: Re: How to stick to your vision when you’re highly suggestible? As a person, I'm a bit of a people-pleaser. I tend to bend over backward to avoid conflict and make people happy. I've reached
As a person I’m a bit of a people-pleaser. I tend to bend over backwards to avoid conflict and make people happy. I’ve reached the point in my writing process where I’ve started to send out drafts of my work to beta readers to get feedback. However, I've started to notice a bit of a problem in that when I get feedback I feel compelled to incorporate it all in and kind of unthinkingly accept reader interpretations of things.
That sounds like you're letting their criticism too much into the book. Let's look at the other points the author brings up before giving an answer.
In particular, there is one plot point one of my beta readers doesn't like that sets up an important subplot that leads to a lot of juicy conflict between the lead characters and a minor antagonist.
...
The only rule of thumb I have been able to figure out is: If multiple people have a problem with the same element of the story, it is probably a good idea to change it.
As you stated, it was just one. I would listen to what they say, and weigh if their reasons are good enough.
Because they're reading in linear order they only see the comparatively black-and-white event and don't see the more nuanced consequences of it. It touches on a touchy subject (namely, trauma), but it looks at a specific aspect of trauma that is whitewashed or played for laughs in most media and saying it should be changed is the exact response that kind of thing often gets. Nevertheless, I can see why people wouldn't like it. Regardless of whether the idea is good or not, I'm noticing that my mindset is starting to slip towards "it's badwrong" simply because the reviewer said it was bad rather than based on any coherent argument.
If it's important, keep it. As you had said, they only saw the event, not what happened afterwards. It's not good to listen to a judgement that hasn't heard the whole story.
I think if I had an issue where one beta reader hated a particular plot point and wanted it removed and another thought it was great and demand it be kept I would probably short-circuit.
Honestly, same.
But if that happens, just weigh witch critique is better and more of an improvement.
I don't think the problem is any specific plot point, it's that I see it as a symptom that if I made every change beta readers suggested I would end up with a work that doesn't take any risks and loses it's impact. Though at the same time I want to write things that are enjoyable to read rather than making a didactic point.
Then have them read the aftermath too. You'll get better advice that way.
To clarify, I’m not asking how to shut out criticism entirely, claiming that my vision is perfect and must be protected at all costs. This is the entire problem, I know that feedback is critical for improving a novel and ironing out the areas an author might have a blind spot for, but this also makes me liable to incorporate every change someone insists upon regardless of how it affects the plot. But if I bend over backwards to incorporate every change that people ask of me I’ll end up with a bland, unfocused mess, especially if it involves cutting out plot points that set up later conflict.
It's only good to the point that it doesn't break you or the book (Unless if you do have a problem that you can't fix, and it's because of you, then you need to be broken; but if it's not, and you're bending over backwards, then you don't). Here's what to do:
Weigh the critiques. Which ones are the best, the worst, in the middle, etc.? Separate these into groups.
Look at the critiques that were "in the middle." Sort these into the best and worst.
Take a look at the worst. Are there any that you feel would be better? Or are they the same? Move them accordingly.
Take a look at the best. What works? What ones were you wrong about? What would adding these critiques in do to your story?
Once you have gotten the best, now it's time to take one last look: which ones would be useful to the story? Which ones would be good for the plot? Etc.
Incorporate the ones you felt were best.
If you don't like how it turned out, change them.
Hopes this helps.
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