I was busily writing at home last week when my husband called me up and asked if I wanted to meet him for lunch. I hopped in the car and drove the 25 minutes over to his office to pick him up.
Usually when we have lunch, we eat at a sandwich shop or get some Chinese food…nothing fancy.
This time, though, my husband was interested in going to the City Tavern—a white tablecloth-type establishment.
It sounded good to me. But then my husband hesitated. “Do we look all right?”
I glanced over at him—blue jeans (he works in IT) and a golf shirt. I looked at myself and I was wearing something such as a person writing at home might wear on a warm day—flip flops, capris, tee shirt. “We’re good!”
I was driving us over to the restaurant and chatting away about my morning when he asked again if I thought we looked okay.
I said something like, “Sure we do!” and continued on my train of thought.
But the third time he said it, we were about to go into the restaurant. I said, “Sweetie, I don’t think they’re going to turn away paying customers. We don’t look that awful.” He seemed so reticent, that I finally realized that even though I rarely care what I look like, it was important to Coleman. He’s a professional person. He might run into people he has a work relationship with.
I peeked in. I saw other people in jeans. One person had flip flops. We were okay.
Just because it wasn’t important to me, didn’t mean it wasn’t important.
I think that’s why it’s vital for me to have first readers (my parents, mainly) before my manuscript goes to my editors. Sometimes there are book elements that I don’t spend a lot of time writing (I always need to fill in more setting). Just because it’s not important to me, though, doesn’t mean it’s not important to a reader.
My mother is a great first reader for me. “I can’t really picture the porch at the barbeque restaurant,” she said.
I could picture it plainly…in my head. But I hadn’t put my vision on paper at all. It was as if, if I could see it, I thought everyone could see it.
A content critique is vital, I think. Sometimes I think I’ve established the relationship between different characters very clearly—but, again, it might have just been clear to me and I didn’t share it with the reader.
And then, like at the restaurant, there are things that I just don’t enjoy developing in a book. But I need to know when readers need more information: on setting, on character description, on backstory. Those are things I don’t incorporate a lot of—but that sometimes are more important to readers than I think.
Do you have a first reader that you give your manuscript to before its submitted?
Elizabeth – You are so right! We benefit so much by others’ perspectives on our writing! I have two first readers. One is my older sister, and the other is my dear friend from graduate school. Both give such excellent suggestions and helpful feedback that my work is always better for their input.
My best friend and my husband are my first readers but I have a large network of people who read bits and pieces along the way. They all give advice. Some of it is really helpful but all of it allows me to see my writing from a different perspective.
Thanks for sharing this post. It really is important to get feedback on your writing.
Funny how people aren’t telepathic enough to know what we’re trying to say, isn’t it? They need to try harder :)
My husband is my first guinea pig, but he’s so close to the process I like to give it to a couple of friends as well, somewhere around the first draft stage. Not my best friends–I want an honest opinion–but they’re people who read and have useful comments.
“Just because it’s not important to me, doesn’t mean it’s not important” That is a GREAT quote!! – one I’ll have to remember :)
Yes! They’re priceless. Like you, I see things in my head that don’t always make it to the page.
My first reader is my best reader: my wife!
My first manuscript? I gave it to EVERYONE to read. “Hey, you in the back of the bus, you read, right?”
Now with my fifth mss, I’m a bit more discriminating. I have four or five readers I trust to give appropriate feedback.
You should blog about the balance a writer must achieve between being receptive to critique and being loyal to your ideas. (Then, later when I start blogging, I’ll steal the idea back.)
Yes, I have several people who provide excellent critique on content, perspective, tone, details that might me misleading or missing. Great post, as always, Elizabeth.
Karen
Yes! I have several content critiquers, each with different interests, and I am so thankful for them! They evaluate my novels on story and pyschology. Their critique is invaluable!
A content critique is essential. A writer does not see certain things in their own work. As with editing, it’s always easier to see that little something in someone else’s work.
My daughter reads my manuscripts as I go. So does hubby, now that he’s no longer working. But I haven’t used someone to read the full manuscript cold, to see if it hangs together. My crit group, back when I belonged to a local F2F group, was also very good at catching stuff. I swear, they often knew my characters better than I did.
And my current on-line crit group has a computer programmer who is wonderful about pointing out all the picky little details. He wants everything explained. Usually, the ‘fix’ is somewhere in the middle. But he definitely sees things from a different perspective.
First readers are elusive creatures. You need someone who will be honest about the shortcomings without worrying they’re about to hurt your feelings. I go with people who don’t live under the same roof as me and who aren’t familiar with the plot.
Elspeth
I’m always surprised when something that seems perfectly clear to me isn’t to a reader, for the reason you stated – it’s perfectly clear in my head. I think I have the tendency to cut too many of the back story scenes when I’m doing my first revision before anyone reads it. But I do have my sister and my daughter read my manuscripts. I go back and edit after their suggestions and then I’ll turn it over to a friend or two. I also have a critique partner who is very good in pointing out unclear scenes.
First readers are important – they can save you a lot of work and disappointment down the road.
But your first reader MUST be honest and not just say: “Yes, I loved your book (MS), it’s great, you’re great, don’t change a thing.”
Most people don’t have it in them to be cruel to be kind.
I have one first reader who gets the whole book when I have done at least one edit or revision. He does not the get whol thing till I’ve tinkered (and then I’ll go bak and do more).
I also give sections (20 to 30 pp) or chapters to random friends and ask for feedback.
This can be very helpful as they are looking solely at the writing in front of them – not the whole picture-plot-ongoing threads. I get especially useful feedbakc this way about dialogue and descriptions.
Cheers, Jill
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My critique group works with me along the way. My first reader of the completed novel, however, is a cousin who loves to read but is not a writer. She catches inconsistencies or sections that aren’t clear (description, sequence of events, dialogue). After those fixes, then I have a writer read it all the way through. Even then, my editor always finds something…
Excellent point! In my current manuscript I thought I had mapped a romantic thread between two character pretty well. I felt the sexual tension every timeI visited my work, but my alpha reader (my sister) couldn’t tell my MC even had an interest in the man!
Great point! I think maybe a variety of first readers… I have my writing group, and I learned with CONFLUENCE that different people have different strengths and knowing WHICH person for which reading round is also essential.
I need the cheerleaders. But then there is the plot-hole spotter (major guffaws), the content editor, the style reader, and the micro-editor. If I can get them to read in the right order for the next book, I think it will take fewer rounds on the editing…
Margot–You’re lucky to have such great first readers!
Cassandra–I remembered that you had a great group of folks to read for you. Another fortunate writer!
Lorel–With me, it’s best to come out and just *say* it! My husband should know that by now. :)
I enjoyed your post today about your husband giving you feedback. I think we were on the same wavelength today!
Crystal–You’re so right…we get blind to it.
Jane–I guess we think we HAVE put it in, when instead it’s still in our heads!
Jill–That’s the tough part, isn’t it? My feelings will *not* be hurt when it comes to my book. I need the criticism…real, meaty criticism. It’s a job, like any other, after all.
I like the idea of doing it chapter by chapter, too.
Jemi–And it’s something I need to try harder to remember!
Hart–Now that’s an interesting idea…sorting your first readers out by the TYPE of reading they do. After all, they do that at the publisher…first I get global revisions, then I get line-revisions. Great idea!
I, too, consistently leave out details of setting, character description, etc. I tend to see them as less important than action, dialogue, etc. My crit group does occasionally ask for more detail in certain areas, and then I’m happy to throw ’em a bone with a little bit or extra description here and there.
I suppose that answers your question above, though: I let my crit group have first crack at my work. They’re excellent readers, and it’s a brilliant feeling when something I give them engenders very little in the way of actual criticism, but garners more praise than edits. (That’s only happened twice, though, so I don’t expect it!)
Oooh yeah. I don’t pass anything on to even my final editor before running it past my DHR (Designated Honest Reader). I have three of them, all well read but each more read in certain genres than others.
Good point and subject today.
Marvin D Wilson
First readers have saved me from humilation on a number of occassions. I had a prologue I thought worked great, until a reader informed she thought the story was about dragons. It wasn’t. Once I had her perspective, I could see the changes I needed to make.
You are so right! Firest readers are so necessary. My husband always gets first crack at my writing, and because I write YA, so does my oldest daughter, but I really should branch out and find more beta readers. I definitely will with my new book. another great post, Elizabeth!
Simon–Description just doesn’t seem as important to me. But you know, *we’re* the ones with the great imaginations. It just occurred to me. Why *would* ordinary readers be able to create settings in their heads? Writers do that, for the most part.
Marvin–DHR…I love it! You coin the best terms.
Carol–The funny thing is when I’m searching through the WIP to SHOW them the info is in there….and it’s not. Because it’s still living in my head.
Alan–Aren’t you sweet!
Glen–That’s a good point. If my *editor* makes a suggestion, I make the adjustment. But when it comes to a first reader, I usually make 60% of the changes (or thereabouts.) Good idea for a post–thanks! :)
Karen–Great readers!
Kristen–That’s even better…so they’re approaching your WIP from different perspectives.
Terry–So you’ve kind of tweaked the critique from the computer programmer…if he’s wanting LOTS of info in one area, now you know you need to add maybe just a little more? At least he’s finding the areas!
Elspeth–They’re hard to find, aren’t they? But so useful.
Patricia–You’ve got a great reading group, between your critique group and your family. I’m with you, though…my editor still finds plenty.
Sometimes it’s not about us!
I have a friend who is honest, and now an author on the island is willing to help me out.
Tamika–That is TOO funny! I’ve had that kind of thing happen to me, too.
Diane–So true. We have to think about the reader, too.
Glynis–Honest friends are the best!
I have other writer friends to call on when I need a honest read.
Good post.
Helen
Straight From Hel
You are right, Elizabeth. I sent my manuscript to my nine readers, 6 of whom were mystery readers, two editors, and one person with a grad degree in crime fiction. I was bowled over by the information that I received. And it came from the least expected sources. The person who I thought would challenge my logic was the one finding typos. Another person noticed that the man was pulling back the chair for the stocky lady while she was still seated on said chair. Difficult to do… Thanks for the great blog, Elizabeth!
What an interesting post. You have such a way of bringing the mundane aspects of life to the forefront and shining light on their importance, and then bringing them round to relevance in our writing lives.
My brother is my best reader. He gives good input.
I have several first readers – my husband, my sister and some of my closest friends. Not all of them though because I’m not REAL tender but maybe a little and some folks just don’t get it. They do tell me things that I’ve totally missed and that’s what I like them for. It is hard to see what you just don’t see.
Helen–Thanks!
Tara–Too funny! Nothing about dragons. :) I’ve had first readers ask me questions that made me realize I must really have screwed something up.
Carolina–Hope you can find some more great readers like your husband.
Elizabeth–Thanks so much!
Jan–Sounds like you’ve got a wonderful group to read for you. And you’re right…sometimes we just don’t see the problems.
Bobbi–It’s hard to notice these things, isn’t it? I’ve made physical mistakes before…like your chair problem.
Another brilliant post, Elizabeth. Not having finished a book, I can’t really add anything from personal experience, but I do know that I would want three different kinds of people to read my book first – one who tells me what your mother does, another who checks for inconsistancies, and a third who tells me if the book works as a whole or not.