Have you created a monster—specifically, a Frankenscript?
A Frankenscript:
is "for everyone!"
when asked about your writing choices, you hear yourself saying, "well, so-and-so said..."
has been cobbled together, and the seams still show
has taken on a freakish life of its own
and the most telling thing of all: you kinda hate it now because it doesn't even feel like your creation.
I know all about Frankenscripts. We all do--because revision is necessary! And revision is fun! And we want our stories to be the best they can be. And in to get the perspective to do that, we need feedback on our stories. And more feedback. And...you guessed it...even more feedback.
But it's such a balance, isn't it? The spark that others offer can light a way through darkness--or light a stick of dynamite, ready to blow up everything you created.
How can we use feedback from others in a way that lets us improve our intended story--not other millions of stories we could instead tell?
I think the biggest thing is NOT getting a story critiqued until you have truly told it to yourself first. Sometimes you will know what you are going for, even in draft #1. Yay, you! But, almost always, this will not be the case. But, IMHO, it's best to know what you are going for before you share your manuscript, even if that's only on draft 4,530,221. That will help you prevent the dreaded Frankenscript because when you know what you are aiming for, it will become far more apparent which comments are genuinely helpful and which are just muddying the waters of your story journey.
Still, like a vaccination shot, doing this doesn't mean you won't be afflicted with Frankenscript. It just means it should be a far less deadly case when you inevitably DO get it.
I am not an expert here (oh, how I wish I were!) but here's what I try to keep in mind as I do post-critique-group revisions.
All critiquers want your story to succeed, but they have different visions of what success looks like. If my definition of success is that people laugh and say, "aw," and the story does that, the rest is stuff to consider, but in a less prioritized way than comments that directly tie into the humor and heart of the piece.
Some critiquers are better at critiquing in general. Some people are great editors, and some are great writers (and some people, darn them, are both). Some of the "big picture" editing skills necessary for an excellent critique are things that not every writer has built up yet. This is one of the many reasons why editorial agents can be invaluable (and is why I definitely want one).
Some critiquers are better at some sorts of stories than others. And, weirdly, that doesn't necessarily correlate to their own writing subgenre. You might think, for example, it would be wisest to get a lyrical critique from another lyrical writer--but maybe that great lyrical writer has very rigid rules about what they think works in lyrical writing--which may or may not translate to your stuff. Similarly, some people are better at "big picture," and others may be better at line editing. Trial and error are the heroes of the day when finding the right critique partners for YOUR writing needs.
Remember the difference between best practices and rules--and don't shoot messengers. We've all taken the webinars--and we know you have, too. Sure, yes, of course, there are no "rules"....but there are best practices. And no, you don't have to bow to them, but do consider them before dismissing them each time. But, consider them from the standpoint of: will this make my intended story clearer and/or stronger? They are not a checklist to apply, but rather a toolkit to pull from when needed.
Set boundaries if you need them. Look, you know yourself. If you HATE receiving critiques--know it's going to ruin your day to find out all the things you may need to work on further, set parameters. Note that you need specific feedback about the opening, the ending, or whatever area you ARE eager for input on. Maybe you just want a recording of each person reading it aloud. That's fine. Get specific with your needs, and you may find you grow to appreciate them.
Most importantly, value your critiques. ESPECIALLY the tough ones. Remember that critiques are not edicts, or even "work" assigned to you. They are just one person's advice, plain and simple.
We change and grow as writers all the time, so of course, some Frankenscripting is inevitable, even if you never share your writing with anyone. Still, I hope any of this helps you avoid the more deadly forms of it, and also helps you stay inspired as you toil away in your writerly laboratory.
Yours in experimentation,
Elayne
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