I'm just full of questions this week. Probably has something to do with wrapping up the draft of my novelette.
When seems to be the best time to get advice from readers of your work? Right after you finish a draft/rewrite but before a break from it, or after you've set it aside to breathe a while and then come back to it to rewrite/polish?
Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :
I like to rewrite first. This assumes that there is nothing _severely_ wrong with what you've written that would make the rewrite utterly useless. If that isn't the case, I feel the advice is likely to be more useful if you've done what you can to improve the story first.
(edit: I mean nothing. Not anything.)
[This message has been edited by Jules (edited June 05, 2004).]
Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :
Personally, I like to get feedback right after I finish the first draft, so I can take the feedback into consideration as I revise and edit.
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
I think it depends on the story, but what I find is that, no matter how hard I've worked on the story, after I show it to readers it becomes my first draft. In other words, the impact that readers have will frequently change the story more than all previous rewrites. What I tend to do now is show an early draft to a couple of people to make sure my direction is working. Then after that I do all of my serious rewriting and show it to a second set of clean eyes.
Posted by srhowen (Member # 462) on :
What you send your agent becomes your first draft, after that no matter how many drafts you do with your agent, the one the publishers buy becomes a "first" draft.
You show the work to others when you are ready to listen and take advice otherwise it's a waste of time to do so.
Shawn
Posted by Balthasar (Member # 5399) on :
It's your story, is it not? So write your story, be happy with your story, understand what your story is about, what it says, and what it means. Then, and only then, are you in a position to receive feedback--because if you haven't told it properly--and if you don't understand it, how the hell are you going to be in a position to receive critical feedback. How will you be able to say, "This point is good, and I'll use it," or "This point is good, but I'm not going to use it," or "This person obviously didn't understand my story"?
[This message has been edited by Balthasar (edited June 06, 2004).]
Posted by teddyrux (Member # 1595) on :
I make any revisions that I feel are necessary and then I have my read what I've written. I've done this for short stories and individual chapters. She sees things differently that I do. She'll ask me questions when she's done and I have some questions for her. I'm teaching her to be my wise reader. It can be difficult because she doesn't normally read fantasy, and she has a biased opinion. If I can get her to like the story and want to know what happens next (even after "The End") I'm getting to where I want to be.
I partially agree with Balthasar, write your story. But, seek advice from people you can trust. People who are supportive of you dreams, and treat their advice as you would any other critique. The difference between a critique that I get from a writer and my wife is profound. She critiques it from a reader's viewpoint only. I feel that is important. If she doesn't understand what I'm saying in the story, I need to change it.
Rux :}
Posted by Monolith (Member # 2034) on :
I enjoy writing then gettting constructive critism about it so I can get going on making it better, in the places that were mentioned by my "critic". The first time I wrote my story, I gave it to my ex-father-in-law ( who is a teacher ) and he gave it less than rave reviews ( calling it "vulgar" ) but I was writing it like the character ( he was a cop, one with a huge attitude ) would speak ( isn't that what you're supposed to do?) But that's just me, I like to get critism and try to fix things when it's fresh in my mind.
Bryan
Posted by Phanto (Member # 1619) on :
Monolith, caution. Swearwords can, at best, make your character more real. At worst, they can ruin your book to a majority of otherwise would-be readers.
We had a discussion so long ago about it....
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
I agree, it goes with the whole think of your audience thing. You don't have to be 'too' real, beacuse most people read to escape reality. (or to find it, but that's a little odd)