I'd like to start by saying that as a new writer I love feedback - positive, negative, ambivalent. All of it, and I am very appreciative of anyone who takes the time to comment on my work - not just on here but in my writing group and elsewhere. Now for my question. Does anyone have any tips on how to decide which feedback to respond to? I'm not talking about the correction of grammar etc as obviously this should be changed, and my grammar is not what it used to be. But more the feedback about the style, pace, tone of your writing? Writing is such a subjective thing and I know what one person loves another person will hate, and others will simply not have a feeling about one way or another. And the old adage you can't please all of the people all of the time is no better demonstrated than when asking for feedback on the baring of your soul (that's how I feel about writing anyway). But how do others decide which feedback to listen to when it's contradictory? I'm lucky to have had some very positive feedback and also some very helpful constructive feedback too, as well as some that's just been plain rude (not from anyone on here I hasten to add) but I've got a fairly thick skin and even the rude ones have made me think. And I have no doubt it's helped me to improve my writing significantly. But what if the feedback starts to change your writing style? And you're not sure whether this is a good or bad thing? I feel so close to my work, even after a few weeks of not looking at it, that I just can't see which is better - the before or the after?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts
Thankyou Lorraine, that's very encouraging
Clare, you have a unique and very strong style of your own. If you feel that you're going the wrong way, trust your instincts. I think you have a good ear for your story and for the characters, and you will know instinctively when it sounds wrong.
The very fact that you're questioning it is all you need to know. Get back in touch with who your characters are and what their story is and why you want to tell it. Have faith in your writing - it's very good, you know - and who you are as a writer.
There's a lot to be said for just getting the story down in a rough fashion, and then fine-tuning it, rather than trying to finesse it all the way through, which can take the joy and spontaneity out of the whole process.
Lorraine
Thanks Jonathan.
I really like the music analogy Denis, and yes critical feedback is often the most useful - and after all that's why I put it out there. I really appreciate people taking the time to do that. You make a good point about the rationale behind a comment too.
Thanks again :)