I have a bit of background in journalism, so I'm used to being told what and how (and when) to write. The notion that the editor would want changes but would not want to say so just hadn't occurred to me before, but it makes perfect sense.
I tend to take all feedback as just one person's opinion. What I try to do is find ways to address the reader's concern while keeping to my own intent and vision. Usually if someone has a problem with what I've written, it means there is a delta between the story in my head and the story on the page that I didn't see. I just need to understand how the reader is interpreting what I've written, and then I can usually come up with something that works for them and for me. In almost all cases, the changes I make in response to feedback improve the story, not just for the specific reader but for the majority of readers.
Even when different readers give apparently contradictory advice, e.g. "it's too long" and "it's too short", they are usually talking about different problems and it's usually possible to address both issues in different ways.
What you're saying is that sometimes they don't give the feedback and I'd need to ask. Seems obvious once you explain it. An editor can still choose not to give feedback. You're saying it's important to listen to the nuance of the feedback one is given, and that's true of any business transaction.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2004-08-10 10:01 pm (UTC)I tend to take all feedback as just one person's opinion. What I try to do is find ways to address the reader's concern while keeping to my own intent and vision. Usually if someone has a problem with what I've written, it means there is a delta between the story in my head and the story on the page that I didn't see. I just need to understand how the reader is interpreting what I've written, and then I can usually come up with something that works for them and for me. In almost all cases, the changes I make in response to feedback improve the story, not just for the specific reader but for the majority of readers.
Even when different readers give apparently contradictory advice, e.g. "it's too long" and "it's too short", they are usually talking about different problems and it's usually possible to address both issues in different ways.
What you're saying is that sometimes they don't give the feedback and I'd need to ask. Seems obvious once you explain it. An editor can still choose not to give feedback. You're saying it's important to listen to the nuance of the feedback one is given, and that's true of any business transaction.