To preface this, I should be working right now since I have 4 hours of work to do today and only 5 hours till I leave...Damn it thoughts that I need to get down, GET OUT.
So I wanted to talk about something different than I normally do. Today I'm talking about a aspect of writing. I get asked a lot of questions about writing because of certain qualifications I have involving them but I seem to notice a key issue writers that talk to me commonly have. Most writers are unsure how to give/receive feedback and criticism. And That actually expands to everyone in the known universe. A fair majority of people don't quite understand it. So some basic ground rules:
1. It isn't personal.
2. What you wrote isn't perfect. most likely isn't great. Probably isn't good. Might be okay. And it needs hundreds of hours of work.
3. Just because you like it doesn't make it good.
4. It's okay to like something that's bad.*
5. There are basic standards to judge things on.
6. (Goes hand and hand with 5) Art ISN'T as subjective as one is lead to believe.
7.A new draft doesn't count as changing twelve words and rearranging some paragraphs. This is the kill your babies suggestion.
8. It's not about plot.
So the first thing I notice is that most writers seem to think their first draft is going to be brilliant. So brilliant that only minor cosmetic changes are all they are going to need. Or in the case of the inexperienced writer: huge major gigantic changes!
When it comes to editing, most writers want to just change some words here and there, change a scene maybe and leave everything else the same. Well chances are, what needs to be change is right now you have Characters A,B and C. And C has a great story, A and B don't really do anything. So there are two possible edits here, you give A and B a good story(if you have one for them and this isn't a short story) or if it is a short story, you most likely cut them and see what of the story remains.
Edits should be big sweeping changes. Not small cosmetic ones. For me, the general rule of thumb is I should almost be able to call draft two an entirely different story than draft one. Why? Because the plot, typically, doesn't matter. It isn't what people care about, really. So yes its what gets people in the door, but that's in the same way that a trailer for a movie gets you into the theater. But the things that keep you talking and thinking about it afterward are the result of new ground being covered, characters that are intriguing, likable, well-written, and possibly relate-able. It is about what the characters experienced, what they felt. That is, when these are done well. When they aren't done well they are still pointed out, but instead they are mocked and ridiculed. It should be about polishing the language so that I can go through and pull single sentences and go "Wow, that is one beautifully crafted sentence".
In the drafting/editing process it is important to note that you will receive a lot of feedback. Most of it is conflicting. As to how to use the feedback, its up to you. You can take all of it in, you can take none of it in. The way I do it is I take all of the negative feedback and I do what I can to alleviate the issues present in the negative feedback. I also look at the areas that are most loved and I try to improve those as well.** But that's me, how to use feedback is really up to you.
The best way to write a second draft for smaller length stories for sure, and if you have the dedication in longer ones as well, is to write the story again. Look at the natural changes you make just by writing it again. Certain sections get forgotten about, certain sections get added. It is a really interesting alternative that gives you variant passages to try out between the two pieces. And for my money, if by the third draft at least 50 percent of the material hasn't changed from the first draft, you likely aren't being harsh enough against yourself.
The hard part for most people is not taking it personally. I called your story a piece of crap and thought you should take the main character and put him in a different plot. That isn't an attack on you. It is an attack, and isn't well written feedback, but that happens, but it might still be valuable feedback. You need to be prepared that every line of feedback won't be nice. And that is okay. Every great piece of writing you've ever read was heavily criticized and scrutinized. So to think that your piece that you wrote in 5 hours won't be is a bit pretentious of you isn't it? The fact that you think what you wrote is really good isn't a barometer. Also your close friends, your grandparents, girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/husband/dog/robot lover,your padre, your priest, your rabbi, your mother are for my intents and purposes you.There is quite a few people you know that aren't close friends that write. Find them. Seek them out. Talk to them. Get their opinions.
So some last things. When judging any given media that is to say, written word, motion picture, still photo. We have standards to judge what is good, what isn't. I can't tell you what these are. I mean, I could but I'm not going to. The way it comes about is that you read. You watch. You look. Don't fight your judgments. But have them. When you embrace the piece of media and you think "that sucked" or "That was awesome" try and figure out why. If you do this every time than slowly over time certain things you liked, you will come to see are only okay. And over more time the number of things you like will shrink and you will have developed your own tastes. But as you read you will see that certain things are common and those things that are common that you like are the same things that others with a critical opinion like. Sure there is a certain margin or error for tastes, but for the most part you will be able to critically analyze and deconstruct why something works.
Things to take away from this:
Don't take it personally. As much as you like the piece you are writing it can ALWAYS be improved. Read a lot. It not only improves your critical skills, it helps you see what has already been done a million times and forces you to, if you still want to write about it, to come out with a new angle so you aren't mimicking what has come before.
We learn best from our failures, not our successes, so wouldn't it make sense that we would learn more from where our pieces need work, not where we were successful?
*Otherwise I'd get to put to death Twilight fans in the MILLIONS
** Always save copies of every draft. That way you can delete portions of the story for the new draft and if you don't like the new draft you can go back to the old one.
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