Into the Fire

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Passionate: right or wrong. Writes love stories with a passion. Raw Romantic Redemptive

Skewed judgment?

 

Ever feel like your judgment is skewed? Like you're missing "it"?

For a writer it's a weird place to be. It infringes on your sensibilities, pressing against your confidence, and pushes you into self-loathing.

You read the books whose rave reports entice you, and you fail to catch the fever. Is my judgment skewed? Am I so far removed from what is supposed to equal "good" that I can't make a sound judgment?

Is there any validity in my opinion?

Sometimes I guess I just don't know . . .

 

Father, you know. All things. And you do all things well. Help me to honor you in what you've given me to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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11 responses to “Skewed judgment?”

  1. Brenda Jackson Avatar
    Brenda Jackson

    Oh yes, I doubt myself at times. Best example I can think of is a very popular long time favorite book in CBA that everyone raves over which I finally broke down and read. And simply could not see what the fuss was about.
    Ir does not push me into self-loathing however. I just acknowledge that I march to a drum that is different than 99% of the readers who are aimed at in traditional CBA markets.
    And nobody is going to like everything written anyway, past books or present.

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  2. Brenda Anderson Avatar
    Brenda Anderson

    Oh yeah, that’s me. And that extends beyond the books I read. Always perceiving things differently can shake my confidence, but frustrating would describe it better. Sometimes I find myself asking God, why can’t I just fit in and view things as others see them.
    But then, I wouldn’t be me, would I?

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  3. dayle Avatar
    dayle

    I don’t doubt myself, I doubt everybody else. 🙂
    Example: I’ve watched Napoleon Dynamite and I don’t get it. It’s not funny at all. It’s not even clever or engaging. It’s stupid. One of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. The actor playing ND did a terrible job in my opinion. Not his fault, he did what they wanted. He’s a decent actor. There is nothing there.
    Of course given the success, they have the last laugh on me.

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  4. Brenda Anderson Avatar
    Brenda Anderson

    Oh, and Nicole, it’s your unique take on books and life that makes you so interesting. I love that you’re bold in stating your opinions and I wouldn’t want you any other way.

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  5. Brenda Jackson Avatar
    Brenda Jackson

    I’m not familiar with Napoleon Dynamite, but that reminds me of another situation. In Stargate SG-1, both on the show and heavily in fanfiction, they were forever trying to make Jack and Carter a romantic interest. Yet you watched scenes with those two and there was absolutely zero chemistry between them.
    But I discovered I was one of about 2 people in the universe who just thought the concept of them romantically involved was the most horrifying ever.
    Doubting the sanity of everyone else is definitely how I would describe that. LOL!

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  6. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Dayle first. I saw ND for the first time recently. You’re right: it’s stupid. But I will tell you this: the dance scene was worth it. That capped it for me. That and the only other positive is being aware of the all the joking references to the film’s story.
    Brenda J. and A., those feelings of individuality can make for lonely or solitary moments. I have them frequently. Sometimes it seems that what I desire to see in important places in my life have no bearing. They rattle around in my sensibility but apparently are doomed to stasis. I ask the Lord for His guidance and try to be the one He designed me to be. But, yeah, sometimes it all graduates to self-loathing and real doubt.
    Thank you for your sincere comments and encouragement. The Lord does have a work in progress here–good thing He’s not a quitter.

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  7. Tim George Avatar
    Tim George

    Know just what you are talking about Nicole. The subjective nature of entertainment, music, writing, etc… is the reason I don’t write bad reviews. If I like it, I review it. If I don’t, I let it go.
    BTW: Napolean Dynamite is a classic for every guy who lives through that phase of life. It’s only funny now.

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  8. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I don’t blame you, Tim. Good point on ND.

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  9. dayle Avatar
    dayle

    I don’t think I made it to the dance scene, Nicole. I was too busy trying to wake up from my coma.
    Tim, although I can’t relate to the guy in the movie, I can get a universal commonality connection with the fan base. But again, I saw nothing original, nothing new, and most importantly, nothing entertaining. Subjectivity at work.

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  10. Jerri L Ledford Avatar
    Jerri L Ledford

    I think, especially for a writer, that reading a book that has great reviews and not understanding why leaves you with the sense that perhaps you’re not understanding your audience the way you thought. At least, that’s how I feel.
    There’s been an interesting discussion going on on the ACFW list about reviews and how effective they are. My take on it is that reviews are subjective, whether they’re about books, products, movies or whatever. Every review is influenced by the person writing the review.
    So, I just don’t read them. I make my decisions based on interest and what looks/sounds engaging. I’ve read a lot of great books that were reviewed poorly and a lot of poor books that were reviewed greatly. Obviously, my tastes are different.
    Doesn’t mean that I’m an inferior writer. I know my audience, I know what stories I have to write. And to those who find them unappealing, I’m sorry. But there are plenty of other writers out there who will give you exactly what you want.

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  11. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    “Doesn’t mean that I’m an inferior writer. I know my audience, I know what stories I have to write. And to those who find them unappealing, I’m sorry. But there are plenty of other writers out there who will give you exactly what you want.”
    Couldn’t agree more with this, Jerri. However, when those who find them unappealing – for whatever reason – are in the acquisitions position, makes it hard to reach the audience for whom they were written. You know?
    And I don’t read reviews until after I’ve read a novel – if I read them at all. I don’t really need a recommendation from someone who has the opposite taste(s) in fiction than I do. But when I read a book and really wonder how a novel came to be published, I read the reviews only to find certain ones raving about it. Geez.

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