I remember my early critique days. I would get all of these suggestions but I was closed off to them.
I would say, “They don’t understand!” or “This is the only way this story can be told!” or even “What? I’m not doing that!”
It took me a while to realize that my novel is not something rigid.
Novels can change.
Novels are fluid.
I believe in order to grow as a writer, you have to be open to the different avenues your novel can take you during the creation process. You have to be open to new ideas. And ironically some of the suggestions that you react most negatively to are usually the ones you need to give close attention.
For instance, the novel I’m working on started out as a middle-grade with 3rd person POV. I was going to make this happen! I didn’t want to write another novel in 1st person POV. I didn’t want to write YA because I was a MG writer. I fought this for about a year until I realized that my critique partners (God bless them for dealing with my stubbornness) were right.
This novel is stronger because it is a YA with 1st person POV.
Of course, you may not and should not change every idea that is suggested by your readers and/or critique partners. But what you should do is really be open to all possible avenues that your novel can take.
There does come a time when a novel must take a stable form, but until you are finished writing and revising, if something is not quite working or if you are getting suggestions that niggle the back of your mind, give them some serious thought.
Be open to changing your novel.
In the end you’ll end up with stronger writing while learning something in the process as well.
Have any of you changed your novel for the better? Were you stubborn like me or did you embrace the change?
Novels are Fluid
July 21, 2010 Read Comments
Novels are fluid – I love that line!
So true. It takes a while to find the right voice, the right tone for the story. Thankfully we have crit buddies who can see it from a distance :)
Jemi: Isn’t it funny how you too close to see sometimes what needs to be done? And if you’re stubborn like me it takes awhile to realize your novel needs a change. Usually change is good! :)
I embrace the change when I can see it.
I think the more experience the writer the more open they are to change in their stories. Comes with time.
Karen,
I so understand this point about letting your book be fluid! My first manuscript was a 3rd person POV PB. After several difficult critiques, someone said, “We want to connect with the MC but really need to hear her voice. How about trying the story in 1st person?” You would have thought I was told to cut off my hands! I said “thank you” and dismissed the idea in my head. BUT, it stayed with me, and kept coming to the surface. So one day, I sat down and rewrote it in first. OMG! My head was literally spinning with the MC’s voice. And what a difference it made! Now you feel the MC’s anguish. And you know what? I discovered, she had too much to say for a PB. Now it’s becoming a chapter book!
Yes, novels are fluid, and as writers, we must be too.
Laura: So true. The more experience you have as a writer opens up you to looking at your novel at all angles.
Gail: Ah, so you had the same experience as me! One thing I learned from the experience is this: Just try out the suggestion. If it works, great! You’ve learned something. If it doesn’t work, you’ve still learned something. What works and doesn’t work.
But if we hold fast to our original idea and are not open to other suggestions, the novel is what suffers the most.
You’re right, it can be hard in the beginning to open your mind and consider everything a critique has to offer. I’ve done the same thing! But I learned to take a few days to absorb everything that is said and then decide what works and what doesn’t. Great post!