BOTB2

10/13 - Wrapping up Sollin's story arc this week. This one will tie together two others all French-braid-style for a very exciting climax.

In the interest of growing as a writer and storyteller, sometimes I think that negative feedback (assuming it's done respectfully) would be better than positive feedback or none at all. Why on earth would I say such a crazy thing? (hold on; let me adjust my straight jacket so I can type better)

Because with no feedback, you learn nothing. Duh.

But with positive feedback, you may also learn nothing, since some people are afraid of hurting your feelings, while others just don't want to look like colossal jerks.

As I've said before, there's a right and wrong way to offer constructive criticism, but just because it's constructive doesn't mean it's negative.

Quite the opposite, actually. Some of the best feedback I've been given came in the form of "I didn't understand that part." or "This doesn't make sense because..." or "If that happens, how can this...?" or "What's this guy's role again?" or "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

In an early draft of my first book, one of my characters underwent a radical transformation by the end (change of perspective, not mutant zombie fish). One of peer editors said "That's not believable for this guy because for him, such a change wouldn't happen so soon, or so fast."

That advice was great because it was so true. I took that character's moment of change out of that book entirely and developed it into its own story arc for book two. So because of one person's "criticism" I now have a third of my second book. Thank you T.P.!!

Positive feedback makes me insecure - yes, I know how ridiculously ironic that sounds - because I'm left wondering what they're not telling me.

I realize this isn't necessarily fair to those who genuinely like my work and are offering sincere compliments. My hope is that such people trust me enough to also tell me what they didn't like so I can fix it or make it better later (Perhaps I'm Cynic of the Year, but I find it really hard to believe that anyone could love every single thing about my book.)

Authors thrive on feedback, because we want - no, we need - the next book to be better than the last. So to all you super encouraging folk out there, be sure to give it to us straight. Even if we don't take your advice or implement your suggestion, it's still more valuable than a high five or a pat on the back.

I went to Taco Bell today and asked if I could ring the taco. They just looked at me funny. Subtle humor fail.