The Imperfection of Creativity:
 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

Does this scenario sound familiar?

You struggle to develop your characters and plot.  You labor over every word.  You bolster weak scenes, delete nonessential parts--rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite.  At last you have a "polished draft." You give the book to betas for feedback.  After additional revisions, editing, and proofing, you're ready to publish your novel.

You launch your book into the marketplace, with guarded but high hopes.  The reviews start trickling in, the readers' opinions often contradictory and confusing.  You sit there shaking your head and wondering.  "What happened?  I thought I had it right this time..."

Creativity is imperfect.  Ask any artist.  There is no tried and true method for writing the quintessential novel, painting a masterpiece, or composing a brilliant symphony.  If we were all computers, programmed the same way, it might be possible.  But we are human beings with varied experiences, myriad emotions, and differing perspectives.  As authors, our creative efforts represent the sum total of everything we are...and everything we are not.

Readers have their own viewpoints and expectations.  It's not uncommon for readers to dislike certain characters because of faults they perceive in themselves or other people. A story might be too happy or too sad for them, too long or too short--or not up their literary alley.  Whether someone likes your book or not is a matter of personal preference and not necessarily a reflection of your work.

When you're writing something as complex as a novel, you must hold true to the vision for your story.  Keep criticism in mind, but don't take judgment to heart.  In your gut, you'll know if comments have validity or if making changes would dramatically improve your novel. No matter how many times you revise a story, you will never please everyone.  No book is flawless, nor should it be.

If you ever doubt that creativity is magnificent but imperfect, gaze up at the heavens on a clear, dark night...and remember how the universe, in all its chaotic beauty, exploded into existence.

Then, go forth and write!

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Thanks for stopping by Indie Lindy.  Comments and shares are always appreciated.  Happy reading and happy writing!