For me it's critical voice always trying to butt in. Your advice to counter it with "but what if I write a story that isn't authentic" resonates with me. It's the shield I hold up to protect myself--and the story!--from the badgering.
The reward is being transported to that other world and returning with their story. Nothing like it!
The authenticity thing is pivotal, but even that can get interesting feedback from readers. Where one person will say something like "that person would NEVER actually act like that or say that", another will gush about how genuine that character's words/actions were, based on their own experiences. So even when we make authenticity our priority, there will be readers who decide it's not authentic or realistic. No matter what, we can't please everyone, and there are a LOT of readers out there who can't see beyond the walls of their tiny boxes of understanding.
A critique a friend of mine got years ago comes to mind - wherein the critic said that my friend's hero was "too talkative". She tried to strike out almost every single word of his dialogue through the entire novel and replaced it with little more grunts, headshakes, nods, or blank stares. I told my friend that gal obviously doesn't know men who actually SPEAK, like many of the ones I know. LOL I don't know if that was a cultural thing or what, but I know very few men who are as uncommunicative as she wanted my friend's hero to be. Needless to say, my friend completely ignored the critic's feedback.
Exactly. What's important isn't that the reader "thinks' a character or story is authentic, but that we write it authentically, remaining true to the characters and the story. I don't write what others want to read. I write what happens. Then others can decide whether they want to read it, believe it, etc.
A good reminder. Been battling an illness the past month which knocked me out of my writing routine. Getting back on the horse has been a challenge, but I'm starting to make small progress. Thanks for the reminder, Harvey.
Nicely explained. Emphasis on authenticity. What an author is all about
Thanks, George, for taking in the light of my intentions. And thanks for the comment.
For me it's critical voice always trying to butt in. Your advice to counter it with "but what if I write a story that isn't authentic" resonates with me. It's the shield I hold up to protect myself--and the story!--from the badgering.
The reward is being transported to that other world and returning with their story. Nothing like it!
"Nothing like it." Absolutely, KC. Wonderful, isn't it? But so many won't even 'risk' trying it. Sigh.
Thanks, Harvey. A provocative post. Thanks also for the Twain quote (new to me) and the plug for my newsletter.
You're welcome. Thanks for the comment.
The authenticity thing is pivotal, but even that can get interesting feedback from readers. Where one person will say something like "that person would NEVER actually act like that or say that", another will gush about how genuine that character's words/actions were, based on their own experiences. So even when we make authenticity our priority, there will be readers who decide it's not authentic or realistic. No matter what, we can't please everyone, and there are a LOT of readers out there who can't see beyond the walls of their tiny boxes of understanding.
A critique a friend of mine got years ago comes to mind - wherein the critic said that my friend's hero was "too talkative". She tried to strike out almost every single word of his dialogue through the entire novel and replaced it with little more grunts, headshakes, nods, or blank stares. I told my friend that gal obviously doesn't know men who actually SPEAK, like many of the ones I know. LOL I don't know if that was a cultural thing or what, but I know very few men who are as uncommunicative as she wanted my friend's hero to be. Needless to say, my friend completely ignored the critic's feedback.
Exactly. What's important isn't that the reader "thinks' a character or story is authentic, but that we write it authentically, remaining true to the characters and the story. I don't write what others want to read. I write what happens. Then others can decide whether they want to read it, believe it, etc.
A good reminder. Been battling an illness the past month which knocked me out of my writing routine. Getting back on the horse has been a challenge, but I'm starting to make small progress. Thanks for the reminder, Harvey.
Always welcome, Frank. Thanks for leaving a comment.
I can't really add anything to the well written comments which I agree with!
*slow clap*
Thanks, Tiff. And thanks for commenting.