Russell Kirkpatrick's Journal
Dealing with Feedback
20-Nov-2006
You're not as great a writer as you think you are in your most optimistic moments, nor are you as bad as you fear in your most pessimistic moments. The truth is somewhere in between.
So when I get rave reviews or a gushing email from a fan, I'm pleased but I don't take it to heart. The same goes for entirely negative reviews (I've had them - 'Waikato's answer to Tolkien', or 'cookie-cutter fantasy').
So when I get feedback like that sent to me today by Gillian Polack (hi Gillian), I'm delighted. Gillian is a writer from Canberra to whom i sent a pre-publication copy of Path of Revenge.
Gillian explained what she liked about Path of Revenge and why. She talked about how it made her feel. Then she talked about the development in my writing since the first trilogy, and the things I do well, in her view.
With this thoughtful and personal analysis she's earned the right to critique the work, and she does to great effect. She outlines my struggles with POV, fleshing out minor characters and various other issues.
The care Gilian showed made me cry. I'm very happy to receive such thoughtful critiques. Be assured that I will be vigilant to apply Gillian's thoughts to my future efforts.
I say this because I'm not a fan of the 'destroy the aspiring author' school of criticism. Supposedly being extremely harsh on a manuscript is good for the author, somehow. As though there's only one personality type among authors. I'm thankful there are people like Gillian.
Yes, Gillian, I will say this to your face next time I see you :)
Thank you, Russell.
I've mentoring, training and managing adults for a number of years and I would never consider handing out the sort of bagging that some attendees talk about. I would consider it the mark of a poor teacher carrying a large chip on their shoulder.
It's the sort of thing that leaks into cultures. When I was doing my ICU training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital we created a motto for the training school, I can't remember the Latin but is was " A good nurse is one who can always find fault with his/her peers." I think there is an acceptance of this kind thinking amongst many writers.
Anyway, cheers to you Gillian for being one of the good guys and cheers to you Russell for outing her.
Remember, Linda, I could turn you into a slug :)
Exactly, Cameron. Part of effective teaching is learning when to employ criticism and when to use praise.
Nicole, if I'd known about Gillian's skills I would have gone knocking at her door years ago ...
It's great that Gillian could give you feedback. She's a good girl (now she'll smack me). But I like Gillian's smarts.
Writers would be sunk fifty fathoms deep without the fabulous feedback from beta readers, and others. I think we owe them an enormous debt of thanks!