A reader writes:
Of all the things that I thought might be challenging about trying to write a book, it never dawned on me — until very recently — that it would be hard to get anyone to read it. I mean be a reader, as in read and comment. I thought writing was the hard stuff, but based on my success at inducing others to read and comment, I would have to say that reading and commenting must be much more difficult, for no one I know wants to do so. I recently read a book by a fairly well known author who identified those people who had been her “readers” – and low and behold I knew one of them. Wow, I thought, there was my one chance to snag a reader and she beat me to it.
So: What advice would you offer to a novice writer who is looking for a reader, for someone who will give the writing a fair but critical look and take the time to give feedback?
The practical answer is to take a class. I’ve always had good luck meeting new writers through classes and conferences. Another possibility would be to ask around your local bookstore or coffee shop. I supposed you could also advertise on Craig’s List.
The more holistic answer is that you get what you give. If you start volunteering your time to give feedback other people’s work, then you’ll soon find yourself on the receiving end of sweet reciprocity. Being a good reader means you’ll be good and read.
Some tips:
1. Keep it OUT of the family
Parents, siblings, spouses and dear friends are the absolute worst people to read your work, so it stands to reason that you shouldn’t read their work either. It’s impossible not to think about them hiding inside the characters and story (or worse, yourself) and any feedback will be clouded by preconception. Time to meet new people.
2. Limit your feedback to one or two vital areas
Even the best advice can only be addressed in stages. If you unload a laundry list of observations and insights, you’ll not only muddy your most important points, but you’ll risk the person tuning you entirely.
3. Only copy edit if people specifically ask for it (and even then proceed with great caution)
No one wants to hear about the typo on page 237. It makes people feel ignorant and it makes you look petty and small. Let the machines do the work.
4. Say less rather than more
Give your listener credit. If you feel the beginning is slow, say the beginning feel slow. You don’t need to dissect the slowness.
5. Questions are more helpful than statements
Telling people about the flaws in their work puts them on the defensive. Asking questions helps them step outside themselves and see their work through your eyes.
So instead of saying their protagonist is wimpy, say something like, “Do you want this guy to come across as super passive?”
5. Remember who the writer is
The cardinal sin of giving feedback is getting in and rewriting it yourself. Your job is to give an honest reaction, not right wrongs. Even if you have the coolest idea for the coolest ending ever, please keep it to yourself.
6. Don’t be offended if the person doesn’t take your advice
Rule #6 is Rule #1. Everyone walks their own path. It’s taken me over ten years to follow advice that I got from my first writing teacher. Be kind, generous and supportive and then walk away. It all comes back.
9 Comments
July 2, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Very timely for me. Thanks.
I’m not really in a position to take a class. And asking around cafes and such in hopes of finding readers or crit groups feels a little too much like Edward Cullen hanging around the parking lot after dark… in hopes of meeting someone “useful.”
So I’ll probably look to online communities I’m already a part of. An inherent level of mutual trust, y’know?
July 2, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I feel for the geographically isolated and the reserved.
Thanks goodness for the internet.
If anyone has any (positive) stories to share about finding crit groups online, I’m all ears.
If I get good stuff that’s easily worth a post.
July 5, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I found my writing group through meetup.com, and I’m extremely happy with it. You may want to try that site or any others that may be similar in trying to link up people with similar interests in the same geographic areas.
July 6, 2009 at 7:14 am
Meetup is a fine idea. I had forgotten all about that site.
Meetup + Kindness = Feedback Success
July 6, 2009 at 11:22 am
I’ve been very lucky with my critters and betas. I have everyone from fellow editors to people I rarely agree with (there are gems there, though people!) to a good friend who’s a best selling author.
I’d add Honesty to the list. I tend to over crit–meaning, I put too much down. But no one can accuse me of dishonesty. I temper it by making myself explain why, at least to myself, I think there’s an issue with something.
I also try (!) to point out good stuff. We learn from what we did well as much as seeing the bad.
But mostly, I have learned far more from doing critiques (and editing) than I have from getting them. In this, it truly is better to give than receive.
July 13, 2009 at 11:45 pm
This is probably the best advice I’ve ever heard about getting/giving advice and so I’m sharing it with you guys. My last creative writing teacher told the class that even if you don’t agree with what someone’s criticism of a piece of your story, it still means that there’s something wrong with it, even if they couldn’t articulate it. Sometimes it takes a few tries for us to really figure out what we don’t like about a piece, and it’s important to keep that in mind.
As for finding readers, I’ve been extremely lucky with that, so I can’t really say much, but I will say that you have to keep an open mind. Sometimes it’s the random guy that you end up talking to at the bar that can give you the best comments. Or it’s the one girl in your creative writing class that you didn’t think could read who will cut to the core of what you’re trying to say. So it’s important to keep an open mind.
- Kid
July 22, 2009 at 9:24 pm
[...] happy to help, but I’m no substitute for a group of like-minded peers. We recently discussed ways to find people to give you feedback on your work. Writers who are ready to publish or are starting to get published might not need the feedback, but [...]
July 26, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I’ve made many of these mistakes myself.
Thanks,
Amber
July 27, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@Amber:
Me too. I have some cringe-inducing memories of old writing groups.