When Laura Munson introduced attendees' readings to the group each
evening, she gave the group a particular thing to listen for and
provide feedback on that would help the writer move forward in her
writing. Each focus was particular for the writer giving her
reading, but the direction was instructive for the entire group.
In my case, Laura asked the group to listen for when they began to
care about my characters. I read the first scene I'd written that
takes Astrid into the mechanic shop. I was nervous. I hadn't shared
this vignette with anyone. I was self-conscious. I know nothing
about cars and now I'm writing about a woman who becomes a mechanic.
I took a deep breath and started reading.
Derrick
pulled the navy Pathfinder into the bay. Astrid stood to the side
taking in her surroundings. It dawned on her that somehow even though
Derrick had built this shop from the ground up nearly ten years ago,
she'd rarely come in here. How exactly was that possible? I guess I
was intimidated and stayed in the customer area, Astrid reasoned with
herself.
Now
she was standing where the magic happened. Where cars came in with
problems and drove away in working order. She wished there was a shop
like that for broken hearts. Pull in, fuse all the fissures, pull out
restored. Tears pricked her eyes. There was no way around it. There
were no easy fixes. Just one damn day at a time.
“Asty,
open the hood will you?” Derrick's request interrupted her
thoughts. Startled, she wiped her tears and walked to the driver's
side. She opened the door and pulled the lever to open the hood.
“First
test passed,” Derrick winked at his sister. “Thank you.” He
motioned for her to join him under the hood. “Would you like me to
introduce you to your car's engine?”
“Sure,”
Astrid said.
“Nissan
Pathfinder engine I'd like to introduce you to your driver, Astrid
Cole. Astrid Cole, please meet your Nissan Pathfinder engine.”
Astrid
giggled and playfully elbowed her brother. “Girl, the better you
take care of this engine, the better it will take care of you. And an
oil change is one of the most important things you can do to preserve
your engine. Can you point out where the dipstick is?”
Astrid
rolled her eyes and pointed accurately to the dipstick. She leaned
forward and pulled the stick out and waved it at her brother. “Watch
it, girl. We don't need any sass. Message received. You know where
the dipstick is. Very good.”
Astrid
looked around.
“What are you looking for?” Derrick asked her.
“I
need a paper towel.”
“Why?”
Derrick was grinning as he realized his sister was showing off.
“I
need it to wipe off the oil. I'll reinsert the stick and determine
what the oil level is.” Derrick walked over to a stand that held
equipment and tore off a sheet of paper towel.
“Here
you go, pro,” Derrick said as he handed her the towel. He watched
her swipe the towel over the oily stick and return it into its place
in the engine. She pulled it out and read the oil level.
“Whoa.
I'd say I'm past due,” Astrid moved the stick in front of her
brother so he could read it. “I guess this is one time where being
heart sick and depressed is good for a car. I haven't driven much, so
I haven't burned up the engine yet.”
Astrid
handed the dipstick to her brother. He took it and replaced it. Then
he gave her a big hug. She hugged him back and then announced, “Well
that concludes what Astrid knows about her car.”
Laura asked for feedback when I finished reading. The women
described moments when they started caring about my characters. I
looked back at the text. They started caring on the first page! I
was humbled, excited, and motivated to keep writing.
They talked to me about how natural my characters were with each
other. I also heard that Derrick was too evolved. That he wouldn't
talk like that. I love Derrick, and found myself slightly defensive.
But I listened and knew she was right.
The feedback from these women echoed what I had received from
friends at home when I'd begun asking others to read. I shared
Astrid with Tammy and her response more than I expected. She loved
Astrid. She wanted more! I kept writing, encouraged that I was
actually achieving this fiction thing. I shared the scene when
Astrid's in-laws surprise her at her condo. Tammy was angry with the
father-in-law and had choice words for him.
Another friend said, “Astrid's hanging out in my head. I can't
stop thinking about her and she's not even my character. I want to
know what happens next.”
And then I shared a somber scene with a co-worker. She e-mailed me.
“I am crying, Julie.” My writing made someone cry? I was taken
aback. Rendered speechless, and so grateful.
Asking for feedback is nerve-wracking, but it's an essential part of
the writing process. Writers have to be intentional about who they
ask for feedback. They also have to learn when the feedback is
helpful (even when it isn't what they want to hear) and when to let
it go.
My writing is consistently better after I have had a trusted friend
read it and make suggestions. The more writers ask for feedback, the
better we'll get at receiving it. And most importantly, the better
our work becomes.
I like the second paragraph in your story. :-)
ReplyDeleteFeedback is indeed nerve-wracking. Kudos for your growth and thank you for sharing. transparently.
ReplyDeleteKaren
It takes a lot of guts to share your "baby" with others. I'm with Romi. The second paragraph is a great metaphor.
ReplyDeleteI'm not that great at receiving feedback--sometimes I get really angry (internally, of course), and it takes a day or two for me to think rationally about the feedback and than I realize there is usually some truth and good advice in the words I hated to read.
ReplyDeleteI am the worst at asking for feedback! I have heard that one of the most important aspects of being a writer is having tough skin (gulp). It sounds like you received some really positive feedback though, so that's awesome!
ReplyDeleteI write professionally in my day job, so I have some practice at having the work I create changed or commented on. This has helped me grow a thicker skin, but I wouldn't say it's thick enough. I am grateful for the positive comments I've received thus far, but I know that the tougher critiques are bound to come as Astrid's story takes shape. I just keep remembering that the harder to hear stuff will make my work better in the end.
ReplyDelete