Years ago when I was a university journalism school student, I was working on an article about a longstanding local cultural festival. My publish deadline was looming when I suddenly got a call from one of the festival organizers with some sad and surprising news: the event had just been cancelled due to irreconcilable internal challenges and politics. My editor gave me the option to abandon the story, but the budding reporter in me couldn't let it go like that -- this festival meant something to a lot of people. And so I quickly pivoted, re-interviewed, and re-wrote the article about why the plug had been pulled last-minute on such an important event. A few weeks later, a Letter to the Editor arrived in the school newsroom from the organizers expressing how much it meant to them that I'd written the story and been willing to switch gears at the eleventh hour to give them a voice. That letter was published and I still have a copy. To this day, it serves as a reminder that for writing to have impact, authentic human connection must be intricately woven through all steps of the creative process -- from choosing the topic or subject, to the planning and interviewing, all the way down to the anecdotes, metaphors, analogies, phrasing and each individual word that's carefully selected to form those crucial audience connection points. To me, this is what truly makes writing come alive and what gives it three-dimensional meaning versus flat words on a page or screen.
To remember that every time someone reaches toward learning, they are on an information-gathering healing journey. A reader found a healing haven that was enough to move forward, and life was no longer on hold. Motivated to change what no longer suits, they discovered opportunities to grow and to risk loving—- and loss—again. Aldous Huxley summed it up when he said that experience is not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you. G+R+I+E+F = Gradually Recovering from Intense Emotional Fatigue.” – Simone G. Parker Love Remains
I once had a publisher request that I “cozied up” a mystery manuscript that featured a fabric-store owner. My instincts were against this, because I felt it would interrupt the pace of the plot. I added massive passages of the main character observing the fabric in her store, noticing the texture of the textiles, getting lost in memories of having grown up in the store she had inherited. (I wrote these passages in a different color font so I could easily delete them—still not a believer!) When I gave the manuscript to an early reader, he commented on how much he loved the passages about fabric. He said, “it slowed down the fast pace and gave me a chance to breathe.” It was then I realized the importance of varying pace, not just charging forward with one plot twist after another.
As a writer and editor, what has been mostly influential are the moment in which my work has been complimented, yet simultaneously rejected. I have received numerous responses for submissions in which other editor notify me that my work has been among one of the final works they have considered, however the work was not ultimately selected as a result of limited space and editorial board considerations. I find this important as it presents both the subjective and objective nature of writing and publishing. For all writers and editors, it is important to consider that while objective focus and ability are important for publishing a piece, while at the same time it is important to understand that pieces are accepted as a result of multiple factors, and both acceptance and rejection are rarely, if ever, purely the result of the exact quality of one's work.
The Impact of Reader Feedback on Writing One memorable piece of feedback I received from a reader that profoundly influenced my future writing was a heartfelt letter from a student who had read my novel for a school assignment. In their letter, they shared how deeply they connected with the protagonist and the themes explored in the story. They described how the characters' struggles resonated with their own experiences and how the narrative inspired them to reflect on their own journey. This feedback not only touched me on a personal level but also highlighted the power of literature to evoke empathy and foster introspection. It reminded me of the importance of creating characters and narratives that resonate with readers on a deep emotional level and reinforced my commitment to crafting stories that have a meaningful impact.
Receiving feedback from my readers has been enlightening, especially when it comes to improving my writing style. One memorable piece of advice I received was to be more courageous and forthright in my critiques of books. Critiquing literature demands a fine balance of reverence for the work and frankness about its strengths and weaknesses. By embracing bravery and boldness in my critiques, I can offer my readers more profound and engaging reviews that delve deeper into the nuances of each book. Taking this advice to heart empowers me to express my opinions more boldly, enabling me to provide more insightful and thought-provoking perspectives on the books I review. It's a reminder that constructive criticism, delivered with sincerity and respect, can enhance both my writing and the experience of my readers.