As an indie author, you are going to face criticism. This is true whether you’ve spoken with publishers and agents before making the decision to move forward as indie writer or have simply chosen to self-publish. While critics can provide some of your best feedback, there is some criticism that should have no bearing on your writing. If you don’t learn and understand the difference, critics can bring both you and your writing down.
Who Is Your Reader?
The ideal reader will inevitably guide a great deal of your writing, and, of course, you will want to produce what your ideal reader finds interesting. What’s important to note, however, is that as an indie author, you get to decide who your ideal reader is. Listening to feedback from those who don’t read or enjoy your genre is not constructive. Literary critics are not going to tell you much either, since they often measure your work based on an archaic set of standards. If your ideal reader is not in a college classroom, the literary critic isn’t one to whom you should listen.
Choose Trusted Professionals for Useful Feedback
Constructive criticism can help you improve your eBook, so it’s important that you choose developmental editors, line editors, and proofreaders who are committed to your success and who will help you improve your work. Be open to suggestion, but balance it with being clear about the story you want to tell and the ideal reader you are trying to reach.
Know Your Supportive Networks
The most frustrating critics are often those closest to you as an indie author. Family and friends aren’t always the support you need, and with the best of intentions, they may offer advice that doesn’t suit your goals. Keep in mind that criticism, well-meaning or not, should be relevant to your writing. You’ll find that you’ll be able to focus on your own work better when you politely ignore the suggestions of others. If you are looking for solid advice, turn to peers and mentors who are more familiar with indie writing. These are the individuals that have been in your shoes and have received criticism of their own, making better candidates as critics for your work.
Criticism can help you improve your writing and allow you to fine-tune your eBooks. The key is to surround yourself with people who understand your goals and your genre, whose criticism will be constructive and help move you forward. Once you learn to avoid the background noise of irrelevant criticism, you’ll be more confident of the eBooks that you publish.
As an indie author, you are going to face criticism. This is true whether you’ve spoken with publishers and agents before making the decision to move forward as indie writer or have simply chosen to self-publish. While critics can provide some of your best feedback, there is some criticism that should have no bearing on your writing. If you don’t learn and understand the difference, critics can bring both you and your writing down.
Who Is Your Reader?
The ideal reader will inevitably guide a great deal of your writing, and, of course, you will want to produce what your ideal reader finds interesting. What’s important to note, however, is that as an indie author, you get to decide who your ideal reader is. Listening to feedback from those who don’t read or enjoy your genre is not constructive. Literary critics are not going to tell you much either, since they often measure your work based on an archaic set of standards. If your ideal reader is not in a college classroom, the literary critic isn’t one to whom you should listen.
Choose Trusted Professionals for Useful Feedback
Constructive criticism can help you improve your eBook, so it’s important that you choose developmental editors, line editors, and proofreaders who are committed to your success and who will help you improve your work. Be open to suggestion, but balance it with being clear about the story you want to tell and the ideal reader you are trying to reach.
Know Your Supportive Networks
The most frustrating critics are often those closest to you as an indie author. Family and friends aren’t always the support you need, and with the best of intentions, they may offer advice that doesn’t suit your goals. Keep in mind that criticism, well-meaning or not, should be relevant to your writing. You’ll find that you’ll be able to focus on your own work better when you politely ignore the suggestions of others. If you are looking for solid advice, turn to peers and mentors who are more familiar with indie writing. These are the individuals that have been in your shoes and have received criticism of their own, making better candidates as critics for your work.
Criticism can help you improve your writing and allow you to fine-tune your eBooks. The key is to surround yourself with people who understand your goals and your genre, whose criticism will be constructive and help move you forward. Once you learn to avoid the background noise of irrelevant criticism, you’ll be more confident of the eBooks that you publish.
