published fiction novelist
— 98% (49 out of 50 points): Judge: Unpublished Professional in the writing industry (could be an agent, editor, bookseller, who knows)
And the other side….
— 70% (35 out of 50 points): Judge : No idea of their qualifications — there was none mentioned. He/She clearly did not like my writing style based on the comments.
— 54% (27 out of 50 points): Judge: Published in shorts/flash/articles/other — but not novels. This judge said the opening revealed too little information, did not think the dialogue was believable, nor that my writing was evocative or vivid.
It’s just not possible to please everyone. Otherwise, I’d have had four of the same responses. We are a subjective people and that’s totally, absolutely and completely okay! It’s what makes the world go ’round!
Why subject myself to this kind of scrutiny?
Think about when I get my books out there for the general public to read…. if I can’t take the different opinions from four judges, how in the world would I ‘accept’ the ‘reviews’ from readers?
Someone isn’t going to like my story. Someone is going to love my story. How I react to those comments will dictate the success or failure of my writing career.
Share:: How do you respond to positive and negative feedback from your work?
Exactly the same, actually.
If I get negative feedback on something I’ve written, then I presume it simply wasn’t their ‘thing’. And no, that isn’t arrogance and an assumption that they just didn’t get it, or I’m right and they’re wrong. It is based on multiple feedback–unless of course they’re able to point out specifically what didn’t work for them and give me some reasons; then I’ll take a closer look at what they’ve said. But I have on occasion been left comments along the lines of: I didn’t much care for this<<those kind of comments are about as valuable as a puddle of urine on a pig farm. I'm lucky enough to have (a somewhat small gathering of) fans, whose opinions/comments/suggestions I trust above all else. When you find some one who 'get's your writing, and also has the ability to view it with a critical eye, they're like gold dust. So long as the positive responses continue to outway the negative ones, I know I'm hitting the mark somewhere, for someone, and that's all I need to keep going 🙂
I’m with ya 100%, Julie! 🙂 And your analogies have me rolling this morning. Hahahahaha! 🙂
As long a writer and her target audience enjoy the writing, however broadly she chooses to define that audience (and some don’t even wish for arena shows but for more intimate crowds), she’s doing just fine. I do believe there are some common chords we all long to hit and that’s what motivates me to keep trying. Writing is ultimately about communicating: a story, an emotion, a concept. Not everyone speaks the same language of course, never will, and you always strive to at least speak clearly to those who speak your language, but that moment when nearly all heads nod is worth a lifetime of trying.
Even when it looks like they are all nodding … someone, somewhere is booing. 😉 Never fails. Darn human nature. 😉 I’ll just keep my group small … like maybe a thousand or two. 😉 LOL Ha! 🙂
Yeah, cause some won’t nod even if they agree just to be contrarians cause it’s cool. A few thou? I think you can reach much higher than that m’dear.
I couldn’t agree with you more! I might add that it’s nice to be reminded of it too. Sometimes you can allow the negatives to add up. Thank you for pointing out that we need to focus on the positives!
Clarie : Now who in the world would be a contrarian just for the sake of it? 😉 LOL
Kris : yup! Focus on the ++++ 🙂