editorialize: the discussion

When I'm working on a book, I don't usually get feedback from anyone.  Some writers like to work with a critique group, and some share early drafts with their spouse or a good friend.  I don't do any of that.  I work in complete isolation, sharing drafts with my editor only when I think they're ready for her eyes.

But I wanted to get some feedback about Last Bookstore in America. I'd never written a novel before, and I couldn't quite tell whether it worked or not. 

When you paint a painting, you can stand back and look at it, either alone or with a group of friends.  You can say, "Do you think my duck looks like a duck, or does it look more like a boat to you?"  Your friends can say, "Yeah, I see what you mean.  Work on the feathers a little more."

But with a novel, you can't stand back and get one good look at the thing.  It takes a week or so to read a novel.  When people give feedback, they're mostly telling you about their memory of their experience reading the novel.  It's a tricky process, and fraught with peril. 

Nonetheless, I decided to share the manuscript with a few friends.  This was a new experience for me.  People gave good, detailed feedback, and they liked the book more than I thought they would.  I found myself begging these people, most of whom were friends of mine, to be very honest and please tell me (kindly, but honestly) if they thought I should put the book in a drawer and move on with my life.

No one did.

So now it's your turn.  Read more about how I think writers and readers can work together here. And feel free to post your opinions and comments here. I'm listening.

Comments

[Jennifer Chaffin]

Don't put it in a drawer! It needs to be put on paper (might I suggest hemp paper, I'd pay extra). I didn't mind reading the excerpts off of Scribd but I wouldn't want to read the whole book that way and I don't have a Kindle. I loved what I read, for many reasons, and my main bias is that I live here and like the idea of a literary description of where we dwell. I want the book!

[DeeVic]

Another vote for the book! Let's see it in the bookstores!
VS

[Oliver]

Well, I'd like to join the discussions about the book but - i can't.
Beeing outside the US, i am not able to legally get a version of the book.
On Script the book is not available over here in Germany and the Kindle is also not sold over here.
I own a Sony PRS 505 and read a lot and i use to by books from different sellers. It is the case with a lot of those companies that they (need to?) concentrate on different markets. I am sure it has to do with rights but it shows that the system of publishing content is years behind the life of many people who are used to get there informations regardless of political and/or natural borders.
Years to come will show how the "old time" publishers will react to the facts already true for many users. The way the will react will show how and if they will survive.