What
to do when trusted critics give advice that contradicts your sense? Anyone who’s
ever asked for opinion on their work has been there.
Early
on in my writing for publication I turned down an offer to revise and re-submit
from a small publisher. Reason? They wanted a different ending to the story. A perfect
and happy hanky-dory ending didn’t suit the story, I thought. It wound up being
published by another publisher who asked for revisions, but saw the merit of
the ending as it was.
Although
I don’t regret staying with my vision then, I would do it differently now. This
is how I approach revision suggestions today: I try it.
It’s
painful and even feels wrong at times. But I have learned that trying to re-fashion
per others’ suggestions is never a waste.
Best
case scenario: you love the results.
Worst
case scenario: you, and maybe even the suggester, wind up agreeing the
re-direction was a dud. I have learned a lot about my stories when revising,
even with clenched teeth.
Most
likely it will be some combination. But like the Green Eggs and Ham fellow, you will know a whole lot more if you
try it.
Excellent advice, Mirka!
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
ReplyDeleteNailed it, Mirka!
ReplyDeleteBut I do not like green eggs and ham.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
:D
DeleteGreat advice, Mirka!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right. I've gotten edits from my editor and thought she was crazy for what she was suggesting, but later came to see she was absolutely right after I tried out her suggestion. You never know until you try.
ReplyDeleteRight on! Sometimes it works, sometimes not. But if you don't try you'll never know...
ReplyDeleteAlways good advice to try. And also to sit on the advice for a few days (keeps it nice and warm!) before deciding what to do about it.
ReplyDeleteYes. That's great. I find that if I take a breath and just try to the suggestion I often like it and if I don't, nothing lost.
ReplyDeleteNo harm in trying. I often rewrite sections trying out first person vs. third, past tense vs. present, etc. Reading the excerpts aloud tells the tale pretty quickly, I find.
ReplyDeleteOh, I like this, Mirka. Being open to options can only do us well, and if in the end we don't like the options, we'd be even more sure of our original ending/scene.
ReplyDelete