Welcome readers,
writers, authors, and bloggers!
We're glad you're here! It's the First Wednesday
of the month; when we celebrate IWSG Day in the form of a
blog hop featuring members and guests of the Insecure
Writer's Support Group. Founded by author Alex Cavanaugh (Thank you, Captain!) and fostered by like-minded
associates, IWSG is a comfortable place to share views and literary news as we
record our journeys. Check out our newsletter
for May here.
Our awesome cohosts for this month
are:
Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!
And today’s entirely optional
question is:
What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers,
including agents, editors, and beta readers?
In terms of literary feedback, it doesn’t matter
if we’re talking 14 or 44 different “types” assigned to any given Book Review
because any one of them can literally launch or tank a career and crush
the heart of the author who bravely dared to present their work in the first place.
Being as how I’m mostly terrified to know, I don’t typically read reviews of my
own work. However, the reviews I read under the heading Craft and Criticism at Literary
Hub have me wanting to rush right out and buy every book reviewed in the
article!
While the reviews were not all Unicorns and Pink
Cadillacs, there were at least enough complimentary comments to remind the authors, all of us, really, that readers are as independent as we are and therefore (hopefully) inclined toward objectivity.
Nevertheless, I nearly starved to death fretting
about the ten copies of a manuscript I passed around at a school bus yard years
ago. Was this a mistake? Did they hate it? Why was it taking so long? Did
bus drivers even read YA stories?
As it turned out, a couple of weeks without food
or sleep didn’t kill me 😉 And would you believe seven out of ten readers asked when the sequel
would be finished?!
Then there was that disagreement over a word I’d
used in the title of a short story for children. The editor absolutely was not ever
going to allow the title (Tortilla Capers) to be what I had planned. Instead,
she suggested one much better! I smile every time I run across the story I
wrote called Tortilla Bandits 😊
Can’t wait to see what you have to say – See ya
soon!
Sharing our writing with people we know is incredibly difficult. An anonymous audience feels much safer!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know any of the bus drivers ;-)
DeleteMany authors don't read reviews, like you. And you're right that negative reviews can crush an author's heart when they put their heart and soul into a story.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie!
DeleteConstructive critiques are always welcome ;-)
Seven out of ten? Those are great odds!
ReplyDeleteHi Alex,
DeleteI thought so too ;-)
Those sound like very successful mss. I hate being asked to read mss from friends, because in my experience I don't like them, and find it hard to find anything positive to say. Bitten by a friend when I was a teen... so I know how it feels.
ReplyDeleteI only read reviews of my books long after they are published, unless there is something actually wrong with the books. But then, I shouldnt have brought our my first book!
Hi Jemima! Ugh, having a friend hate your work is worse than a random bad review. I think I'll stick to writing for the joy of doing so.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting!
DeleteYay! I wish I didn't have a morbid fascination with what people say. Thankfully, we all have our soft audience who we should value, regardless of what others say, eh?
ReplyDeleteHa! I know exactly what you mean, Crystal. That irresistible urge to peek between your fingers ;-)
DeleteI love your story about passing around your ms. Seven out of ten is great! And your new story title just sings!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenni ;-)
DeleteHow wonderful that you got such a positive response. You were very brave!!!! I think authors have to be. When we show the world what we've crafted from nothing except our own personal reserves, we risk a lot and have to be prepared for our egos to be dented. When we get positive feedback, that is such a bonus. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteIt takes some courage to let others read your work. It took me a while to get to that point. I love that your editor came up with a great title--titles are hard, and I struggle with them all the time.
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