That One Jerk
September 17, 2020 4:20 am Leave your thoughts
This post is inspired by the pic above, found in an online writer’s group.
Some well-known authors are celebrated because writing isn’t something everyone can do. You know what I mean, I’m not referring to the scratchy shopping list you left on the counter, I mean WRITE. Mentioned here, sometimes other people aren’t inclined to write, busy or had other goals in their life and are not pursuing what you are. When someone can do something you can’t (for whatever reason) it becomes not only the intended entertainment, but also an appreciation for skill. Even if someone doesn’t gel entirely with the content, it’s the hope they can at least appreciate the artform.
When King of Spades hit stores, a few people I knew who were either not fiction readers or into supernatural genres picked it up anyway. These people did so to support me (I assume) and were curious even though they knew the book wouldn’t exactly be their style. I received positive feedback from every one of these people. I think the novel is a good story/plot (especially in this political and social climate) but also because the people who decided to read it, probably appreciated the humourous parts and turns of phrase.
At the point where a book is published, been through rounds of edits, beta readers etc, it is not the time to give your feedback in a way that you feel you would be telling the author what they shoulda, coulda, woulda done. It’s about the overall feel you took away from the completed book or talk about the parts which stood out for you and why. There’s no longer a point giving criticisms, even if it’s genuinely constructive or helpful – the book is complete. It is what it is. And just because you know them, doesn’t give you an allowance to think your personal opinion counts enough for them to overhaul the book, pay to have it re-issued etc
A review is different.
If you’re relaying an opinion you formed after reading the book, totally fine. But I’ve noticed a lot of people on social media author’s groups lament peers, friends, relatives and family can be disrespectful when it comes to their work, mostly because they think they can. A lot of people seem to still be in the frame of mind that just because a work was indie published, that it’s somehow not worth the respect of traditionally published books. That is a whole other blog post, but for now, I’ll just say that the differences between trad and indie seem to rely on advances of money for sales that have not yet come to pass but also negatives like being unable to choose elements on your cover/ how your book is marketed while also being open to major changes a publisher or editor deems fit. 
If you have a talent, a good story to tell and some time to piece it together, there is no reason why you shouldn’t just do it. That is why the pic at the top of this post bothers me.
So…They literally said that to you? Wow.
To begin with, if they used the term “completely shit,” they probably lack the vocabulary and intellectual prowess to actually have understood your book on any sort of acceptable level. Their interpretation probably isn’t worth much if they can’t supply at least some adjectives they learned in third grade.
One jerk? One jerk is okay. A few are okay. When it gets to where the majority who read your work are making valid criticisms is when you need to pay attention. If many of your reviews complain about grammatical errors (for eg.) maybe you could take some of those criticisms on board.
Was it a random comment? The internet has it all. It has positive and negative and it is Pandora’s box. Sometimes fuckhead trolls live in that box. There are people who will literally wait until someone writes “the sky is blue” only to reply with something implying that it’s racist or it’s actually RED at certain times of the year or during an eclipse etc. You are always going to come across people who are angry, bored, high or other who just want to throw a spanner in the works to get you off your game. Why? I dunno. Maybe it gives them a sense of power or entertainment. Again, some are just fuckheads.
Did you know the person who said that to you? Was it someone you’re related to or know IRL? When I was an older teen and writing more songs, a sibling would openly come into my room and tell me to STFU and that I sucked, knowing I had won competitions and indeed did not suck lol. Their words were usually to annoy me or to get me to be quiet because they wanted to sleep. Did they mean it? Probably not but if you have a person close to you who thinks it’s appropriate to tell you that your work is “completely shit,” they have other motivation and it’s probably not actually about your work. On the flipside, you may have an overbearing best friend or parent or partner who thinks you need to hear their weird opinion and consider it, even though it comes from a personal place and they might not have any knowledge about writing or your genre, demographic etc.
They might be one of those people who read your work about a bank heist and say something like “You know what that needed though? Like right when they come out of the bank with the money, they should like…see a chicken crossing the road. That would’ve been cool, like a metaphor or even kind of humour would have made it better.”
Ok.
People forget that when you wear the Writer Hat, they need to back the f off because even you barely have control. For me, when that Writer’s hat is on…nothing but the potential story is considered. (That’s what first drafts are for.) I’ve found that staying mostly true to my vision has served me well. I was told not to end the first book on a cliffhanger for eg. My vision was to have the series continue after that so to me, it is working. If you have an idea and a plan, other people’s suggestions could probably be considered but maybe not acted on.
Other criticisms and suggestions come from people who have no.idea. about.writing...are PINCH OF SALT category. I have a friend, bless him, he is coming from a genuine place, but he suggests strategies that I know work for the industries he is in but will fall flat in an author’s world. I appreciate his suggestions and information but if you know the industry or even just knowing your own plans, you need to make a call on just how much you choose to listen to when they talk.
Consider feedback, see if it’s true, if a scene is slow or your grammar is needing a tweak but aside from that, if someone says your work is “completely shit,” move on. It’s not even worth the headspace trying to figure it out.
TLDR
*Some people don’t know what they’re talking about, be careful whose advice you take!
*People troll
*If they offer nothing, ignore them.
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