Twitter Live Chat with Literati Literature Lovers
October 18, 2012
Literati Lit: Do you think that Indie authors are changing the landscape of the publishing industry? Good or Bad, what's your view??
J.B. McGee: Yes, and there is good and bad in every situation, so I think there is both. The readers are getting more of a say because a book that a traditional pub. might have turned down can become a best seller with reader support.
Literati Lit: Do you as a writer you have more freedom. Do you surround yourself with people that will challenge you?
J.B. McGee: Well being new I don't have anything to compare to, but I compete with myself - #perfectionist - i like like-minded people.
J.B. McGee: ...and hate that I didn't capitalize my "I" - bad habit of typing in all lower caps. ;) lol
Literati Lit: So you look at your work with a critical eye. But, can all authors do that? Be critical of own work.
J.B. McGee: Probably not. And as critical as I am of my own work, I still hired an editor who found her fair share of typos and errors.
Literati Lit: How about scenes, do editors that work with Indies tell them when a scene falls flat??
J.B. McGee: No, the editor was strictly looking at grammar, making sure character names were used appropriately, formatting, etc. So, I found about six really well read people to test read and begged for feedback. I trusted they were honest.
Literati Lit: How do you handle any negative feed back??
J.B. McGee: Ugh! lol. I am super sensitive, learning to get over that quickly. You can't make everyone happy. But, I also am willing to take corrective criticism. 2nd person to read hated the format and two scenes. I changed one scene and when she read final version she loved it. I have had some feedback on Broken that I am taking into consideration with Mending.
Literati Lit: Yes being a writer you will need to steel yourself for not everyone loving your product. Fact of Life I guess.
J.B. McGee: Best advice, look at all the actors and actresses and the tabloids, you just have to ignore it the mean stuff. But, I do welcome feedback that is meant to improve my writing, not reviews that are meant to hurt my feelings.
Literati Lit: How many beta readers do you have? Are any of them reviewers?
J.B. McGee: Starting out with Broken there were about six or so. Then I put several chapters on Wattpad and got feedback there with Mending, so far I've only let one person read the first two chapters. I would love to get reviewers to read Mending 1st, no reviewers with Broken.
Literati Lit: Can a review be critical of your writing without being mean? Or is your work too personally connect to author.
J.B. McGee: Ok - I had one person really bash my characters & plot. that really hurt. I think it's the way you go about it, though. There is a tactful way to criticize the plot and then there are tacky ways. ;) lol
Literati Lit: I think it's important to review the book, not the author. Personal attacks should never come into play. So constructive criticism you can handle.
J.B. McGee: Absolutely. A cocky person who thinks they are already the best and has no way to improve is not attractive. I want to do the best I can. If someone has advice on how I can do better, I'd be a fool to not at least consider it.
Literati Lit: That is why editors are of such a value, they can criticize without author hopefully taking it personally.
J.B. McGee: Yes, I agree. The relationship between editor/author is that they are on the same team and have shared interest in success.
Literati Lit: I've read books where I wished the author had had a strong editor to challenge them.
J.B. McGee: I am sure I could have written a much better book with an editor! I hope that each of my works will just get better and better as I get more experience and more feedback.
Literati Lit: I think positive feedback and even positive critical feed back benefits the Indie author's writing. Making them better.
J.B. McGee: Absolutely. I find that this has been a roller coaster of emotions. You need lots of positive feedback as an Indie to keep going. You are basically swimming against the current and you definitely need a strong group of cheerleaders. :)
J.B. McGee: Yes, and there is good and bad in every situation, so I think there is both. The readers are getting more of a say because a book that a traditional pub. might have turned down can become a best seller with reader support.
Literati Lit: Do you as a writer you have more freedom. Do you surround yourself with people that will challenge you?
J.B. McGee: Well being new I don't have anything to compare to, but I compete with myself - #perfectionist - i like like-minded people.
J.B. McGee: ...and hate that I didn't capitalize my "I" - bad habit of typing in all lower caps. ;) lol
Literati Lit: So you look at your work with a critical eye. But, can all authors do that? Be critical of own work.
J.B. McGee: Probably not. And as critical as I am of my own work, I still hired an editor who found her fair share of typos and errors.
Literati Lit: How about scenes, do editors that work with Indies tell them when a scene falls flat??
J.B. McGee: No, the editor was strictly looking at grammar, making sure character names were used appropriately, formatting, etc. So, I found about six really well read people to test read and begged for feedback. I trusted they were honest.
Literati Lit: How do you handle any negative feed back??
J.B. McGee: Ugh! lol. I am super sensitive, learning to get over that quickly. You can't make everyone happy. But, I also am willing to take corrective criticism. 2nd person to read hated the format and two scenes. I changed one scene and when she read final version she loved it. I have had some feedback on Broken that I am taking into consideration with Mending.
Literati Lit: Yes being a writer you will need to steel yourself for not everyone loving your product. Fact of Life I guess.
J.B. McGee: Best advice, look at all the actors and actresses and the tabloids, you just have to ignore it the mean stuff. But, I do welcome feedback that is meant to improve my writing, not reviews that are meant to hurt my feelings.
Literati Lit: How many beta readers do you have? Are any of them reviewers?
J.B. McGee: Starting out with Broken there were about six or so. Then I put several chapters on Wattpad and got feedback there with Mending, so far I've only let one person read the first two chapters. I would love to get reviewers to read Mending 1st, no reviewers with Broken.
Literati Lit: Can a review be critical of your writing without being mean? Or is your work too personally connect to author.
J.B. McGee: Ok - I had one person really bash my characters & plot. that really hurt. I think it's the way you go about it, though. There is a tactful way to criticize the plot and then there are tacky ways. ;) lol
Literati Lit: I think it's important to review the book, not the author. Personal attacks should never come into play. So constructive criticism you can handle.
J.B. McGee: Absolutely. A cocky person who thinks they are already the best and has no way to improve is not attractive. I want to do the best I can. If someone has advice on how I can do better, I'd be a fool to not at least consider it.
Literati Lit: That is why editors are of such a value, they can criticize without author hopefully taking it personally.
J.B. McGee: Yes, I agree. The relationship between editor/author is that they are on the same team and have shared interest in success.
Literati Lit: I've read books where I wished the author had had a strong editor to challenge them.
J.B. McGee: I am sure I could have written a much better book with an editor! I hope that each of my works will just get better and better as I get more experience and more feedback.
Literati Lit: I think positive feedback and even positive critical feed back benefits the Indie author's writing. Making them better.
J.B. McGee: Absolutely. I find that this has been a roller coaster of emotions. You need lots of positive feedback as an Indie to keep going. You are basically swimming against the current and you definitely need a strong group of cheerleaders. :)
