Righteous anger
The last couple of weeks I’ve been going through both copy edits as well as first reader comments.
Most of the comments are fabulous. I find myself nodding in agreement, or going, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Or just accepting and moving on.
However, every once in a while, I run across something that just makes my blood boil. It might just be a word change, or a simple piece of punctuation. (Something bigger and I tend to not get angry so much.)
Those who know me, know I’m pretty easy going. I’m not necessarily quick to anger. The reaction I have is out of proportion to the change that’s being requested. I’m aware of this. I still react this way.
Fortunately, one of my mentors finally explained this reaction to me.
If I react with anger, it’s because the change is messing with my Voice.
Things sound a particular way in my head, how a character says something. If a change messes with the way that sounds, I shouldn’t accept that change. However, if something in the draft has confused a first reader, I should redraft it so it’s more clear, using my words, my Voice.
It’s funny, but fonts also sometimes make me react this way. I’ve flowed a book into a POD format, changed the font, and got pissed off. The font was Not Right. It had, somehow changed the Voice of the piece.
I once heard someone describe font as the clothes your words wear. The basic structure is still there, the bones, but the font dresses them up. Or down.
So-pay attention when you get angry at a comment. Possibly you’re being unreasonable. I try always to be a reasonable person. Rational.
But sometimes, that anger is a clue.
Crossposted from my website. If you'd like to comment, you can do so here or there.