Why Getting Some Negative Reviews Can Be Positive

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

My latest book, Rebellious Heart released on September 15th. Like most authors, I can't resist taking a peek at my reviews from time to time to see how the book is being received by readers. I snapped a picture of a recent total (above). Yes, I have a couple of two star reviews.

Obviously most writers would prefer to wow the socks off our readers with each book we put out there. I don't know a single author who likes negative reviews. In fact, most authors I know would prefer to get five stars all the time. Some authors even get mildly irritated at four star reviews and have been known to question a friend or family member for leaving anything less than five stars.

However, over the past few years of having five books published, I've realized it's completely unrealistic to expect to always get five star reviews. I've realized authors only set themselves up for disappointment if they expect mostly positives. I can't tell you how many authors I've heard lament (mostly privately) about a the hurt a low-rated review has caused them.

And as tough as those reviews can be, I'm learning to let them roll off my back.

In fact, I've even come to the conclusion that getting some negative reviews can be a positive thing. Here are three reasons why authors can benefit from having a mixture of reviews:

 

1. A mixture of positives & negatives makes the reviews more reliable.

Readers will be more trusting of reviews that contain both positives and negatives versus a whole slew of five-star. When readers see mostly five-stars, they may begin to wonder if the author somehow "stacked the deck."

The negatives keep the reviews real and more reliable in the readers' eyes. They rationalize, "If readers can be honest about the negative, then they're honest with the positive too." Thus, the negative adds credibility to all the reviews.

2. A mixture of reviews can stir curiosity in the reader. 

For example, one of my recent reviews for Rebellious Heart gave the book two stars and said: "RATED R: Violent/Disturbing Images." A couple other reviews marked down the book because it had too much romance. One reviewer said: "This was the worst type of historical romance fiction as it had way more romance than I like in any other historical fiction I have read."

Another reviewer who gave me three stars on Goodreads said: "I will say, that for a romance, I liked it. It was quite well-written, and fast-paced, with danger and smuggling and the turmoil of a country on the edge of a revolution. It’s not my favorite genre ever, so that’s probably why I didn’t enjoy Rebellious Heart so much, but I am sure that if you like romances, you’ll love this one."

It's precisely those kinds of statements that can spark curiosity. Someone else reading the review might say, "Hmmm, I like romance. So if that reader thinks it has too much, then it might just be the kind of book I like."

What one person dislikes might be exactly what another person loves in a story.

3. A mixture of reviews pushes the author to keep improving. 

As much as I'd like to write a perfect book, I haven't accomplished that yet! Negative reviews keep us from becoming complacent. They remind us that we still have room for improvement, that we still need to keep learning and honing my skills. And sometimes those reviews even contain morsels of feedback that we can take away and apply to our next novel.

Negative reviews also keep us from taking ourselves so seriously. If we can chuckle to ourselves about our book being rated R rather than getting angry, then we ease the stress and keep from becoming overly discouraged.

So dear writers, next time you get a negative review, keep it in perspective. Accept it. Don't wish it away. And realize even the negatives have a place in the writer's life too.

If you were to get a scathing review (or have already gotten one) how do you think it would make you feel? How would you handle it? 

When Should Writers Get Critiques?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Recently a newer writer asked me when she should start searching out critiques for her manuscript.

Her question brought to mind two separate issues regarding getting feedback:

When is the right time in the life of an author to start soliciting feedback from others? Should a writer send off a first book? Or should they wait until they've written a couple of books before looking for a critique partner or garnering outside feedback? Are there benefits to waiting?

And when is the right time in the life of a book to send it out for critiques? Should a writer pass it along to beta readers or critique partners right after finishing the first draft? Should she solicit feedback before doing her own self-editing? Or should she do the re-writing first, and then ask for critiques?

I'll give you my thoughts on both issues, then you'll have to fill me in on your opinions in the comments!

1. When is the right time in the life of an author to start soliciting feedback from other writers or editors?

I believe newer writers need to be careful about getting critiques too soon in their writing careers. The wrong kind of feedback (or too much) can overly-discourage and crush the writerly spirit. Usually our first couple of manuscripts are full of problems. And rightly so. We're still learning and growing in our writing skill.

In hindsight I'm relieved I never solicited feedback on my first couple of manuscripts. They were riddled with mistakes–backstory dumps, passive verbs, clichéd descriptions, etc. If another writer would have ripped apart my manuscript at that point, I'm not sure that I would have had the strength or desire to keep going. I would have felt terrible, like I had no potential or talent.

Instead, ignorance was bliss. I kept writing, and of course, kept studying how to become a better writer. With each book, I continued to improve, so that over time I could see problems in those earlier books for myself.

I encourage newer writers to set aside their first manuscript (or two) for a while and work on a new book. Then come back to the book in six months to a year. By that point, you'll have gained objectivity and hopefully some new skills that will help you self-edit the book again. (Or perhaps you'll find like I did that the books will need to be completely re-written to be worthwhile.)

2. When is the right time in the life of a book to send it out for critiques?

This is a question I've struggled through. And while I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, a little planning can save some time and effort (and frustration!).

The first step of any editing process is to get big-picture feedback. At this stage we can look for beta readers or someone knowledgeable of our genre to give an over-arching critique–what works and what doesn't as far as plot lines and character development.

I've learned the hard way, that it doesn't really make any sense (and is essentially a waste of time) to line-edit a manuscript before doing rewrites. Why pour our attention into the commas at this stage when large chunks will be added or deleted?

After making rewrites on the bigger problem issues, then it's time to focus on getting a more detailed critique of the smaller details. That means checking for repetitious words, historical accuracy, setting and sensory details, varying sentence structure, etc. A good critique partner (particularly another writer) can be helpful in pointing out these kinds of details.

Then finally, before a book goes to print, every writer needs to have a skilled editor (or two) comb through the manuscript for copy edits. This is the stage for nit-picking, for finding every jot and tittle that's wrong.

In other words, in the editing process make sure to go in order from macro-edits down to micro. Sometimes you may even have to do each a couple of times before moving on to the next level.

And when asking someone for a critique, be sure to specify what level of feedback you're looking for so that they know where to focus (i.e. big picture versus details).

Those are my opinions! Now I'd love to hear yours! When do you think is the right time in the life of an author to start soliciting feedback from others? And when do you think is the right time in the life of a book to get input?

***********************************************************
Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate the release of A Noble Groom last week! I had one of my daughters draw the names of the winners for the two autographed books. And the winners are: Shelly Daum and Marissa Mehresman. Congratulations! I'll be in touch with you soon!

The Unnecessary Shame Writers Feel When Getting Feedback

Source for Image

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I used to get embarrassed every time I allowed someone to edit one of my manuscripts. I'd feel so stupid when they'd mark obvious things. I think to myself, "Wow, I can't believe I missed THAT. They must wonder if my seven year old daughter wrote it."

I felt even worse when I'd get macro-edits back from my publisher, the pages of big-picture notes that delineate all the many flaws in plot and character development. In fact, every time I'd get those notes from my editor, I'd say something like, "I'm a terrible writer. I can't believe my publisher ever signed me since I obviously can't write a decent story."

The truth is most of us feel a lot of shame when we get feedback on our manuscripts. The negative messages start playing through our minds at top speed. We begin to second-guess our abilities, wonder why readers and publishers would be willing to take a chance on us, and may even feel like giving up all together.

Slowly, I'm learning that such shame is unwarranted. No matter our skill level, no matter how many years we've been writing, no matter how many books we have under our belts, all writers need help with editing and usually lots of it.

Let me say it again. ALL writers need help with editing. No one is exempt. Not even experienced, bestselling authors.

Every writer needs outside assistance in making a book worthy for readers. There's no shame in admitting we make mistakes. It's natural and normal for our books to have flaws, sometimes many.

Here are a few truths I've come to accept:

1. No writer can get a story perfect the first time.

No matter how slowly and carefully I write, no matter how much research I do before I start, I still cannot put out a perfect story.

Just this past weekend I finished writing my thirteenth full length novel. And even though I think the first draft of this latest novel is fairly clean, I know I'll have plenty of editing to do once I get outside feedback on it. I already have notes in the margin for all the changes I need to make, but objective eyes will always find more ways to make the story better.

My point is, that even after completing twelve previous novels, I still haven't written a book that's worthy of publication in first draft format. It's unrealistic to think that all the words of a full length novel (usually somewhere between 60,000 to 100,000) will fit together in absolute union, that dozens of characters, themes, and plot threads will weave together without any bumps or loose threads.

2. Writers can't see their story the way the audience does. 

Lately as I write, I've been comparing myself to a puppet-master directing a play behind the scenes. I'm dangling all my characters on the stage, trying to keep them acting as they should without getting tangled. I'm paying attention to the background, the transitions, and the one-thousand-and-one other details that need to happen in the story.

The fact is, from my position, I just can't view the story with the same kind of objectivity and perspective that those sitting in the audience can. I'm too enmeshed in every nuance to be able to let go and see it with the freshness that can give me the critical feedback on whether everything's working together from start to finish as it should.

3. Writers need to love the vision they have for their stories and not the words.

I saw the above image on Pinterest and it really resonated. When I got my rewrites on my first published book, and I realized just how many changes my publisher wanted me to make, I was flabbergasted. I couldn't keep from wondering why they'd given me a contract when there were so many things wrong with my story.

Since then, I've realized that agents, editors, and other writing professionals, aren't signing writers who have perfect stories. Far from it. Of course they're able to spot writers who have honed the craft, know how to tell a good story, and can put it all together.

But in addition to that, they can see the vision of the story's potential. And a good editor will help impart that vision to the author. An author must hold the heart of the story in her hand, but be willing to let the words slip through her fingers.

My Summary: If I ever reach a point where an editor tells me I've produced a perfect first draft, then I know I need to solicit further feedback (or a new editor!). Because there's no such thing as a book not needing editing.

What about you? Have you ever felt like a terrible writer after getting feedback? How hard or easy is for you to be in love with the vision of the story but not with the words?

What to Do When People Don't Get Your Story

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Reviews are starting to roll in for my newest book, Unending Devotion, which officially released on Saturday, September 1.

I always hold my breath when I click on a blog review or other reader review sites. Because I never know what to expect. The book may resonate with some readers. But then others . . . well, not so much. In fact, sometimes the reviews are outright contradictory.

For example, one reader said this about Unending Devotion, "This was Hedlund's best book so far." Another said, "Good but not Hedlund's best."

Over the past few years, I've come to accept the contradictions and even the fact that some readers won't like my books at all. Every author gets mixed reviews. Even the very best authors of the very best books have readers who really love the book and readers who couldn't stand it.

If you've ever been involved in a critique partnership, entered a contest, or asked beta readers for input, you may have experienced the same kind of dichotomy—having some who adored your story and others who couldn't seem to find anything nice to say about it.

And your gut reaction might be a big, resounding, "HUH?!?" It's always hard to make sense of how people can view the same story with such varying opinions.

On the one hand, it's incredibly rewarding when someone really "gets" your story, when they understand the theme or the characters or the symbolism. When someone else connects to your story, you're filled with a "this is why I write" joy.

But when someone doesn't "get" our story, we can't help but wonder why? What happened? Did we really do something wrong? Or is the negative opinion just that—an opinion.

So what do we do when a critique partner, friend, or book reviewer doesn't like what we've written?

Recently a friend emailed me with that very problem. She said her critique partner (of two years) had read through her latest manuscript, and when she got the document back it was peppered with cynical, snarky comments that hurt her feelings (which is the makings of another post entirely—because anytime we critique for someone else, we need to stay as kind AND professional as possible while maintaining honesty.)

The bottom line is that my friend didn't feel like her CP "got" her story.

So who's at fault? Did the manuscript have legitimate problems? Or was the CP being too subjective and interjecting too much of herself into the reading?

I believe the answer is "a little bit of both."

1. Many times our readers DO have legitimate concerns. If something doesn't resonate with a reader or especially multiple readers, we need to ask ourselves why. If we're writing stories we hope others will enjoy (versus simply writing for our own pleasure), then we'll need to continually try to understand what our target readers like the most.

I'm still learning how to please my genre readers. I look at what seems to work for other popular authors within my genre, asking myself what they did that resonated with their readers and how I can apply that to my own unique style of writing. I'm not copying them, but I'm studying reader expectations for my genre and attempting to discover what kinds of techniques give readers the best reading experience.

2. But our readers are subjective too. We're all unique and thus have different reading tastes. Someone may like that my new book is centered around white slavery and others may be completely turned off by such a serious topic. Some readers may appreciate that my book is filled with page after page of drama, while others might want a slower pace. Some might like a feisty heroine, while some might not be able to relate to her.

One of the best ways to determine what's subjective is to have a really good grasp of our genres. We should read and study everything being published within our genres. Then we can become intimately familiar with the techniques that are essential and what things are more negotiable.

For example, romances are most satisfying when the relational tension is kept high throughout the book. Readers count on a happily-ever-after. They want to know the couple will eventually get together, but readers don't want the couple to get together too soon. They want to be kept guessing how the couple will overcome all the obstacles keeping them apart.

My Summary: We can't always please everyone with our stories. But our goal should be to reach a point where we're pleasing as many of our readers as possible.

How about you? Have you experienced contradictory feedback on your writing? How did you determine which feedback to follow?

*Photo Credit: flickr CollegeDegrees360

_____________________________________________________________

Want to learn some of my deepest, darkest secrets? ;-) During the month of September, I'll be sharing secrets about myself during my "Fun Secrets" Blog Tour. On each blog stop, I'll also be giving away a signed copy of my newest release, Unending Devotion:

Wednesday, Sept. 5: Secret #3: My participation in a history-making moment. Deanna Rupp’s blog

Friday, Sept. 7: Secret #4: My hardest life experience so far. Katie Ganshert’s blog

For a list of all my secrets, check out my Events Page!

2 Tests That Can Help Writers Sort Through Feedback

One of the biggest problems we writers encounter is knowing how to sift through feedback we receive from contest judges, critique partners, or beta readers.

Writers often fall into one of several camps when it comes to dealing with feedback. 

The first camp consists of those who look at every comment, criticism, and comma and rush off to make each change—even if they don’t agree with everything—because they’ve been told over and over that writers are too subjective with their own work. So they bite their tongues and trust the feedback will help them improve.

A second camp comprises those who glance at feedback with (over) confident eyes. They walk away from it, tossing out every piece of advice they don’t like, determining not to let anyone else mess with their voice. They get angry, defensive, or hurt when the feedback becomes too challenging.

There is a third camp of writers. The writers in this group are humble enough to know they need help polishing their stories. They realize the benefit of the right kind of feedback, and they’re willing to accept it. But they’re also strong enough not to bend to every whim of every piece of advice they get.

How do we find that middle ground?  How can we move to a place of humble confidence as we sort through feedback?

Here are two tests we can use:

  1. Determine if the feedback is objective or subjective.

We often assume that all feedback is subjective. But I’m going to say that’s not true—even if doing so stirs up controversy. I believe there are basic fiction-writing techniques that are NOT subjective. These are the kinds of principles every aspiring writer should spend some time learning (here’s my Pinterest board of the writing books I’ve found most helpful).

Yes, I believe there are some objective basics. And those objective techniques are generally smaller scale issues. If you’re getting feedback that says you have stilted dialog, lack of setting details, problems showing versus telling, issues with head-hopping, or any other 101 basic fiction-writing techniques, then you should pay attention, because those techniques aren’t usually negotiable. We’ll need to take that feedback to heart and look at how we can improve.

On the other hand, macro-level or bigger story issues tend to be more subjective. If the feedback questions your plot development, character arcs, conflict, opening hook, message, etc., then I suggest evaluating the feedback much more carefully. Every reader (contest judge, agent, editor, etc.) will view the bigger picture elements with varying degrees of subjectivity. When we get this kind of feedback we need to be careful about rushing off to make changes and instead use the next test:

  2. Determine the knowledge level of the person giving the feedback.

I give the most weight to my editors at Bethany House (my publisher). Not only are they top-notch editors who excel in their editing skills, but they also make it their job to know what pleases my readers. When they give me their advice on subjective changes I should make within my stories, I realize they’re trying to help me shape my book into something my readers will love. Therefore I make most of their recommended macro-level changes.

I also give a great deal of weight to what my agent says since she has her pulse on the industry (and my agent also happens to be a skillful editor).

How much weight should we give feedback from contest judges? This will depend upon the qualifications of the judges. If most are multi-published, award-winning authors who write in our genre, then they’ll probably offer good subjective feedback. But if they’re a mixture of types of writers or we don’t know their qualifications, then we should evaluate their big picture suggestions more carefully.

How much weight should we give the feedback coming from critique partners/groups? Again, this will depend on how much writing experience the partners have. How intimately do they know our genre specifications? How in tune are they with readers? The more skilled they are, and the more they know about our genre, then the more helpful their feedback will be.

How much weight should we give beta readers (who I usually classify as non-writing readers)? Obviously, we don’t want to ignore our readers. If we’re consistently disappointing them, getting lots of poor to mediocre reviews, or we’re finding that the story doesn’t resonate with multiple readers, then we’d be wise to evaluate the feedback.

Summary: Most writers with a minimal amount of writing skill can offer suggestions on technique—on the objective basics. But it takes much more knowledge of genre, reader needs, and story elements to make suggestions for those larger, more subjective changes.

In any case, before accepting subjective feedback, I recommend looking for similarities among multiple critiques. If we start to see common threads emerging, then we have a clue that we may need to place more emphasis on that particular feedback.

How about you? Have you ever had trouble sorting through feedback? Do you have any tests or methods for deciding what feedback to accept and what to reject?

Why We Need to Put Our Books to Bed

Every book we write needs a good night’s sleep. Once we finish writing and tweaking and shining it up as best we can, then it’s time to put that baby to bed.

Over the past few years, I’ve come to realize the enormous benefit of taking a break from a manuscript before pushing it down the publication pipeline.

In traditional publication, there’s usually a built-in waiting period. The timeframe can range anywhere from six months to a year or more from when an author turns in a completed manuscript to the in-house editor until the time it actually hits shelves.

For example, I turned in a completed manuscript, A Noble Groom, to my publisher in January of this year. But the book won’t release until next spring of 2013. That’s over a year from when I completed it until it gets into readers’ hands.

Over the past couple of months my Bethany House editor has read the book. And he’s also passed it around the office for other editors to read. Once a team of editors has read the book, they’ll compile a list of changes for me to make, the first edits (aka rewrites) of many that I’ll get over the coming months.

While many writers decry the lengthy timeframe that accompanies traditional publication, I for one have found some benefits to the wait. The biggest benefit is that I’m forced to put some distance between myself and my manuscript.

Yes, I have to give my book a good night’s sleep.

And why exactly do I see that as a benefit?

Here are just a few reasons:

1. A good night’s sleep gives us fresh perspective.

The biggest benefit to having some time away from our book is that we gain objectivity. After many weeks (perhaps even several months) apart, we can see our work with clearer eyes. The problems we missed during the first round of editing are suddenly glaring.

2. A good night’s sleep helps us let go easier.

I’ve also found that I’m not quite so attached to my words after the break. I can cut and delete with abandon. I usually open a new word document and paste all of my deletions into it. Not only can I then easily retrieve them if I need them elsewhere in the document, but saving the deletions reassures me that my words—that I once labored over so diligently—are still there, just not in my book anymore.

3. A good night’s sleep gives us renewed energy.

Usually by the time I’m done writing a book, I’m worn out, I’m ready to be done with the story, and I’m tempted rush through my editing. The weeks away from manuscript gives me a fresh burst of energy for the story that I didn’t have before, as if I’m waking up refreshed, ready to tackle the big issues with more vigor.

4. A good night’s sleep can help us grow.

During my time away from a book, I brush up on a writing craft book or two, and I review some of the writing lessons I needed to remember. I also start a new story, and in the process of writing another book and stretching myself, I grow even more so that I’m able to apply what I'm learning when I go back to edit the older book.

5. A good night’s sleep helps us handle the criticism better.

If my kids are upset about something late at night before bed, I usually tell them that we’ll wait to discuss it until the morning. It’s never a good idea to argue or have important discussions when you’re tired. We usually only make things worse.

And the same is true with our writing. When we take a step back from our writing and refresh ourselves, then we’re better able to handle the constructive criticism we get from critique partners or editors. Sometimes I find that when I let feedback settle for some time, I’m able to mull it over, come to terms with it better, and then apply it with more enthusiasm.

My Summary: Whether traditionally or self-published, writers should wisely consider how much rest they’ve given their books before pushing them toward publication. Often we're in such a hurry to get our books out there, we miss out on the benefits that a good night’s sleep does for our manuscripts.

How much of a break do you usually give your manuscripts before going back to editing them? Days, weeks, months? And if you’re not giving yourself objective distance from your manuscript, why? What’s your hurry?

P.S. The Doctor's Lady is currently ON SALE on Kindle for only $2.99 as part of Amazon's "The Big Deal" through March 25. Snag a copy while you can!

What to Do With Contradictory Feedback (And 2 Star Reviews)

At some point every author will get contradictory feedback—from contest judges, critique partners, editors, readers, etc. It’s inevitable. Someone will say something completely opposite of someone else. And we can only scratch our heads and say, “Huh?”

I’m always fascinated to compare those contradictions. I browsed through the 90 Amazon reviews on The Doctor’s Lady (released Sept. 1) and picked out just a few of the more obvious contradictions: (emphasis is mine)

About the romance:

“The scenes where the husband and wife are falling in love with each other are a little intense. Nothing vulgar or across any lines, but enough to make me blush at times.”

“I soured on inspirational romance in part because I didn't feel it dealt realistically with the physical attraction between men and women. The tension and desire between Priscilla and Eli in The Doctor's Lady, however, is tangible. Jody handles it so tastefully that even people accustomed to the hand-holding-only atmosphere of other inspirational romances won't be offended by it.”

About the hero:

“At first, I didn't particularly care for Eli. I thought him crass and kind of a jerk.”

“It didn't take me long to fall in love with Eli's strong, but gentle ways. Wow, he sure sounded like a hunk.”

About the story development:

“I was bit disappointed. Not completely, because I was very impressed with Jody's writing, and I will definitely pick up more from her. The Doctor's Lady isn't about the Whitman's mission with the Nez Perce. It's completely about their journey to the Nez Perce . . . I was just hoping there was more of the plot actually involving Native Americans.”

“I love every part of this book: the adventurous journey, the interaction with the natives, the beautiful description of nature, the struggle and courage of the characters, everything!”

About the ending:

“Although the end is predictable, the journey there is heart-wrenching and engaging - never flat.”

“By the end of this book you feel things coming together and I felt like I could just explode in emotions and tears of joy and I was sad that it had to come to an end. This is one of those books that although you are satisfied with the ending, you are disappointed that you are done reading about the characters that moved your life!”

Comparing my first two books:

“After disliking Jody's first book, The Preacher's Bride, I was pleasantly surprised by Jody's second book, The Doctor's Lady, and I enjoyed reading it very much.”

“This is a good traditional romance, and while it lacks the power of Hedlund's first novel The Preacher's Bride, it will keep readers hooked to finally see Eli and Priscilla admit their love for each other.”

*******************************************************************

So what do I take away from contradictions? (And there are plenty more in the Amazon reviews!) Here are several things I tell myself:

1. There will always be contradictory reviews. Always. Expect them. Accept them. And don’t worry about them.

2. Everyone will view a book through his or her own worldview glasses. Our religious beliefs, values, expectations, personalities, likes/dislikes—all of that will come into play for how we experience a story.

Thus what is acceptable and enjoyable for one person, may be completely opposite for another. That’s just the way it is. And there’s nothing we can do to change that. What that means is that as writers, we need to stay true to ourselves and know what’s important to us, even if that’s not going to please every single reader.

3. Give the most credence to industry experts when weighing contradictions. I look to my agent and my editors for advice. They have their fingers on the pulse of what my genre readers like through feedback and sales statistics. Over time, they’ve developed an expertise and an innate feel for what will resonate with readers and what won’t.

My point is that when we face contradictions, we may need to involve those more experienced than our readers to help give us the bigger picture of what works and what doesn’t.

4. Writers have to develop a thick skin. When I read reviews, I try to stay in the middle of the road. I don’t let the really high praise flatter me, and I don’t let two star reviews crush me. Because yes, the two stars DO eventually come.

One of my two star reviews on The Preacher’s Bride says “Not my cup of tea.” And I just had to laugh and realize the truth in the statement—my book just won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. And that’s okay.

In other words, let the negatives add new callouses, so that eventually we can take the pricks to our ego without letting them deflate us altogether.

How about you? Have you gotten contradictory feedback on your writing? How do you handle it?

Getting Feedback That Makes You Want to Cry

Last week I got rewrites back from my publisher for my third book (releasing in 2012). I thought getting the substantive edits (aka macro edits) would get easier with each book, that I’d develop a thick skin, that I’d be able to handle the feedback without breaking down.

Well, I was wrong.

I opened the document from my editor a couple of hours before our scheduled phone call wanting to prepare myself for our conversation. And as I read through the overview notes (two pages single spaced), my heart plummeted lower and lower with each new problem she pointed out.

Shock, despair, and denial overwhelmed me.

I laid my head in my hands and wanted to weep with the discouragement of seeing all of the many, many issues that I would need to address. Here are just a few of my editor’s comments:

• Readers had a hard time sympathizing with your heroine. Her character arc needs reworking to make her more likeable.

• Your hero comes off a bit weak at times. We’d like to see him more confident, determined, and forceful in character.

• Your romance shows some emotional and character attraction and that is good, but it pushes the limits on sensuality.

Of course, I had to pull myself together for the phone call. I had to gain perspective and a modicum of acceptance before the call. I couldn’t answer the phone and burst into tears.

Fortunately, I have the kind of relationship with my agent where I can easily shoot her an email, voice my truest, deepest feelings, and I know that she’ll listen but then also advise me on the wisest course of action. She was able to calm me down. And I was able to handle the call with my editor gracefully.

What am I learning from this experience? Here are just a few things:

1. It’s perfectly normal for us to get discouraged when we get feedback.

My agent told me this in her email: “It's normal to feel like crying! If that's the way you feel, just allow it for a day or two.” She went on to share about other authors who have gone through the exact same experience with their rewrites on the 10th or even 20th book in order to show that it’s not just me.

2. We might fall in love with our books. But that doesn’t mean everyone else will.

I admit, I absolutely fall in love with my first drafts. Every single one. I think the passion is what drives my story and love of writing. But, I’m learning that my editors won’t squeal with delight and rush to congratulate me on my masterpiece. They’re trained to look for problems. In fact, their radars are tuned to find as many issues as possible.

3. Sometimes we need to lower our expectations or develop more realistic ones.

My agent suggested that perhaps I need to re-evaluate my expectations. She said: "Maybe you were thinking that after the first book or two, you'd deliver books and they'd go, 'Fabulous! Perfect!' and hardly have any editing for you.” And for some publishing houses, maybe that’s true. But my publisher wants to keep pushing me to be better, to keep growing, and to make every book better for my readership.

4. Cultivate humility and a teachable attitude.

Once again, my wise agent told me this: Stop thinking, "When will I ever please them?" Instead think, "I've written the best book I can, and now I look forward to some feedback that will help me make it even better." Easier said than done. But ultimately don’t we all want to put THE best book possible out there? That means we have to take ourselves off the pedestal and admit we have room to grow.

5. In the end, trust your editor/publisher more than you trust yourself.

As I’ve spent the past week reading through my manuscript and evaluating their feedback, I’ve realized they’re spot on with almost every issue. My heroine was coming across abrasive in spots. I could do more to make my hero stronger, especially earlier in the book. And yes, I really did need to tone down some of my sensual elements so that the majority of Bethany House readers will enjoy and appreciate the book.

My Summary: Whether it’s hard feedback from a critique partner, an agent, contest judge, or in-house editor, we usually can’t make decisions about our feedback during the initial sting. We need to give it some time, perhaps talk with friends who understand, and then come back to the suggestions with objective and humble eyes.

What about you? Have you ever gotten feedback that’s made you want to cry? How do you handle difficult feedback?

*********************************************************************
Mid-week blog tour stops! Visit each one for a chance to WIN my new book!

Wednesday 9/21: On Laura Davis's blog I'm sharing how I stumbled upon the idea for the true life-story of Narcissa Whitman.

Wednesday 9/21: I'm visiting with Erika Robuk on her blog and sharing more about the writing of The Doctor's Lady!

Thursday 9/22:  I'm guest posting on Jami Gold's blog and talking about whether religion in books is taboo or terrific.

Don't forget to enter my BE A TRAILBLAZER CONTEST!

3 Ways to Determine if Your Writing is Crap

I have a new favorite writing book: 77 Reasons Why Your Book Was Rejected (and how to make sure it won’t happen again) by Mike Nappa.

Out of the blue, I received a complimentary copy in the mail a few weeks ago. Up until that point, I didn’t even know the book existed. So kudos to whoever is behind the marketing of the book (your strategy worked!). Because after reading through some of the book, I really liked it and think it can be a great help to writers struggling to break in to traditional publication.

Mike is the founder and chief literary agent Nappaland Literary. He’s worked as an acquisition editor for three publishers. In addition, he’s published more than forty books. At the same time, however, he admits he’s personally received more than 2000 rejections for his book ideas.

“It takes less than a minute to reject your book.” Yes, that’s Mike’s first statement in his introduction. He goes on to list all of the reasons why various agents and publishers reject manuscripts in short, easy-to-read chapters.

The No. 1 reason why books get rejected (at least from Mike’s perspective) is because “Your Writing Is Crap.” Although he readily admits crap does indeed get published, he argues that it won’t happen to most writers. In his candid style he says, “If you send me crap writing, I’m going to reject you. And I’m not even going to feel bad about it. I’ll feel like I’m doing humanity a service by keeping your stinky excrement off bookshelves everywhere.”

Mike defines crap writing as:

• Sloppy thinking
• A vain or irrelevant message
• Content that is poorly organized
• Presentation that is clunky
• Word choices that are abysmal

But the question most writers have is this, “How do I know if my writing is crap?”

I struggled with that question before sending my manuscript to agents and editors. We usually finish our books, sit back and wonder, “How does the quality of my book compare with others? What is my skill level? Am I good enough to get published?”

Most of us don’t want our manuscripts to arrive to an agent, publisher, or even a reader smelling like excrement. So, here are 3 ways we can begin to determine our skill level:

1. Find Beta Readers who are willing to “test” your book or idea.

The readers can be anyone really—friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and family—yes, even your mama. At this point, they don’t have to be skilled writers or editors. You’re merely wanting to get feedback on the story itself and the ideas you’ve developed. Let the beta readers know the purpose of the read is just to test your story. They’re not correcting typos or grammar or the nitty-gritty. They’re providing big-picture thoughts.

The most critical aspect of getting feedback from beta readers is this: they must feel free to be completely honest. Often friends and family are afraid to hurt our feelings by telling us the truth. But getting feedback from beta readers won’t do any good unless they know they can be upfront in telling us if our book is indeed crap. And how many people will really feel comfortable being that honest with us?

The best way to solicit some modicum of truth from beta readers is to provide them with a way to give anonymous feedback. Hand them a sample of your manuscript and attach an anonymous questionnaire with easy-to-answer, big-picture questions like: Did you like the characters? Did you like the direction of the story? Would you keep reading? Why or why not?

2. Find other skilled writers who can offer objective feedback.

Feedback from other writers can come in many forms: critique partnerships or groups, blogging, and even contest judges (who are usually other writers or published authors in the first round). Recently, the creators of Ladies Who Critique contacted me to let me know about their new critique matching service. While I’m not using the service, I think it looks like a fantastic resource for writers searching for critique partners.

This week, I'm sharing about my critique partnership in one of my blog tour stops at Keli Gwyn’s blog. Keli critiqued The Doctor’s Lady (my new release), not once, but twice—and in some places even three times. Although I’m a published author working with a top-notch editing department with a large publisher, Keli’s help and advice in shaping my book was invaluable.

3. Use a freelance editor.

Michelle DeRusha had a recent post in which she explained her choice for using a freelance editor. She said: “Let me tell you, that $450 was the best money I ever spent . . . The editor I hired read and reviewed my manuscript and provided eight pages of chapter by chapter notes on sections to cut, rewrite, repurpose and reorganize.” She eventually went on to land her agent and said, “I don’t believe it would have happened without the help of a professional editor.”( Read the full post here.)

The bottom line is that we can’t see all of the problems in our work on our own. We just can't. (Read this post: Why Most Writers Are Blind to Their Own Faults.) If we want to know if our writing is crap, we’ll have to be open to letting others tell us that painful news.

Wouldn’t you much rather have someone tell you your book is crap before publication rather than after?

How open are you to feedback? Are you willing to take the good AND the bad from beta readers and critique partners? 

*********************************************************************
Don't miss out on these blog tour stops! You can WIN my book at both places!

Friday 9/9:  Jill Kemerer is sharing 5 Reasons to Read The Doctor's Lady on her blog! (Pick up Puzzle Piece #4 there!)

Saturday 9/10: Kristie Kiessling asks me what preparation I did for the writing of The Doctor's Lady on her blog! Did I take my family on a covered wagon simulation trip as part of my research? Come find out!

Don't forget to enter my BE A TRAILBLAZER CONTEST!

Asking For Amazon Reviews: How Far is Too Far?

At the release of a book, every author secretly (or maybe not so secretly!) hopes they’ll get 5 star reviews on Amazon (and other online bookstores)—especially for those first few reviews that will show up on the screen every time a reader visits the book’s page.

But how far should authors go in soliciting reviews for their books? In fact, should authors solicit reviews at all? When authors go out of their way to ask friends and family for reviews does that constitute stacking the deck? After all, friends and family are only going to say nice things about our books. They want to help our books sell well.

When we work at piling up 5-Star reviews, are we really giving readers an honest picture of our books?

The issue of asking for reviews is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, especially since my second book The Doctor’s Lady just released and I’ve been checking out the reviews starting to roll in. As I've watch what other authors are doing, I've been mulling over how proactive I need to be with soliciting reviews. I couldn't help wondering if I needed to do more (because, quite honestly, I haven't been proactive in asking for online reviews).

And then a couple weeks ago I came across an article in The New York Times about the growing problem of fake reviews online: In a Race to Out-Rave, 5-Star Web Reviews Go for $5.

The article said, “As online retailers increasingly depend on reviews as a sales tool, an industry of fibbers and promoters has sprung up to buy and sell raves for a pittance . . . The boundless demand for positive reviews has made the review system an arms race of sorts. As more five-star reviews are handed out, even more five-star reviews are needed. Few want to risk being left behind.”

The article goes on to say that because of this increasing trend toward solicited reviews there is a bias toward positive reviews on everything, that now everyone is above average.

Of course most authors aren’t paying people to post 5-Star reviews (the same way some of the resorts, hotels, etc., are dishing out cash). But I have seen authors request, plead, and offer various kinds of incentives/rewards to people who post complimentary reviews.

Should authors take such an active role in soliciting reviews or should they allow reviews to roll in more naturally?

Yes, we all know how difficult it is to make our books stand out in today’s saturated market. But just how far are we willing to go to push our books into the spotlight?

As I wrestled through how I want to handle reviews, here’s what I’ve decided:

• I never have and never will directly ask anyone to post a review of my book on any of the online bookstores. I want the reviews to be freely given by readers who truly enjoyed and appreciated my books.

• If someone reads my book, likes it, and then specifically asks me how they can help promote it, I will let them know they’re welcome to write a review—but only if they’re comfortable doing so.

• I will continue to gently educate readers about the value of the reviews and how much they mean to writers. But I want them to know reviews are just one of many ways they can support authors they love.

For me, the bottom line is this: when people browse through my books on the shelves of online bookstores, I want to be known as a trustworthy author. I don’t want to deceive readers in any way by making myself or my books look better than they really are.

After all, if I deceive them, they’ll find out eventually when they read the book and it doesn’t live up to all of those positive reviews. Then I’ll have lost a reader (or many readers) and diminished my integrity and reputation.

So, what about you? How do you feel about authors soliciting reviews for their books with online bookstores? In your opinion, how far is too far? 
 
*************************************************************

Check out these blog tour stops for a chance to WIN a copy of my new book! 

Wednesday 9/7: I'm baring it all on Katie Ganshert's blog in a guest post: "How a Perfectionist Learned to Bare Her Warts." (Also pick up Contest Puzzle Piece #3 there!)

Wednesday 9/7: I'm sharing more about the inspiration behind The Doctor's Lady on Marcia Richard's blog.

Thursday 9/8: I disclose the nitty-gritty details about Eli & Priscilla (characters from The Doctor's Lady) in a character spotlight on Rel Mollet's blog.

And don't forget to enter my BE A TRAILBLAZER Contest!

Getting Jitters While Waiting For Feedback on Our Books

I had a migraine early last week. Often my migraines are a direct result of a build-up of stress. But since I didn’t have anything major going on, I had to stop for a minute and try to figure out what had stressed me out.

It didn’t take me long to realize I’d been plagued with second book jitters. I’d started getting reports that people were picking up copies of The Doctor’s Lady. Amazon had shipped pre-orders and others were starting to find the book on shelves. Even though it doesn’t officially release until this Thursday, September 1st, the book has already begun to make its way into reader hands.

As I learned that more and more people were reading the book, the stress and worries started to escalate. I couldn’t help but wonder, “Will they like this new book?” and “How will they like it in comparison with my first?”

I chewed my fingernails to nubs. I paced the floor. I tossed and turned in my sleep. I couldn’t eat.

Okay, so maybe not really! But, as I waited for the first reports of what people thought of the book, I was scared. During that silent interval (when people were reading), I decided that one of the things I like the LEAST about being an author is waiting for the initial reports on a new release.

We all have to wait for the verdict on our books at some point or another. Maybe we’re waiting for our critique partner or a contest judge to read our manuscript. Perhaps we’re waiting on an agent or an editor or a committee. Once we get past all of those initial tests on our books, then we face the ultimate test—the reader.

That waiting is stressful, isn’t it?

We spend weeks and weeks writing the book, analyzing the plot, and developing characters. We put so much of ourselves into every page—often into nearly every word. After pouring out incredible amounts time and effort and love into a story, we long for affirmation and positive feedback that what we’ve written resonates with readers. The affirmation validates us, our skills, and all of the work we’ve put into the book.

No matter how much we try to tell ourselves that we don’t care what others think, that we’re writing to please ourselves, or for a bigger purpose, the bottom line is that we want happy readers. It’s a natural reaction to hold our breath (or in my case get a migraine!) as we wait to find out if readers will indeed be happy.

Fortunately, the initial responses to The Doctor’s Lady have been positive. Kate Burnett (who works for Christianbook.com) read the book last weekend and said this on Twitter: “I finished @JodyHedlund's new book The Doctor's Lady in the wee hours of the morning, last night. Loved it! Thanks for a great story, Jody!” Holly Weiss (a talented book reviewer) wrote up her Amazon review and gave it 5 out of 5 stars.

Other friends and fellow writers also began to report back to me with kind words (and pictures—see the slide show in the sidebar!). And slowly I began to relax and breathe easy again.

But what if readers don’t like what we write? What if it doesn’t resonate? What if we get disappointing feedback? 

How can we brace ourselves for those times when we get negative feedback? When readers (or agents or contest judges, etc.) don’t like what we’ve written?

Here are several things I’ve been telling myself in preparation for negative feedback:

• If we’ve done the very best we can, then we have to let it go. I gave The Doctor’s Lady everything I had. I poured all my energy and heart into the book. Now I have to let it go, knowing I did the best I could for where I was at in my writing skill at the time I wrote it.

• Tell ourselves we’ll do better on the next book. With every book I write, I make it my goal to improve in some way. I don’t want to remain stagnant or in the same spot. We all have room to grow no matter how long we’ve been writing.

• Remember, the book won’t resonate with everyone and that’s normal. Of course fellow writers will read with objective eyes and will likely find more to critique. Hopefully most die-hard genre readers will enjoy the book. But we have to remember that readers are subjective, and what we write won’t always resonate with everyone all the time.

So what about you? Do you ever get stressed out wondering what people will think about your manuscript? What do you tell yourself to calm your nerves?

How to Handle Harsh Criticism Without Crying

It finally happened. I got a stinging review of my book. Sure, I’d already gotten reviews in which readers mentioned something they didn’t like about the story, but overall, I seemed to win them over by the end.

I’d tried to tell myself that it was inevitable. I reassured myself that not everyone was going to like my book and that was okay. But then when someone actually voiced their negative opinion publically, I couldn’t help but sit back and say, “Ouch.”

I had to re-read the blog review a couple of times just to make sure I hadn’t gotten it wrong. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make the words, “I did not like it at all” go away. For a little while I felt like someone was standing upon my heart, pressing down with all of their weight, deflating the life from it.

As I went about the rest of the afternoon doing my mom-duties, I’m mulled over the review and tried to make sense of it. Here are a few of the things I jotted down:

Remember the positives.

Yes, sometimes negative words weigh more than positive. We’ve all been in situations where one tiny comment cut us and left a painful wound. It didn’t matter that others complimented us. We remembered the one negative instead.

It’s hard to replace the inborn-scale that weighs the negative more heavily. But at some point, we need to work on evening out our scales, letting the positives have more weight.

Why should I let one person’s negative words deflate me, when so many others have taken the time to uplift and encourage me? And besides, shouldn’t we take pride in our uniqueness, grow in self-confidence, and see the positives in ourselves first?

We can’t be ALL things to ALL people.

As a people-pleaser, I don’t want to disappoint anyone. And of course, as a writer, I definitely don’t want to disappoint readers—especially fans of inspirational historical fiction, my genre readers. But I’m learning that even within genres, readers have different likes and dislikes. Some may crave a slower book with a lot of setting details, and others would rather have a fast-paced plot without any fluff. Some want a sweet romance and others want deeper relationship issues.

I won’t be able to please all lovers of historical fiction. My style/voice is just that—mine. I can’t change it in order to accommodate everyone. That would be an impossible task. Instead, I have to remain true to my voice and let it win over who it will.

Watch what we say publicly.

Reviews are a powerful tool in swaying someone to purchase a book or not. As writers who are also readers, we would do well to keep in mind the principle of doing unto others what we want them to do unto us. If we wouldn’t want other writers to bash our books publically, then we should refrain from doing it. My personal philosophy is that if I can’t find something positive to say, then I won’t say anything at all.

I realize there are some who think the public deserves to know both sides of the issue. After all, if people only write good reviews, how will buyers get the full picture of what the book is like? If we’ve taken into account the subjectivity involved in reviews (see this post: How To Handle Subjective & Contradictory Feedback), and we still feel the need to share our opinions, we can do so in a tactful and kind way.

Remember that opinions are just that—opinions.

After I thought about the negative review for a while, I realized that this particular person was probably viewing my book through her very conservative world view. She classified the novel as “steamy enough that any modest girl would feel uncomfortable reading it.” But then there are readers who’ve classified it as a “sweet” romance, saying, “It was refreshing to read a fully satisfying romance without anything that made me squirm in my seat.”

Who’s right? And who’s wrong? Maybe both are right—right about what works for them. After all, everyone approaches a novel with different expectations, beliefs, world views, etc. All of that will influence a reading experience. But I can’t let it influence me or the way I write.

Know when to defend ourselves and when to walk away.

At one point during the post, the reviewer said, “[the book] does not represent truth.” I could only shake my head with bewilderment. What in the world did that mean? As far as I was concerned, I’d worked my hardest to stay true to the setting, time period, characters, etc. I’d also worked to present a theme of prevailing through hardships—a theme that could be applicable to every person past and present.

I was tempted to write a comment and defend the “truths” in my book. But I refrained. Was it really worth stirring up possible strife to defend myself? What did I have to win by it? “Pick your battles,” I tell my children when they’re squabbling with one another over insignificant issues. We have to know what’s worth fighting over, and what to let slip past us.

What’s your opinion? Do you think we should restrain from posting negative reviews and opt for silence instead? Or do you think it’s important for both the positive and negative opinions to be voiced?

How To Handle Subjective & Contradictory Feedback

Reviews on my debut book, The Preacher’s Bride, have been pouring in over the past month. At latest count, my book had 40 reviews on Amazon, approximately 40 various blog write-ups (see my Books Page for the list of links), 19 on GoodReads, 8 on Shelfari, 9 on Barnes&Noble.com, and 16 on Christianbook.com. (Not that I’m keeping close tabs or anything!)

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading the reviews—talk about a quick pick-me-up! THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who’s taken the time to publicly share their thoughts! I’m grateful and humbled by the praise.

As I’ve soaked in the reviews, I’ve realized a few things more clearly than I had previously, namely that readers are subjective.

Yes, I know. Most of us are already well aware of the subjectivity that exists in the world of books and publishing. And yet, I’m learning just how diverse readers can be in their views, to the point that the reviews seem to contradict one another. Here are just a couple of examples from reviews on The Preacher's Bride:

• Different views on how I portrayed the historical details of the book:

“I love the historical era of the 1600's in England. I could just see the towns and the townspeople of that era come to life!”

“The time period was also a bit difficult for me to get into . . . I just kept imagining a medieval town with dirty, raggedy villagers and evil villains terrorizing woman and shooting flaming arrows into thatched roofs.”

• Different opinions on the opening chapter:

“I had a hard time, in the very beginning, getting into the book as, to me, it was just a little bit slow.”

“I was immediately captured in the first chapter” and “I couldn't put this book down starting at page one.”

• Different opinions about the heroine:

“She can be pretty submissive; that and her overwhelming desire to get married and have babies are a bit irritating to this modern woman . . .”

“I absolutely loved Elizabeth's character throughout this entire book. She's witty, outspoken and a very smart woman.”

• Different opinions about the page-turning effect of the book:

“Hedlund . . . writes well of life in Puritan England, though the middle drags . . .”

“It's a fast-moving page-turner. I read it (all nearly 400 pages) in a little over a day, using every available moment.”

Isn’t it interesting to see such opposite views on the same things? What the differences teach me (and can teach all of us), is that subjectivity is alive and well. And here are a few things about subjectivity that we should keep in mind:

1. Watch for trends in the feedback.

If reader after reader indicated that my opening was slow, I’d sit up and pay attention. But if most of the feedback tells me that I did a good job, then I won’t worry about a few opinions. We can’t live to please everyone. We’d lose the essence of who we are in the process. But we can (and should) pay attention to those glaring issues that people bring up more frequently.

2. Make sure to chuckle over the contradictions.

In other words, we can’t take the feedback personally. I truly do chuckle over the contradictions. I let them remind me of the uniqueness of all my readers, the varying tastes and preferences, and the different personalities. Not everyone is going to fall in love with my book. And that’s okay. Not everyone is meant to.

3. Know whose feedback matters the most.

Many different people have reviewed my book—book buyers, librarians, professional book reviewers, other published authors, etc. Of everyone, I value the input of my talented editors at Bethany House the most. Their goal in all of their editing is to help me craft a story that will please my readers. Ultimately that’s what we want—to provide our readers with a completely satisfying experience, so that they say what one of my reviewers said: “A story that draws the reader into the heart, THE PREACHER'S BRIDE is a historical gem that will not be leaving my favorite shelf.”

4. Get back to work and do the best we can.

When it’s all said and done, I read the reviews, enjoy them, and then put my head down and get back to work on the next book. And that’s all any of us can do—just keep on working hard to improve our writing skills and story-telling abilities.

What about you? Have you ever had contradictory opinions about something you’ve written? How did you know what to listen to and what to discard?

*Thank you to Jeannie Campbell for sending me the above picture, taken at the Borders in Eureka, CA! Thank you for getting excited and drawing stares!