Reaction into Action: How to Turn Negative Feedback Around
We writers tend to swaddle our stories up like newborns. We develop them to the best of our ability and send them out into the world begging publishing professionals to tell us they’re perfect. Rarely does that happen. Even in cases where they like (or love) our babies, we get feedback that outlines everything wrong with the apples of our eye. This type of feedback is the double-edged sword of being the most hurtful, and the most helpful. It’s easy to respond to the hurt without appreciating the help.
If negative feedback makes you want to pull your hair out, trust me, you’re not alone.
Responding to Negative Feedback
I’m not proud to admit that a recent query rejection made me cry. I have twelve years of querying, more than a hundred rejections (but who’s counting?), and four published books under my belt. My career in publishing has had way more successes than “failures.” But I cried last month. It wasn’t even a form rejection. The agent did me a huge favor and gave me actionable advice.
I spent weeks whining about how their advice would have been such an easy fix and how they should have just agreed to represent me, and then we could have worked on that one tiny issue together.
Like I said, I am not proud.
Here’s the thing – they took the time to tell me how to make my story stronger for the next submission.
I wallowed in the “no” without considering the “go.”
Here’s how to not be like me:
Turning reaction into action
Strengthen your story
Remember, it’s personal to you but it’s not personal to them. It’s really not. Worse case scenario (and this will seem horrid), they hate your book and they tell you all the reasons why. You hate books. Books that other people love, even. Publishing is subjective. Craft development is not. Use the feedback to identify weak areas and fix them. For example, if you’ve been told your beloved protagonist isn’t compelling, read through your manuscript again making sure they have clear(er) goals, present them with (more interesting) obstacles, and have them change/grow throughout the narrative.
2. Edit for clarity
Resist the urge to assume the reader “just didn’t get it.” Ask yourself why they didn’t get it. Is it possible your execution wasn’t effective? If there’s been a misunderstanding, maybe your words lack clarity. If an editor is totally off-base on the theme of your narrative, perhaps you made a strong showing of your theme at the outset, but let your message slide as your storytelling progresses. Consistency is key. I do not mean to say your themes must be blaring or overly obvious. Subtlety is beautiful. But do not be so obscure that your themes are misunderstood or missed entirely.
3. Take a break
If you find yourself fuming or feeling despondent after reading through editorial feedback, put the feedback away and put your work away. You might need time to absorb, process, and heal. Give yourself that. Read some comparative titles, start working on your next project, or take your dog for a very long walk. Weeks long, even.
4. … And a breather
A response is not necessary. And, if your feedback comes from an agent or editor, in most cases a response is not appropriate. If it’s from an editing service, a critique partner or a friend, always wait at least twenty-four hours, read the feedback again, and wait another twenty-four hours. And another.
5. Check your response
The type of response matters. Follow-up questions are okay. An assault on the feedback is not (see #1). An assault on the interpretation of your work is also not okay (see #2).
6. Take your time
Do not simply open your document and start adopting every single suggestion as if the feedback is a to-do list of tasks to be checked off. Editing needs to be intentional. Some changes will have a domino effect, presenting the need for other changes to happen or entire sections to be deleted or developed. Take your time on this. Once again, consistency is key.
7. Go Deeper
On the flip side, don’t just do the bare minimum, adopting the changes you think you can live with, or the easy fixes. Consider every single suggestion with an open mind. For example, if you’ve been told some of your scenes don’t drive the narrative, don’t just delete those scenes. Analyze where you’ve missed an opportunity to show growth, motivations, or conflict through action or dialogue. If you are going for funny and you’ve been told you’re not that funny, don’t give up by taking the humor fails out. Try to go deeper by working harder on that aspect of your craft. Did I mention consulting mentor texts?
8. Get Back to Basics
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of suggestions you’ve been tasked with, start with the easy stuff. Sentence structure, misspellings and other grammar corrections are a good place to get reacquainted with your work. It’s possible that as you read through certain scenes independent of the whole, you will have epiphanies on the big stuff. Your brain is brewing the whole pot again and again, as you sift through the grounds.
9. Try Something new
Even if a suggestion feels impossible, try it. Sometimes someone on the outside can offer a perspective you hadn’t considered or see a bigger picture you’re not able to since you’re “inside” the work. For example, if you’re told that a secondary character is actually more compelling than your main character, try writing a chapter or two from the other characters’ perspective. You might surprise yourself by how excited you get developing the sidekick character. A story that’s just okay from one point of view might become an alternating point of view masterpiece.
10. Stay True to Yourself
Ultimately, it’s your story. Never accept suggestions that you feel would compromise your overarching message, or you as a person. For example, there are agents/editors/people out there that have narrowminded perspectives on cultures/identities they are not familiar with. Always refuse to accept stereotypes or expectations that diminish your lived experience.
Now, GO!
We’re editors here, but we’re also writers, and we feel your pain! You don’t have to go through this process alone. Join our community of writers at Good Story Learning.
