Criticism in the publishing industry

[Kitty Foyle]

I'm in college now. Even here, insensitive remarks aren't tolerated.

Synayna, would you define "aren't tolerated" in this instance? Show, don't tell. Who decides when to crack the whip, and why?

Or did you mean aren't tolerated by you? If so, how do you remedy the situation(s)?

*_*

[Sunayna Prasad]

The school staff doesn't tolerate insensitive remarks. Does that help?

[leslee]

But I am just curious why agents, publishers and editors can be insensitive and say things that wouldn't have been acceptable when they were kids.

The school staff doesn't tolerate insensitive remarks. Does that help?

The publishing industry isn't school. It's an industry. An industry you're hoping will publish your writing and pay you for it. And there's a big difference between what an agent, publisher or editor is going to say to you, and what a snotty kid in school says. If you can't see the difference, you're really going to have a rough time.

The issue isn't that their remarks are insensitive, it's that you'll be too sensitive to handle them.

An agent/editor/publisher may say to you, "This book isn't good enough to publish," or, "I didn't get past the first page," or, "I don't think I can sell this," or, "There may be an audience for this book, but I don't know who it is," or, "Please learn something about grammar and punctuation before you submit any query letters."

You may find those remarks "insensitive." But if that is the opinion of the agent/publisher/editor, they're going to say it. You'd actually be lucky to get that kind of personal response instead of a form letter! And you have to be mature enough to consider the offending opinion without reacting like a bullied kid in a schoolyard.

You seem to have spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to avoid criticism. You can't. Every writer, yes EVERY, has been told something they didn't want to hear by an agent/publisher/editor/reviewer/reader. You really can't prepare for the way it will make you feel - bad. Nobody wants to be told their work isn't wonderful. It always stings. But you have to accept the opinion and keep on going, without whining, after you hear it. Even if you don't agee with it.

Not everyone is going to love your work. That's a fact you can't avoid. If you're lucky, you'll get criticism you can use to improve your writing. But even if you don't, how you react to it is up to you.

[Lea Zalas]

Sunayna, there's no way a school staff could monitor every student's every word. I know this, having gone through elementary, middle school, high school and college, myself. I'd like to know what world, or at least what part of the country you live in, that no one could get away with making insensitive remarks. Kids and teens live for this kind of thing, some even try to make it a verbal art form, and will make sure there isn't a teacher around when they want to throw insults at others. The only way teachers could know about this kind of thing would be if a tattle-tale was always 'telling' on someone.

The rest of us, on a day-to-day basis, experience insensitive remarks or worse. But I can see your problem now. You're in complete denial about how often this happens in everyday life. I think you're hoping for an always kind and considerate world, which today's world is not. Kids do make snide and hurtful remarks, as do adults.

Honestly, you're so focused on this issue, I feel you may be handicapping yourself for dealing with the real world. You need to get over this and fast, otherwise you're in for constantly having hurt feelings. In other words, quit complaining. You worry about it so much, that you don't seem to be able to focus on anything else. You also seem to be intolerant of how others express themselves. You're not going to change anyone, the only one you can change is yourself, so stop trying to shove examples at others by saying, "would you let your children talk like this?" All you're going to do is set yourself up for ridicule, and lose everyone else's attention and maybe even their respect. No one likes a person who constantly complains and "whines." I'm just trying to help you here, but I'm not sure any of us can help you because you seem stuck on ensuring no one makes an insensitive remark to you. Which isn't going to happen because you can't control what others say.

As for whatever you call 'insensitive words' and how they're not tolerated even where you go to college, that is not indicative of any college I have ever heard of or attended. I really wonder what world you live in, because it's no where near the world I live in.

[Jena Grace]

When my first novel was being submitted to editors, one of them said something to the effect that, aside from the characters and the plot, he enjoyed the story. Harsh or hysterically funny? I still can't decide.

[leslee]

Harsh or hysterically funny?

Snippy and insensitive! Did you call the playground monitor and rat 'em out?

I was told by one agent to put my manuscript in a drawer and leave it there.

The next agent said they loved every page and signed me.

It's all so subjective.

[Jena Grace]

It's all so subjective.

Yep. Because someone else loved it.

[Jena Grace]

Something else.


Sometimes when you’re growing up, the adults in your life continuously tell you how talented you are, how they love your writing, and how they’re absolutely certain you’ll be published one day. Your teachers rave about you, and use examples of your work to set the bar for others. You get straight A’s in English. You ace your college comp courses. You may even win a writing contest or two.

Then, when you’re adult and you TRY to get published, you suddenly discover you’re not all that special at all. Not only does no one rave about you, but you’re told quite bluntly that your story sucks. You’re competing with pros, a very small fish in a sea of some pretty serious talent. The reality shock can be difficult to handle.

Don’t ask me how I know, of course…

[leslee]

Don’t ask me how I know, of course…

One more thing we have in common, Jena!

I was the golden literary kid, too. Published in the paper. Ton of articles. Writers conferences. Awards. Big, big future ahead of you, kid! All very flattering.

Then you get into the "real" world and find out it hasn't been waiting for your arrival. Oops! And, as you say, you're the newcomer guppy in a sea full of big, talented fish - and they don't make room for you. You have to earn your spot.

[Jena Grace]

Then you get into the "real" world and find out it hasn't been waiting for your arrival.

Yeah, what the hell's with THAT????