Comments on: The Art of Listening http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/ about the craft and business of fiction Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-80545 Therese Walsh Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:57:30 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-80545 <em>To quote James D. Macdonald (writer and instructor for the Viable Paradise writer’s workshop): “If someone tells you something is wrong with your work, they’re almost certainly right. If they tell you how to fix it, they’re almost certainly wrong.”</em> Love this quote! I'm glad you were able to find a way around making extensive changes, while using the critique to improve your work, Gavin. I think thorough digestion is the hardest part of receiving critique. Be open, take it all in, then spend as much time as you need to think about the source of reader confusion/concern. There are always multiple ways to fix threads, but probably just one way that suits your story best. Only you will know that one. To quote James D. Macdonald (writer and instructor for the Viable Paradise writer’s workshop): “If someone tells you something is wrong with your work, they’re almost certainly right. If they tell you how to fix it, they’re almost certainly wrong.”

Love this quote!

I’m glad you were able to find a way around making extensive changes, while using the critique to improve your work, Gavin. I think thorough digestion is the hardest part of receiving critique. Be open, take it all in, then spend as much time as you need to think about the source of reader confusion/concern. There are always multiple ways to fix threads, but probably just one way that suits your story best. Only you will know that one.

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]]> By: Matt http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79899 Matt Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:18:06 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79899 For what it's worth, I've found it very important to limit early readers to people who you're confident can give you a significant analysis. As you said, an answer like "this sucks" is of no help whatsoever. Letting a loved one read your manuscript may not be helpful either until you're sure it's ready to be read by a wide array of people. For what it’s worth, I’ve found it very important to limit early readers to people who you’re confident can give you a significant analysis. As you said, an answer like “this sucks” is of no help whatsoever. Letting a loved one read your manuscript may not be helpful either until you’re sure it’s ready to be read by a wide array of people.

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]]> By: Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79367 Eric Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:42:59 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79367 It depends on whether the criticism is constructive or destructive. If someone can articulate what they don't like and possibly even explain what they'd like better, I'm all ears. But I've met many people throughout the years who are incapable of articulating what they like or don't like, and would rather just say something sucks. The problem with that is not just in being negative -- it's not even useful. "It sucks," tells me absolutely nothing about how to improve the work, other than to rewrite the entire thing -- which they may or may not be suggesting -- it's hard to tell with these people. It depends on whether the criticism is constructive or destructive. If someone can articulate what they don’t like and possibly even explain what they’d like better, I’m all ears.

But I’ve met many people throughout the years who are incapable of articulating what they like or don’t like, and would rather just say something sucks.

The problem with that is not just in being negative — it’s not even useful. “It sucks,” tells me absolutely nothing about how to improve the work, other than to rewrite the entire thing — which they may or may not be suggesting — it’s hard to tell with these people.

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]]> By: Matt Sinclair http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79285 Matt Sinclair Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:38:22 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79285 Great post, indeed. Listening truly is a critical skill for a writer. I know that with my early readers (beta readers! I like it), several were concerned about the level of description in a sex scene. Rather than assume everyone else in the world is more prudish than I am, I cut it back significantly. Rereading the book recently, I recognized that I hadn't lost too much at all. Great post, indeed. Listening truly is a critical skill for a writer. I know that with my early readers (beta readers! I like it), several were concerned about the level of description in a sex scene. Rather than assume everyone else in the world is more prudish than I am, I cut it back significantly. Rereading the book recently, I recognized that I hadn’t lost too much at all.

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]]> By: LJCohen http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79273 LJCohen Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:46:15 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79273 Excellent post. I've recently had an experience like this where I had to really listen to critique. It led me to a much needed wholesale reorganization of my WIP. It's hard to take that deep breath and get over the 'hurt' of one's one feelings and ego, but it's the only way to improve. Excellent post. I’ve recently had an experience like this where I had to really listen to critique. It led me to a much needed wholesale reorganization of my WIP. It’s hard to take that deep breath and get over the ‘hurt’ of one’s one feelings and ego, but it’s the only way to improve.

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79006 Kathleen Bolton Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:57:10 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/07/31/the-art-of-listening/#comment-79006 When I get two or more people making the same comment on something, that's when I know it needs to be changed. But I'm still stubborn sometimes! Great post, Gavin. When I get two or more people making the same comment on something, that’s when I know it needs to be changed. But I’m still stubborn sometimes!

Great post, Gavin.

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