tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post8036184311944330466..comments2024-03-28T02:34:34.041-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: How to handle different feedbacks?Rachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-81654983962825131222013-02-07T08:49:08.769-08:002013-02-07T08:49:08.769-08:00What a great problem to have, Rachna! I'm real...What a great problem to have, Rachna! I'm really glad for you: Interested editors asking for changes. I don't know how long your book is. But perhaps you could print out a clean copy of it, and then use different colored inks for their suggestions. Then look for consistencies. If more than one editor likes what another wants changed, that tells you something. Likewise, if more editors want to change something that another likes, that tells you something. It would be worth seeing, too, where the colors converge. I do that with comments from my critique group, and it usually yields good changes.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-84725410439233216152013-02-05T16:08:00.396-08:002013-02-05T16:08:00.396-08:00I like Natalie's idea.
It's hard enough ...I like Natalie's idea. <br /><br />It's hard enough when you get conflicting feedback from critique partners and beta readers. It's another game when it comes from agents and editors. I have one friend who had conflicting feedback from agents. One wanted her to change her book to a thriller. The other wanted her to make it woman's fiction. Talking about a conflict!<br /><br />In the end, she said screw it, and self published the book as is, and it became a best seller. Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-89892898506082010772013-02-05T04:04:41.269-08:002013-02-05T04:04:41.269-08:00Timeous post.
I'm due to send out some stuff t...Timeous post.<br />I'm due to send out some stuff to two or three CP's, so I'll know soon enough...Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-41949809810599442732013-02-04T22:43:32.591-08:002013-02-04T22:43:32.591-08:00What a great question and it's so exciting tha...What a great question and it's so exciting that your story is making wonderful strides! Sometimes taking a day away from any feedback and remembering the themes you want to convey might help. It's easy to lose your voice in the midst of constructive criticism. I have found that often, a skilled reader's opinion has made my work stronger. I know your story will turn out wonderfully!!Saumyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08517289532769906489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-13731697885973333032013-02-04T10:57:50.366-08:002013-02-04T10:57:50.366-08:00Uh oh...hope I didn't contribute to this probl...Uh oh...hope I didn't contribute to this problem:) I'd say, you have to remember who your audience ultimately will be and try to stick to that. When I have contradictory feedback I usually ask my wife for her opinion since she's my target audience and I know if she likes it I will:)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-69270625659295646682013-02-04T09:01:52.194-08:002013-02-04T09:01:52.194-08:00It's such a challenge when one person's fe...It's such a challenge when one person's feedback contradicts another. <br /><br />I like how you plan to go with your gut, so to speak. You know your story and what works. <br /><br />Best of luck!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-25091429941191441652013-02-04T08:08:05.970-08:002013-02-04T08:08:05.970-08:00I agree with Natalie's advice! Still, it's...I agree with Natalie's advice! Still, it's great that you're getting direct editor feedback. That's a wonderful thing.Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-19627459629376965382013-02-03T21:57:53.129-08:002013-02-03T21:57:53.129-08:00If everyone is saying the same thing, I make a cha...If everyone is saying the same thing, I make a change. If not, I make the changes that are the best fit. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-78571266734378911312013-02-03T20:49:37.200-08:002013-02-03T20:49:37.200-08:00I think you are the best judge of your own creatio...I think you are the best judge of your own creation... No matter how good an Editor may be they will look at your story from the point they want to, and that's how they landed up giving you different feedbacks.<br /><br />Good Luck!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.passudiary.com" rel="nofollow"> PaSsu Diary</a>PaSsuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02614890147769005398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-36792696385392362362013-02-02T03:40:15.712-08:002013-02-02T03:40:15.712-08:00It's the same in all walks of life. As a young...It's the same in all walks of life. As a young teacher we had a general inspection. Just two H.M.I.s (Her Majesty's Inspectors) because a small school. One wrote of me in the report saying how exciting it was to see a young teacher so willing to experiment. The other criticised me for being too experimental. I've never forgotten that.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-50892462726838230882013-02-01T20:10:03.409-08:002013-02-01T20:10:03.409-08:00This is always a conundrum, isn't it? But good...This is always a conundrum, isn't it? But good news too, that so many are interested in your writing! :) When I get conflicting views, I weight them out and go with what my instincts are telling me. Easier said than done, I know. Wishing you the best, and cheering you on in the journey!Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-90945289694038570632013-02-01T15:58:12.755-08:002013-02-01T15:58:12.755-08:00Unlike Math where there always is a right answer, ...Unlike Math where there always is a right answer, this is the problem we face as we write. You never will be able to please everyone.SBJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10457239074744509487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-61875384062436363362013-02-01T12:54:19.899-08:002013-02-01T12:54:19.899-08:00I read that Raymond Carver had different versions ...I read that Raymond Carver had different versions of his stories. So you can keep different versions of your stories. I admit that I have considered this and it doesn't bother me. Different versions may still be very similar but they will satisfy different people.Julia Honeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497316179340178624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-48377627040724757502013-02-01T12:01:14.717-08:002013-02-01T12:01:14.717-08:00I would like to think that those suggestions are j...I would like to think that those suggestions are just guidelines. You don't have to follow them if you do not feel it would be best for your story and you are struggling to incorporate those changes.Naina Guptahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14283483297396542537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-62084140096157636162013-02-01T11:00:54.362-08:002013-02-01T11:00:54.362-08:00I've never had that problem. I'd decide wh...I've never had that problem. I'd decide which suggestion makes the most sense and would, in my opinion, be the better choice. That's the one I'd make. You certainly can't please everyone, so please yourself based on the valuable feedback.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-85905840672442563182013-02-01T10:59:41.993-08:002013-02-01T10:59:41.993-08:00Sometimes I look at the writing style of the perso...Sometimes I look at the writing style of the person who's giving the feedback, if it's a crit partner and make my decisions based on that information.Johanna Garthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15515478890074610814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-25055416870612753802013-02-01T10:44:59.854-08:002013-02-01T10:44:59.854-08:00It can be hard to figure out what's the best t...It can be hard to figure out what's the best to do with conflicting comments from critique partners. If more than two say the same thing, then it's a bit clearer. LOL! I try to step back and see the novel as a reader. If I can see why the comment was made, then I'll change it. If I can't or it goes against how I feel the story should go, then I won't make changes. Of course, it's still hard to do this.Cherie Reichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16663147386014122939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-67814460484879881622013-02-01T10:31:40.297-08:002013-02-01T10:31:40.297-08:00Yeah, with the publishers, make two separate revis...Yeah, with the publishers, make two separate revisions.<br />With critique partners it's rare I've had contradictory feedback that was major. I did have one scene that one person had no comment, another said it read awkward and I had to change it, and the third said it was one of the best written scenes. I went with my guy instinct and didn't change a thing.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-76401438275837585612013-02-01T09:01:48.808-08:002013-02-01T09:01:48.808-08:00Wish you see the printed version soon and best wis...Wish you see the printed version soon and best wishes Rachna:)Rahul Bhatiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690287853990880735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-55682341520240430582013-02-01T07:54:27.134-08:002013-02-01T07:54:27.134-08:00I guess I look at the reasons for the suggested ch...I guess I look at the reasons for the suggested changes. If it's an opinion based on someone's own interests, then I might not make the change. But if it's a constructive suggestion that I can see would make the story better, then I make the change. I hope that makes sense!Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-554817613164407682013-02-01T07:05:45.232-08:002013-02-01T07:05:45.232-08:00I find the feedback that seems like an interesting...I find the feedback that seems like an interesting idea is the one to follow. If nothing really stands out then I look at the area that they say needs change, but not use any of their suggestions. i know it needs work and the rest is up to me.<br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a>mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-71947233676338093172013-02-01T05:36:02.159-08:002013-02-01T05:36:02.159-08:00Thanks Natalie. I like your suggestion that I shou...Thanks Natalie. I like your suggestion that I should do separate revisions for both the editors. I am going to do that. I am also distancing myself from my manuscript for a few days to give myself time to mull over the suggestions. I am not going to rush into the changes.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-72167987560881541792013-02-01T03:32:12.562-08:002013-02-01T03:32:12.562-08:00That's so awesome, Rachna! I totally agree wit...That's so awesome, Rachna! I totally agree with you that feedback is subjective and can be completely contradictory. It is very frustrating.<br /><br />For the publishers you are willing to make different changes to your manuscript, I'd recommend that you do separate revisions for each and if there are other revisions that would fit that were suggested that you agree with, include those as well. Save multiple versions of the manuscript with your main one only including the revisions you really agree with. You're the author so you have to decide which ones you really want in the manuscript you might query to others later.<br /><br />You might want to give your manuscript a rest for a few days or a week and give yourself some time to think about which ones to use. I've found with some suggestions for major changes that if I let it sit for awhile that I'll find the suggestions are good and discover a way to make the manuscript stronger. Fingers crossed for you.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com