Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
I frequently receive questions about all the “mixed messages” writers get in the course of writing and publishing their books. One of the kinds of mixed messages we have to deal with is getting contradictory feedback. You may hear one thing from your friends, another from your crit group, and something different from an editor or agent.
Agents experience this too. A project out on submission elicits barely any response from some editors, while others are jumping with excitement.
Contradictory feedback can also come when you enter your book in a contest. A client had this experience: “I got my contest scores back. One was a perfect score of 100 and the judge’s comment was, I don’t understand why this author isn’t published. The second score was also very high. The third was a 62! The judge told me to cut the prologue and the first chapter because they weren’t good. She also told me I’ll never get published in Christian fiction.” (This client now has numerous books published.)
How do we deal with contradictory feedback?
- First, realize this is always going to be the case. Be thankful you’re experiencing it now, so you’ll be ready for when you’re published and it gets worse. Readers will have all kinds of responses to your work, and they won’t all be positive.
If you’re trying to figure out how to revise your work, and you’ve received contradictory feedback about what your manuscript needs, you may have to make some tough decisions. Here are my thoughts:
- Note each person’s qualifications for giving feedback. Are they a publishing professional? Just because they have experience as an agent, editor, or published author doesn’t make them automatically “right.” But if you’re weighing feedback from your friends and/or crit group (“It’s awesome! We love it!”) against responses from professionals (“It needs work”) you’re probably better off listening to those with experience.
- Do your critics understand your vision for the project? Do they have a similar worldview as yours? Are they likely to be in agreement with the overall message of your book? You can use these questions to help you gauge which feedback is most applicable to your work and will be most helpful to you. Whenever possible, you may even want to ask these questions directly of your reviewers.
- Go with your gut and stick with your vision. Don’t allow anyone to take away your voice or an important part of your message. However, if you’re a newer writer and you’re not sure you’ve found your voice yet, you can allow those critics to help you refine your voice or find your vision. It’s a delicate and tricky balance—figuring out which changes will improve the work, and which feel like compromise. Only you can decide.
In the case of my client’s example above, she has a two-against-one situation, so that’s a clue about which feedback may be most relevant. In addition, the third judge appeared more conservative and didn’t share the author’s worldview, so was unlikely to enjoy the book anyway. In this type of situation, it’s okay to consider whether anything judge #3 said rings true and if you can learn anything from it; if not, let it go and move on. Just accept that not everyone will like your book.
Every piece of art has its fans and its detractors; every attempt to speak the truth will meet some agreement and some resistance. We all have to use our own discernment and wisdom to figure out how to deal with it.
Have you dealt with contradictory feedback on your work? How did you resolve it?
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Great post, Rachelle! But I have no contradictory feedback. The world loves my voice and vision, and the paeans are unanimous.
* I DO hope you weren’t drinking your morning coffee when you read that. A little bit of dawn on a damp washcloth will clean up your screen in a jiff.
* Seriously, I do look at all criticism and feedback with an open heart. I’m pretty confident in my voice and in the message I want to get across, but what seem to be negative ‘outliers’ can often shine a light from a perspective I hadn’t anticipated. Sometimes the doom-sayers bring diamonds as gifts.
* An example – when I was still an academic, Barbara worked with me on a lot of projects, though she didn’t have an engineering degree, and attended conferences and technical sessions. On one occasion a group of Engineering Poobahs described a document they were about to release on the design of concrete columns in seismic zones, and the praise flowed freely from the less-major poobahs. Then Barbara spoke up…”Where’s the design example?”
* The room erupted in dread and fearful silence, and the Chief Poobah said, “Well…um…we didn’t think we needed one.”
* Barbara asked in her sweet and reasonable way, “Why?”
* To make a long story short, when the document was published, THREE (count ’em!) design examples were included, and when the Chief Poobah met Barbara in the course of future conferences, he would always call her over to ask advice. But he always blushed whilst so doing.
Shirlee Abbott
Go Barbara!
Sometimes the outsider sees what those close-up don’t. I’m not clinical, working among clinicians. When a team is problem-solving, I can ask, “what were you thinking?” and it comes across as an innocent question–not a judgmental “WHAT were you thinking!!!” That quiet question sometimes unearths a missing our faulty step in the process.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Shirlee, it hurts to laugh, but this was worth it. After the tech session Barb went to the Chief Poobah and asked, politely, “What on earth were you thinking?”
Jeanne Takenaka
That’s great, Andrew! Barb is a wise woman.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Indeed she is, Jeanne. Indeed she is.
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
Go Barbara!! And I can hear and see her asking that. Tilting her head, smiling, batting those eyes. All sweet and polite, and then BAM. Not that she’d ever be rude, she’d have been so sweet and curious. Just “show me”.
And folks, speaking from the lovely opportunity of having met her several times? Barbara may be a teeny lady, but ohhhh, wow, she’s titanium!
Very smart and very funny, too.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Titanium indeed, Jennifer. I will pass that on to her. She’ll be thrilled.
* It will probably surprise no one, but when I met her Barbara was a 105-lb bodybuilder. Making her even slightly irritated was unwise.
Sylvia A. Nash
I love Barbara’s story!
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Sylvia, thank you…and if you ever get the chance to meet Barbara in person, you’ll love her too. I will never see an ACFW conference…but she may.
* I am SO PROUD of her!
Rachelle Gardner
That’s a great story, Andrew! Barbara sounds like someone I’d like to meet. 🙂
Shirlee Abbott
Thank you, Rachelle, for putting words to a problem I’d rather ignore. Truth is, the negative comments often reveal a gap in the flow. Those who think like me easily leap over the gap.
*Once I get over my initial bristle, I find that prayerful tweaking (sometimes only a word or two) builds a bridge that invites the naysayers into my world.
Jeanne Takenaka
“A gap in the flow.” What a great way to look at this, Shirlee. It’s good for outsiders to help us see those gaps in our work. Goodness knows, I don’t usually see the gaps in mine. 🙂
Becky McCoy
Great post! I struggle most with contradictory feedback from people at the same experience level. It’s hard to know which direction to go in when the feedback isn’t consistent.
Shelli Littleton
Becky, I like what Rachelle said … trust your gut. 🙂
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
I hope an off-topic comment will be acceptable today, but it strikes me that there are three important takeaways for Christian authors from the results of yesterday’s Presidential election:
1 – Details matter, and people both seek out and pay attention to them. A flood of small and unpleasant facts, largely unreported by most media outlets, put paid to the hopes of the losing candidate.
2 – Voting for change equates with a hope for a better tomorrow.
3 – The vice-president-elect is a man of profound faith, expressed openly. This bespeaks, I think, a yearning for bold belief. (And he’s from Barb’s home state of Indiana!)
* I think that perhaps this event has uncovered a wellspring of feeling and faith, of genuine caring and worried concern tempered with hope and the willingness – and desire – to get involved. These are our readers; these are the people to whom we as writers, no less than our president-elect, owe a debt of gratitude and service
Jeanne Takenaka
I have entered a few contests where I got two stellar scores and one dismal one. And though it’s disappointing to get that low score. I try to (after I’ve gotten over my emotions) glean some gold from what that judge scored. One time, the feedback was a personal attack, and that hurt. I deleted those comments. Most of the time, though, there’s at least one thing I can take from what they shared and apply it. I want to be teachable, even when the “teacher” sees things differently than I do.
Shelli Littleton
I’m thankful for all those who devote their time to judging. I’ve had those who are so instructive and uplifting. They know how to speak the truth in love. And I’ve had those who seem to carry a chip on their shoulder. Rude. But one thing I’ve noticed … do you know that first manuscript that you wrote? The one that years later you look back on to realize that while you thought your work was great, it really wasn’t … and you needed much improvement. Well, I think there are people in that stage of their writing who think they should be judges, but really … they probably shouldn’t be just yet. I’ve been writing for several years now, and I still don’t feel like I should judge. I received a high score and a low score, as well … and the person who scored me low, they kept making comments like … “I think … I think … I’m not sure, but …” If you don’t know … don’t judge. That’s just my opinion. And I’ve gotten to where the criticism doesn’t injure me anymore. I take the advice of the ones who clearly know what they’re talking about and use it to improve my work. And I feel like I gained a ton for entering and every dollar I invested into the contest was well spent. 🙂
Carol Ashby
Spot on, Shelli! I resonate with every word you wrote!
* I haven’t volunteered to judge yet because I think some of the mantras and dictums so often repeated by the judges aren’t as absolute as they seem to think. New books by the well-established authors who violate them still sell exceedingly well. Until what I think I know is validated by lots of people actually buying one of my books, I’ll be reluctant to judge others on how they should be writing.
Sylvia A. Nash
Ditto, Shelli.
Carol Ashby
My research professor when I was in grad school said you should always try to do the experiment that might prove your theory wrong.
*I look on contradictory comments as being like those experiments. They raise questions about whether I have something right. I might decide they don’t have much merit, but I always consider whether they contain at least some germ of truth that can help me make my work better.
Davalynn Spencer
Interesting topic with sound advice, Rachelle. I had a winning entry in a contest come back with three conflicting judges’ comments about the story’s brief (half-page) prologue. One judge loved it, said it set the stage; one judge said cut it, it was unnecessary; and the third judge didn’t mention it! A complete wash in by book. As you suggest, I went with my gut and left it in.
Shelli Littleton
That is so encouraging to hear. Thank you!
Sylvia A. Nash
This is so hard, Rachelle, especially if you’re paying for the advice, which in a sense you are even with a contest. At some point, for me, I have to find the balance with the scores and remarks, all I’ve read (how-to pieces and fiction examples), and what feels right for the story in my head. (Sounds like what you said.) And then, who knows? I’ve had two defining moments in this part of it all.
. One was indeed a contest with the 2 to 1 mix. Where they differed, it was either way up or way down. I didn’t figure it could be both, so I took the opinion I liked where they were so far apart but then concentrated on the points where they were all in agreement.
. The other situation was from contradictory advice from three different kinds of writing professionals (not a contest) about how and where my story should begin–totally different advice from each individual. It was early on in my writing, and I had no idea to whom to listen. One made more sense than the other two, and that person was multi-published. I checked and she followed the advice she gave me, so I did, too! I felt good about the end result.
. On an personal note, I want everyone to know how much I appreciate this agency blog and this community of writers. I’d just kind of like for you to know why I’m going to have to step away from everything for awhile. My dad is terminally ill, and I want and need to focus on him right now. I do plan to be back at some point, but I don’t know when that will be. Take care!
Carol Ashby
We’ll be praying for you, Sylvia. Please check back in here occasionally and let us know how you’re doing.
Andrew Budek-Schmeisser
Sylvia, may Almighty God be with you on this journey. May He strengthen your heart and body for the tasks ahead, and may His Grace be the light of your days when all seems dark.
* You have many friends here who will be awaiting your return. Godspeed, dear brave heart.
Shelli Littleton
I’m praying for you, Sylvia. I’m so sorry.
Sylvia A. Nash
Thank you, Carol, Andrew, and Shelli for your “spoken” good wishes and others with good wishes in their hearts. I need to stop following all blogs and groups (FB) for now. I get sidetracked and Daddy needs me. Signing off!
Rachelle Gardner
We’ll be praying for you, Sylvia. Thanks for letting us know.
Shirlee Abbott
A wise choice, Sylvia–no regrets later.
Be strong in the Lord!
Jennifer Zarifeh Major
Sometimes I think feedback is like a room full of in-laws. Some love you, some don’t, some think you’re all that and a bag of chips, and some wonder how you got in the door.
And some suggest you come with subtitles so they can understand you. Only, they don’t use the word ‘sub-title’. They say “words that come on the TV when there’s a movie on with words you don’t understand”. And because they’re too clueless to understand the irony, you just blink and shake your head.
Shelli Littleton
Yes. 🙂 Just yes. And you know … almost just as difficult is the one who gives you a fair score, but doesn’t offer any critique at all. You don’t gain anything. It seems, anyway.
Darlene L. Turner
Thanks for this great post, Rachelle. I also struggle with the contradictory feedback I’ve received…mostly from contests. I try to look for any common threads and if there are any, I know that’s something I need to look at seriously.
I appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks!
Teresa Haugh
I have had good experiences and bad in contests. I was totally thrown by a judge that gave me a score of 50 on the grammar section because of a single comma! Yes, really. I’m guessing those ideal, experienced writers who would make the very best judges are the ones who don’t really have time to volunteer. It’s a sticky wicket.