For the Love of the Book
I almost didn't blog this week, but I have a lot on my mind and it only seemed right to write it out. As most of you know, I've been working really hard on my book trying to get it ready to query. I've read through it twice, added a few scenes, taken out a few more, and sent it off to be critiqued.
Here's the thing. I love my book. Both times that I read and edited, I did it within three days. It's easy for me to get lost in the characters and the story and fall in love each time I read it again. But not everyone is going to love my book.
It's a good thing to have people read your book who don't like it. You can get insights into things you might have otherwise missed. At the same time, it's really hard.
I handed my book over to a complete stranger that I met on Ladies Who Critique. It takes a big leap of faith to trust your baby with someone you don't know, but someone who you trust will give you honest feedback.
The only problem is that sometimes honesty is translated as, here's everything I hate. Which, for me, is sometimes a lot to swallow. I want to know that they at least laughed at my jokes or considered something thoughtful about my characters. But to deal with a rampage, it can take a lot out of person.
Critiques are important. They help you grow. This person had a lot of good points about my book that I would not have picked up on. But one comment has stuck in my head and refused to let go.
She told me she hated my main character. HATED! Why? She thought my MC was too confident in herself, and cocky to boot. Personally, I don't have problem with confidence. In fact, I love a character who can take the story by being a strong leader. That's how I wrote my character. When it comes to time travel, she knows how to handle herself.
Not everyone is going to agree. It's hard when you love someone so much, and they feel so real to you and you're told that they are awful people. It's like a stranger coming up and telling you your friends and family are worthless.
My head is in a bad place right now becasue of it. I can't change who my character is. She's confident becasue she knows how to handle the situation. It doesn't mean she's not flawed. She makes mistakes. Sometimes she's rude without meaning to be that way. Sometimes she doesn't see people for who they really are.
Even with all that being said, I still love my book. I've just lost confidence in if it's right to share with the world.
Yet, I'm still going to try. I can't quit just becasue one person didn't like my MC. I may be the only person in the world who does. And that's okay, becasue at least I didn't give up on myself.
Here's the thing. I love my book. Both times that I read and edited, I did it within three days. It's easy for me to get lost in the characters and the story and fall in love each time I read it again. But not everyone is going to love my book.
It's a good thing to have people read your book who don't like it. You can get insights into things you might have otherwise missed. At the same time, it's really hard.
I handed my book over to a complete stranger that I met on Ladies Who Critique. It takes a big leap of faith to trust your baby with someone you don't know, but someone who you trust will give you honest feedback.
The only problem is that sometimes honesty is translated as, here's everything I hate. Which, for me, is sometimes a lot to swallow. I want to know that they at least laughed at my jokes or considered something thoughtful about my characters. But to deal with a rampage, it can take a lot out of person.
Critiques are important. They help you grow. This person had a lot of good points about my book that I would not have picked up on. But one comment has stuck in my head and refused to let go.
She told me she hated my main character. HATED! Why? She thought my MC was too confident in herself, and cocky to boot. Personally, I don't have problem with confidence. In fact, I love a character who can take the story by being a strong leader. That's how I wrote my character. When it comes to time travel, she knows how to handle herself.
Not everyone is going to agree. It's hard when you love someone so much, and they feel so real to you and you're told that they are awful people. It's like a stranger coming up and telling you your friends and family are worthless.
My head is in a bad place right now becasue of it. I can't change who my character is. She's confident becasue she knows how to handle the situation. It doesn't mean she's not flawed. She makes mistakes. Sometimes she's rude without meaning to be that way. Sometimes she doesn't see people for who they really are.
Even with all that being said, I still love my book. I've just lost confidence in if it's right to share with the world.
Yet, I'm still going to try. I can't quit just becasue one person didn't like my MC. I may be the only person in the world who does. And that's okay, becasue at least I didn't give up on myself.
Comments
This crit partner sounds like they were true to themselves in sharing their thoughts about how they felt about your MC. So what's the silver lining in finding out that this person hated your character?
YOU, my writer bud, are the silver lining. You can take the critique, working in what works for you and leaving the rest alone. As I've been reminded from time to time, this is YOUR story. You must be able to stand by it. If you know that your MC is where you want them to be, then there it is.
Write on.
Write strong.
And I did have to make adjustments to my main character because he was too unlikeable. Some people still didn't like him even after the changes. But enough did that I didn't worry about it.
Regarding your critique, do what I do--if you don't agree with the feedback, put it off to the side, and don't think about it UNLESS you get other people telling you the same thing. The feedback could've been a fluke, but at the same time, she could be on to something. Character likability is a big, big, BIG deal with agents/editors. If other critters have a similiar opinion about your mc, don't despair! There are ways to skim off some of the abrasiveness of a character without changing who they are :o)
Good luck, Jen :o)
So, this one person hated your character. That really sucks, BUT not everyone likes the same things. Get some other opinions, because maybe she was in the small minority.
Take a deep breath, get your confidence back, and stand by what you know is right for your story. <3
Get more feedback and compare your results. It's impossible to please everyone. If you start getting more consistent feedback that your main character needs some changes, then you know it's time to tackle that hurdle (which, by the way, isn't impossible to overcome. As Angela said, there are ways to make your character less abrasive without changing them).
I wish you the best with your writing! Don't give up!
My rule of thumb is this: if more than one person says it in a critique, maybe I need to look at that aspect of the book again. And sometimes, even if just one person says it, I think about it anyway. I can choose to change something or not.
Good luck!
If your mc has a growth arc in spite of her confidence, there's not a problem.
If you are interested, I would love to read it for you and give you some additional input.
I agree with what others have posted to pick and choose what you need from crit partners to help you with your story and to just keep going.
Remember there are a lot of best selling books out there with characters that some people LOVE and some people HATE and it's the same character.
It's also up to us to choose which feedback/comment/critique works and which one doesn't. Because ultimately, the story is yours. You have the vision. You know where's it supposed to go and what it's supposed to be like. You know how to deliver the story because it is yours, and yours alone.
When you query, you will get lots of rejections. And most of them will say "this is not the right fit for me". Does it mean your book is crap and you should just give up? Does it mean the agent rejecting you is blind and don't know what they're talking about?
No and no. Just as we readers reject some published books, the same principle goes for them. If they can't truly and completely love it, they won't ask to represent you, even if your writing is stellar and the concept intriguing (yes, I got this during my querying days).
So keep on writing. Keep on moving forward. Because while we can't make EVERYONE love our work, there will be those who will love it just the way it is.
*hugs*
But I agree, reviews and feedback that are nothing but negative...well, even if it's helpful in the long run...what was the point in that?
Keep in mind, as many people have said, this is one opinion. Even if ten people hate your MC, there's still hope for your book (lots of people hate Bella Swan, and look at how much money Meyer has!) so don't give up! Just, have a drink. And some chocolate. And maybe watch a season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Then you should be all good!
If you love the character, she'll appeal to others as well.
The positive feedback, when honest, gives the writer a dose of confidence and makes it far easier to tweak those things that weren't well received. On the flip side however, if someone loved *everything* in the book then I find myself doubting everything they said. Out of hundreds of pages there has to be *something* a person doesn't like.
But! There are some agents who CRAVE strong narrators, strong MCs, especially if they're girls. Look around, if it's your story, you're the writer, it's your call how you handle it.
And yes, keep going. Always, always, keep going.
Also, you are not allowed to take any criticism as real until you have heard the same thing from 3 people. Just saying.
I'm blind-siding you for the Versatile Blogger award (which isn't really an award, but oh, well.)
Come to my blog for the details.
Lauren
Lauren-ritz.blogspot.com
Hate is a strong word to use, I would be upset too! Just remember, it is only one person's opinion.
Andrea