I agree that some questions might help, questions that we might much more easily apply to others' writing than to our own. What about rules of thumb like: Is there enough tension/escalation (not, "this is boring")? I can see that some readers would find no tension, a ho-hum story, while others would say "this is wild!" If we put on our e…
I agree that some questions might help, questions that we might much more easily apply to others' writing than to our own. What about rules of thumb like: Is there enough tension/escalation (not, "this is boring")? I can see that some readers would find no tension, a ho-hum story, while others would say "this is wild!" If we put on our editor's hat would that give us a little distance? I think such specific questions would be more useful than "Ick I don't like it." --along with patience and knowing what kind of reader you are. I agree that in the long run this art thing makes everything more difficult, better to write manuals for recharging batteries, but I do think the subconscious needs some help putting things together.
And that voice that says "and the story is bad" should be invited to sit quietly out back until it has found a more helpful way to support the writer's work.
Haha, yes, and may it stay there! I like the idea of specific questions written down to serve as reminders/self check-ins when things don't seem to be gelling: could be a good way to ground and reorient when the prose takes off in unwieldly or unwelcome directions.
I agree that some questions might help, questions that we might much more easily apply to others' writing than to our own. What about rules of thumb like: Is there enough tension/escalation (not, "this is boring")? I can see that some readers would find no tension, a ho-hum story, while others would say "this is wild!" If we put on our editor's hat would that give us a little distance? I think such specific questions would be more useful than "Ick I don't like it." --along with patience and knowing what kind of reader you are. I agree that in the long run this art thing makes everything more difficult, better to write manuals for recharging batteries, but I do think the subconscious needs some help putting things together.
And that voice that says "and the story is bad" should be invited to sit quietly out back until it has found a more helpful way to support the writer's work.
Haha, yes, and may it stay there! I like the idea of specific questions written down to serve as reminders/self check-ins when things don't seem to be gelling: could be a good way to ground and reorient when the prose takes off in unwieldly or unwelcome directions.