How to Embrace and Incorporate Criticism into Your Editing Process

Just how book buying and book reading are two different hobbies. Writing a book and wanting people to read your book are also two different things.

When I finished my first book and had finally gotten to the point where it was ready to be put in front of thousands of readers, available to the internet at large - I panicked.

Instead of hitting publish I went back to my manuscript and decided it need to be edited again… and again. and again.

I was so worried about making it perfect, that people were going to find a mistake in it and ridicule me that in the end I never actually got around to publishing it. 

My partner had to because my nerves were so frayed - I was so afraid, that I couldn't bring myself to do it. 

I was afraid of the feedback, but now as I am making my way through a new novel that will be my debut as a traditionally published author (hopefully) I have learned to embrace feedback. 

Here's why you should as well. 

Gaining New Perspectives

You have lived, breathed, and have practically become your story by the time you are done with all your drafts and revising that you no longer have a clear objective opinion in it. 

Giving your story to someone else, a fresh perspective, gives you the chance to get insight into how your story feels to an outsider. 

Others can pick up on the things we've become writer blind to, blind spots in the plot, inconsistencies, or just general ideas for improvement. 

Feedback allows you to see your story from the eyes of your reader and adjust from there if necessary.  

Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses

When we did peer critiques in college our professor would always make us include what the strength and weaknesses were along with the feedback we were giving for the work we were reviewing. 

This is constructive feedback, someone telling you 'I didn't like it' isn't going to help you in any case with your story. 

Sure positive feedback is great and all, but that's what you have your friends and family for. They'll tell you they like it no matter what (most of the time) every once in a while you get lucky and have a family member who understands the importance of feedback that points out your weaknesses as well and will help you point out areas that require attention or refinement to help you strengthen your story. 

Refining Your Voice and Style

If you've ever submitted a manuscript for publication and received back the feedback 'inconsistent voice' you could have avoided this with some feedback from readers in refining your unique writing voice and style.

Your voice is how you tell your story and like you, it can change over time so if it's been a year or so from writing that first page to writing that last things may not be as consistent as they could be. 

Strengthening Plot and Structure

Feedback often provides valuable insights into the plot and structure of your work. 

It'll be the easiest part for someone to comment on since it's what they'll notice most from a reader's perspective. Just how did Jane get to the top of the mountain that was described as being unclimbable? You forgot to mention it. 

Feedback can help you identify pacing issues, plot holes, or confusing story arcs that may be leaving your reader confused and falling out of your story. By embracing feedback that addresses these concerns you can create a more compelling and cohesive narrative without your reader saying "huh" and flipping back through the pages for the elevator they must have missed. 

Enhancing Character Development

Constructive criticism can shed light on your characters' depth, motivations, and believability. 

Feedback may offer suggestions for further character development, highlighting opportunities to make your characters more relatable, complex, and memorable.

Improving Clarity and Cohesion

Feedback often uncovers areas where your writing may lack clarity or cohesion. It can point out instances of convoluted language, ambiguous descriptions, or disjointed transitions. 

Your given feedback can also help you point out that you started three chapters in a row with your character waking up - oops. 

Cultivating Resilience and Growth

Looking for and receiving feedback can honestly suck. Especially in the in-between parts when you're waiting to hear what the feedback is. 

Don't treat it like a bad breakup and be clingy, give them time, and eventually, they'll respond. 

It's not likely that your book is going to receive nothing but 5-star reviews because let's face it there's no such thing as a one size fits all book. 

Some may read your book and not like it and while others will claim it's their favorite book ever. 

Some trolls will give you bad reviews because that's just what trolls seem to do. 

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Feedback is a part of being an author, it's a way us a way to understand how our stories have affected those who have read them and they, in turn, give us the chance to make it even better for the next person. 

Negative feedback is never a reason to give up, ever. 

Keep writing no matter what anyone has to say about it. 

With love, 

B. King xo xo

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