29 Comments
User's avatar
SG's avatar

Love this! I'm with you. Often no feedback is better than a half hearted attempt at feedback that serves no other purpose than to make the author feel like the work is flawed when it really is the case that it just wasn't right for that venue.

MogLokson's avatar

Complimenting the voice, but then saying the thought process behind it is off-putting. What kind of dirty rotten scoundrel type shit is that. Literally the author is the thought process behind it.

Franco Amati's avatar

ha thanks dude

Blake's avatar

100% agree. Everyone wants to put their 2 cents in, even if those two cents do more harm than good. It's one thing to be open to criticism, which clearly you are. I've never known you not to be. But it's another to sit there and let vague comments that don't say much keep you from expressing your true self.

Franco Amati's avatar

thanks my brother.

Vee Barrett's avatar

I think it's a bit selfish for someone to give a critique with no actionable content to it. Like I know we expect authors to be so immune to criticism, especially if they've been in the game for a while, but we are still all human, and if you're going to put down a part of a story that you yourself know cannot really be altered or fixed without killing the piece, then you should just say nothing and wish the person well.

Franco Amati's avatar

thanks Vee :)

K.C. Knouse's avatar

The last line is perfect. He really had nothing of consequence to say. The fact that you eventually sold that piece reinforces the advice to not take rejection too seriously--unless you receive some feedback you can use to actually improve upon your concept of the piece. Loved the biting sarcasm, Franco.

Franco Amati's avatar

thank you, I'm happy you liked that final line :) thanks my friend

Elaine R. Frieman's avatar

All editors have their own tastes and that doesn’t mean your work doesn’t have value to another editor, as you say. Glad the story was accepted to the right champion. ❤️

Franco Amati's avatar

thank you my friend. you're so right ❤️

Lindsay Caitlin's avatar

Ugh feedback. The best and worst emails to receive

Franco Amati's avatar

yes :). thanks for reading Lindsay

kōtare's avatar

Another one for the wall of rejection Franco. My latest called me “lofty” and “weird enjambments”. 😆 keep being strange, keep being lofty.

Franco Amati's avatar

thank you. yea keep being strange, my friend:)

kōtare's avatar

💪

Luka Bönisch's avatar

Here's my feedback for this poem: great thought process behind the voice, Franco. :)

Franco Amati's avatar

thank you Luka :)

Ed Iannuccilli's avatar

Editorial elitism, Franco. Great poem. Great comments. Tira avanti!

Franco Amati's avatar

thanks Ed!!

Derrick's avatar

Great analysis Franco. There is a certain kind of feedback if given too early in the writing process that can kill a project before it even sees its full potential. It's best to stick with what's fixable and not throw down vague statements that serve no purpose other than to fill the writer with a self doubt that we all know writers are never in short supply of.

Franco Amati's avatar

thank you Derrick! always appreciate your insightful commentary

Ria Galliano's avatar

I like that you kind of framed this poem as a conversation. I always appreciate your work. Especially your work that is about your work. That's sometimes the most satisfying to read.

Franco Amati's avatar

thank you Ria. Glad you liked the framing.

Nevena Pascaleva's avatar

Yeah. Non- constructive criticism….

Michelle's avatar

Franco… rant away— it sounds like your feedback was a little too subjective on this occasion. Voices should be allowed to be jarring; it shifts readers out of their median thinking.

I’ll take ‘weird or unsatisfying’ over rinsed and predictable. I’m glad your story sold.

Can I ask where it was published? I’d love to read it.

Rebecca McNeill's avatar

"Sometimes it’s just about getting the writing in front of the eyes of someone who is as off-putting and weird as you are." This may be what it's all about. Loved this one, a poetic rant :)

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Jul 6
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Franco Amati's avatar

thank you my friend:). i appreciate you.