Watch out! You are about to discover the reason why I decided to post this short series on the creative process.
Part four of my series on the creative process!
Missed the previous posts? Here they are: Intro | Part One | Part Two | Part Three
I experienced a cold, harsh awakening last month. I might as well have shoved a knife into an electric socket. Ouch.
What happened? What moved me enough to devote several blog posts to it?
I posted a first draft of a graphic design piece and asked for feedback. I was damned proud of what I made. I thought it was frakkin’ awesome. Shoot, it was the next best thing since the bacon cheeseburger! I spent hours on it. I loved the picture so much that I skipped the three Ps and dropped that thing into a forum. I asked for feedback in hopes of making it even more awesome.
Let’s just say that I left that place with my tail tucked between my legs and my ego stripped bare.
So what happened? Where did I go wrong?
1. As I said, I posted a FIRST DRAFT of something and asked for feedback. I should have bitten back my excitement and let it sit for 24 hours. I have a standard 24 hour rule when it comes to my art and graphic designs: put it away for at least 24 hours and come back to it.
2. I skipped the three Ps and So Very Edits. I should have planned it out after creating that first image. I should have played around with it and made a few variations.
3. I’m not a frequent poster in that community. If I was, I’d have gotten a warmer response—there were a few individuals who did offer some great advice, and they have my thanks. It’s easier to tear a stranger apart than it is a friend, especially from your keyboard.
Are you ready for feedback?
Asking for a critique is opening yourself up to things you might not want to hear. Let’s face it, no one likes to be told that their hard work is terrible. It’s a fact of life. Requesting feedback is a brave step. It takes a lot of courage to throw yourself out there on a line like that. You have no idea if you’ll get something constructive or if you’ll be ripped apart. It takes guts. Are you ready for it?
If you don’t think you are ready, that’s okay. Like I said, it takes a lot of courage. Even taking in constructive criticism can be rough the first time around. It’s hard hearing that your favorite character is one dimensional. We’re all human. We all have feelings. This is natural.
If you are ready, fantastic! This next section is for you!
Where to go to get honest, yet tactful feedback
A trusted friend – This doesn’t mean show it off to Mom and Dad. They’ll always say it’s amazing. Pick a good friend who will be straight forward without cutting your heart out. You know your friends better than anyone else. You know who will be honest and who will give you that motherly coddle.
The Internet – Post it on a site that you are active on. Do you know the community? Do you post several times a week? If so, go for it. Don’t do what I did. Lurking doesn’t build relationships. If the members know you, they will be less inclined to troll or tell you things like “Just start over” or “That looks like it was just slapped together” without offering any suggestions to improve it.*
Work/Clubs/Extracurricular Activities – If you’re like me and prefer to take the backseat, utilize the real world. Don’t pester your coworkers or club friends when they’re busy. Take advantage of a slow period. A simple, “Hey, what do you think of this?” as you show them a photo on your phone works wonders.
My first three suggestions are great for art, graphics, covers, crafts, and short excerpts (500 words or less). Writing is a tough animal because people are busy and don’t have the time to read a 10+ page work of fiction. So where do you go for works of fiction?
Hire a Beta Reader – There are a lot of professional beta readers who will read your story for a fee and provide unbiased advice. They are paid to help you make the best story possible. You can find them on sites Blogger and WordPress. First things first: do your homework. Research the person. What is their fee? What kind of blog do they have? If they post things like “I’m Queen Snark, shredder of the slush pile,” don’t go for it. Find someone who is friendly and warm. Check out their reviews. Do they offer unbiased feedback in a relatively short amount of time? Do they sit on a project for months? Are they a smartass? Are they tactful? If the person is a good beta reader, he/she will respond quickly to your emails.
* Not direct quotes. I paraphrased things I’ve seen said to others and to myself during my 10+ years of writing.
