When friends are right

[Tariel]

Have any of you ever had a close friend read something and then tell you that you were wrong about major aspects of your story? One of mine told me that my ending was "wrong" and that my protagonist was not the character I thought it was. After reading through the drafts, paying attention to the things she mentioned, I realized that she was right. So what do you think? Can friends see things that we can't in our work?

 

[Lindon Tinuviel]

From friends, associates, and other publishers. Constantly. That's one of the best things about stories--they can mean so many different things to different people.

 

[Shicoco]

People found a secret code in the Bible...which doesn't actually predict anything lol. At first the Bible code was done with a Hebrew bible, and then they were doing it with an English Bible.

Goes to show that you could find anything if you look hard enough.

 

[Lindon Tinuviel]

I've had stories rejected for this. One was about a fellow whose dead sister came to visit him in a pretty spectacular way. It was rejected for having no supernatural elements.

The editor's reading was that the guilt of the man over not being able to save his sister when they were children was the driving force of the story... and, on re-reading, it was a perfectly valid interpretation.

Now, the story is stronger. It's still an eerie ghost story, but I've added a subtle undercurrent of insanity to the already strong themes of grief and guilt. Maybe the guy's nuts. Maybe he's not. There's no definitive answer.

Of course, I've also had stories accepted for things I never wrote into them. I just cashed the checks and let the readers decide for themselves.

 

[CelticRose]

It's called detachment & it's what editors are for. lol.

 

[Doubtless]

Provided you analyze the analysis, so to speak, friends can prove invaluable tools in perfecting your work. I've had this happen a LOT, much to my constant depression . Luckily though, it always seems to help me. F'rinstance, after so many critical analyses and countless rejections, I can now spot the flaws-in-question whenever they play whack-a-mole in my work or even in books I read/films I watch. Always a plus.

 

[sunstruckdream]

In a chapter of mine, my MC drops a quip that I, as well as two of my readers, find hilarious.

My third reader read it and said, "You know, you might want to rethink exactly how she says that. She comes off as arrogant, and I don't think that's what you want."

Arrogant?! Not what I wanted AT ALL! But in retrospect, she was right. I ended up changing the context to keep the quip as it was (because I loved it so very much ). But I never would have seen that if not for having multiple readers.

I find it's best to listen to everything your readers say. Don't DO everything they say - use your judgment, and remember that it's your story - but do listen. Alternative perspectives are priceless, and that's what every reader you'll ever have will bring to your work: an alternative perspective.

 

[avatarblade2000]

I have two such friends, my two unofficial specialists on the two demographics I'm aiming for in just about everything I write. I'm super blessed in that department.

My first is my story's spiritual consultant, who pinpoints just how out of line or how spot-on I am in what I'm saying when it comes to apologetics and Christian sensibility. He and I plan to go to seminary together, but having been his friend most of my life, I can testify that he knows his stuff. He usually tells me, "This might lead someone astray in their walk, you might want to rethink this, try this angle," or "You're on the right track with this theme, but maybe if you push this aspect a little harder and lay off this other one, you're point will be clearer..." etc., etc. He's always one to streamline my works so that their messages reach easier and with a lot more impact...so I've been told, anyway. He's also a closet nerd, so he occasionally has an idea on what would be "cool," emotionally-fulfilling for a reader.

The next, who is almost an antithesis of the first, is my unofficial specialist in how fellow "nerds" will recieve my works. He knows his inner-geek, let me tell you: he channels that fantasy-sci-fi-speculative-fiction-genre-loving-demographic like he were every fan of that genre conglomerized into one man. He also has his insights on romance, character dynamic, and the like, so he's pretty indispensable when it comes to story development. Most prominent, maybe, is his ability to just inherantly "know" what action is needed to make a story more excited. Not necessarilly fighting or battles, but conflict and suspense and in general. He can be a little overzealous, though. I usually go to him first, so that once I go to my other friend, I can tweak his overactive input and make it Biblically sound.

Usually, that amounts to a pretty good balance. USUALLY.