I received feedback from several beta readers recently on my manuscript. It was the first in-depth feedback I've received on the entire novel as a whole. So, of course, it was a little bit of a punch to the gut. At first.
The important thing to realize with feedback is that it is designed to help you improve your story. When sorting through the comments from my beta readers, I had moments of despair where I really had to remind myself of the thick skin I was supposed to possess as a writer. I also had moments of giddy delight where I received the exact response that I wanted from my readers. But the most important moment came at the end, after letting all of the emotions settle. It was the moment of realizing I had more work to do--work that would make my story better.
I received feedback that made me go, "Oh, of course!" I couldn't sit down at my computer quickly enough to start thinking of scenes and additions that would help fill in some of the gaps that my beta readers had discovered. This is really the best kind of feedback you can hope for. Even though it's more work, it is exciting to know that it will help strengthen my story.
Of course, not all feedback is that helpful, and this is where not only the thick skin comes in, but also the strength to trust yourself as a writer. You know what your story is about, and you know what you are hoping to achieve from it--unfortunately not every reader will understand that. So be open to feedback, as some of it can really make your story stronger and clearer, but also be aware that some feedback you'll need to take with a grain of salt. And trust yourself to know the difference.
The important thing to realize with feedback is that it is designed to help you improve your story. When sorting through the comments from my beta readers, I had moments of despair where I really had to remind myself of the thick skin I was supposed to possess as a writer. I also had moments of giddy delight where I received the exact response that I wanted from my readers. But the most important moment came at the end, after letting all of the emotions settle. It was the moment of realizing I had more work to do--work that would make my story better.
I received feedback that made me go, "Oh, of course!" I couldn't sit down at my computer quickly enough to start thinking of scenes and additions that would help fill in some of the gaps that my beta readers had discovered. This is really the best kind of feedback you can hope for. Even though it's more work, it is exciting to know that it will help strengthen my story.
Of course, not all feedback is that helpful, and this is where not only the thick skin comes in, but also the strength to trust yourself as a writer. You know what your story is about, and you know what you are hoping to achieve from it--unfortunately not every reader will understand that. So be open to feedback, as some of it can really make your story stronger and clearer, but also be aware that some feedback you'll need to take with a grain of salt. And trust yourself to know the difference.
RSS Feed