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This is a continuation of my blogging here at WdC |
| Negative Feedback So… getting negative feedback. What do we do? This is NOT negative reviews. That is a different kettle of fish I dealt with here: "20250421 Reposting Another Old Blog - Negative Reviews"  .No. This is when someone you trust – a beta reader, a family member, a good friend – reads your work at your request and then feels compelled to be honest and lets you know they did not like it. This is not bad, by the way. Getting honest feedback is important to our growth as writers. But when you get that first bit of honesty from someone you trust, it can be a bitter pill to swallow. All your friends say you’re the bestest evahhh… how dare this person say there’s “issues”? What I say to that is, wait until you get told by a en editor from a publishing firm not to ever submit to them again, or that going back to school could be beneficial. (And, yes, I have received that feedback…) So, what can you do? 1) Believe them. The chances are they are not just being negative for the sake of being negative. You can’t say that about reviewers, but those you have asked to read it are just being honest. And if they see something, then other readers will as well. So, yes, believe what they are saying. 2) Ask them for details Ask them why it didn’t resonate, why it didn’t work. If you’re lucky, they’ll tell you anyway, but you might have to push them, especially if they are really embarrassed or think they’ve upset you. Good friends or first-time beta readers (my daughter excepted) will be nervous being negative to someone they like. 3) Make changes Don’t brood over the “fact” your “baby” is useless. You’ve got the feedback, now utilise it and make the changes. If that means doing another draft, then do another draft! But take the feedback on board, make changes… and try again. 4) Thank them This is very important, especially if you don’t feel like it. Make them feel like they didn’t waste their time and they could well read for you again. I personally use chocolate bribery. That’s not a lot, I know, but there is not a real lot you can do. It is honestly good for you to get that sort of feedback. Be thankful you have an honest reader and don’t get stuck in Idol Syndrome ("20240131 #2 Criticism & The Writer (Idol Syndrome)" ). |
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