“Getting to the Heart of the Matter”
Dear writer, I hope you had a wonderful week and had a chance to consider how a professional editor might take your book to a whole new level! This week, we’re shifting gears to explore how to use the feedback you’ll receive from your editor, beta readers, family, and friends. Because here’s the thing…
Everyone will have an opinion about your book. But not all opinions are created equal, and even the best input may not include sound advice for its implementation. That’s why it’s crucial to identify what’s at the heart of each comment and how your reader’s true needs intersect with the heart of your story.
But before we get started, let’s look at some others who, by understanding the heart of what they heard and saw, uncovered whole new pathways for growth.
The Heart of the Matter in History
William Bradford, one of the original colonists and leaders of Plymouth Plantation, is a wonderful example of a man who was able to understand the hearts of men and women of wildly different backgrounds than his own. Though a devout Puritan, Bradford worked hand in hand with military officer, Myles Standish, and Chief Massiot to create a secure environment in which to establish Plymouth Plantation. Bradford’s wisdom and leadership played an integral role in founding Plymouth as a society where all could worship God freely.
You see, writer, as begin to understand the heart behind our editor, beta readers, and friends and family’s feedback, it becomes easier to integrate that feedback in ways that strengthen our story’s uniqueness while broadening its accessibility to readers.
The Heart of the Matter in the Bible
Abigail is an excellent example of a woman who quickly understood the heart of a matter. When her husband, Nabal, refused David’s request for aid in return for the protection David’s men had given Nabal’s flocks, Abigail immediately understood the danger looming on the horizon.
Acting quickly, Abigail brought aid and wisdom that prevented David from committing a disastrous sin. Her swift understanding and action helped David preserve his integrity, and later she became David’s wife after Nabal’s natural death. Abigail’s understanding brought truth to both David and Nabal and saved many lives.
You see, writer, when we take the time to understand the heart behind the feedback, we can create pathways to help readers who are wildly different than us connect with and understand our story without compromising our story’s integrity. In many ways, just as Abigail did.
The Heart of the Matter in Life
I first grappled with the heart of a matter when a group of girls in my youth group lied about me to our church. At the time, I couldn’t make heads or tails of what had provoked such a malicious attack. But in time, God helped me to see the heart of what happened and that— more than any one thing I’d done—who I was convicted these girls of wrong choices they’d been making. Wrong choices that came to light years later.
When I understood the heart behind their actions, it freed me to release their attack and criticism guiltlessly. And here’s the thing writer…
The Heart of the Matter in Your Life
Taking time to understand the heart of a piece of feedback not only equips you to make your story its very best, but it also enables you to see when a comment has little do to with your story and can simply be let go. Sometimes our work will touches a sore spot in another and provoke a response that has more to do with where they are than where your story is.
Understanding the heart is about learning to discern the true need behind the various inputs you receive. Though it can be trying work, it is more than worth the effort. Because when you truly understand where your readers are coming from, you can create a path to meet them there. Here’s what I mean…
- The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. – Proverbs 20:5
- If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth. – Jeremiah 15:19
- But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. – Hebrew 5:14
- The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. – Proverbs 14:15
You see, writer, the process of understanding the heart grows our own hearts as we stretch ourselves to understand where different readers are coming from, their unique valuation systems, whether your story is meant for them, and—if it is—how to strengthen or refine it to reach them.
Where to Start with the Heart of the Matter
So are you ready to get to the heart of the constructive criticism you are receiving? Here are some thoughts to help get you started…
- Pray. Whenever you find yourself struggling to understand a piece of feedback, the best place to start is by asking God for wisdom. He is the one who has called and commissioned your book, and He is the one who know the hearts to those it’s meant to reach. He can give you the very best insight. After asking for His help, write down any thoughts He brings to mind. Sometimes the answer will come directly, and sometimes His wisdom will unfold as you begin to think and move through the discernment process with Him.
- Ask Why. As you engage with feedback, revisit “why” you are writing this particular story. Then, with your own purposes firmly in mind, ask yourself “why” your editor, beta reader, family member, or friend has given the particular piece of feedback you struggling with. What caused them to trip over that aspect of your story? How can you address the real issue in a way that honors and grows your story?
- Discern Between Clarity &Style. As you evaluate feedback, consider whether the comment is addressing a point of clarity or a point of style. If a reader genuinely finds parts of your story confusing or inconsistent, that’s a clarity issue you will definitely want to address! If the comment is simply based on “standards” for certain genres or another writer’s preferred approach, feel free to disregard the input and allow your story to remain uniquely yours!
- Contextualize. As you identify what feedback is critical to the full development of your story, the final step you want to take is to consider how you will implement that feedback into your story. For instance, a reader may say your character cries too much. But is the problem too many tears? Or the fact that you need to develop a stronger emotional connection between the reader and your character so the reader can feel and appreciate their sadness? And here’s the real deal…
Taking time to identify the heart of feedback is about building bridges between the unique vision God’s given you and the people He means for it to reach. When we truly understand those who need our story, we can bring that understanding back to them. Because here’s the lovely thing.
Any time we seek to understand and be understood, we strengthen the connection God’s given us between us and others. When those connections are strong, they pave a clear path for God to impart His vision into others too.
Just like the Bradford’s willingness to understand and work with soldiers and Native Americans laid a strong societal foundation for freedom to worship, a foundation that formed the cultural roots of our civilization today. Just like Abigail’s quickness to understand and be understood saved David and Nabal from a life-altering altercation. Just like my insight freed me from a needless weight and equipped me to help others gain freedom, too.
So, I encourage you today, writer, if you’ve been puzzled or frustrated by feedback you’ve received, take time to understand the heart behind it. As you do—whether you discern that input to be merited or not—the process of truly engaging with the heart of your reader will grow you and your story and will clarify your message so that God’s truth can shine through it and birth life and vision in others, too.
#vision #discernment #wisdom #theheart #EveryWriterWriting
