Got a crit.

[feuervogel]

It's the opposite of every previous crit for this story (including one from someone whose critique is often scathing; he said this was really technically well done, though he said it was polemical :P ). Before I got this crit, I was going to give it another quick cosmetic polish, except now I think it's terrible and sucky.

She also wants me to add in a lot of ~showing~ and ~body language~.

UGGGGGHHHHH.

She also didn't believe that two people who would break up if one of them got a job far away are/were really in love. I don't agree with that assessment, for a variety of reasons, including the fact that no one is entitled to someone else's sacrifices.

So, now what? Do I take the, like, two points I think are actually valid (one of which is a streamlining of a couple sentences) and ignore the rest? Do I trash the whole thing and start over?

Comments

[groovesinorbit]

Do you have time to set the story aside for a little bit, give yourself some space from it? That can help sometimes.

[feuervogel]

Not really? I need to get it finished and out so I can focus on the German module I'm studying now and, you know, planning what I'm going to take with me when I go in 2.5 weeks. (Not ready at all.) Also the submission period closes in early February (while I'm in Germany, so I don't know the exact date.)

I emailed 2 of my VP classmates who also critted it, and they reminded me that some stories will completely miss some readers, and it sounds like she was a miss. So I'll take the couple pieces that rang true and work with those.

[groovesinorbit]

Your VP classmates have a very good point. One of my betas loved the last story I wrote in its very early stage. Once I'd rewritten it, all my other betas thought it was better (as did I), and she hated it. You just can't please everyone all the time. Good luck with everything! I'm guessing you're submitting the same place I am in early February? ;)

[feuervogel]

I know a lot of people who are planning to destroy SF... ;)

[groovesinorbit]

*grin* Why the hell not, huh?

[lisefrac.livejournal.com]

While you will naturally want time to cogitate more on this feedback, my first instinct is: ignore anything that would significantly delay sending this piece out. Especially if this feedback doesn't match with what other people say about the story. Especiallyespecially since it sounds like this advice attempts to "fix" what's "wrong: with a story--when this read may not have a clear idea of how to do that.

And if you think it just needs polishing, don't solicit more crit. After a certain point, it is counterproductive.

Of course, I say this from my comfortable position of still not having submitted any of my currently finished pieces, so this is naturally easier said than done.

But I think it's better to get it out there, than sit on it forever.

[feuervogel]

*nods* I mainly wanted to know if the ending worked yet (I'm not sure, and this is the third ending I've written for it I think, possibly 4th...), and she said the whole thing didn't work. Which isn't really helpful.

So today I'll polish a few things and massage the ending some more and send it out. Because I'm tired of dealing with it.

[a-nightengale.livejournal.com]

Sorry I didn't see this until today... I hope you went ahead and sent the story out.

[feuervogel]

I did! I sent it out Thursday. I tweaked the ending some, sent it to someone who liked it in an earlier round and gave good tips, and sent it out with her blessing.