Validation. It’s a word you hear a lot from writers, arising from an underlying need for confirmation: is what I’m writing any good? does it have merit? do people like what they’re reading? am I valued?
In our quest for answers, for certainty, we often end up chasing numbers - because surely numbers don’t lie, numbers are ‘objective’ aren’t they? And because we believe this, metrics become false gods we find ourselves worshipping: numbers of subscribers, followers, likes, reposts… and, if you are one of the lucky minority, meaningful sales and income.
And reviews. Gotta love those stars!
Yet numbers can be misleading. A few years ago I was thrilled when I discovered that a fair number of individuals had added my latest novel to their ‘to read’ list on Goodreads - then I checked-out those lists. At least two of those people had over ten thousand books ‘to read’. They clearly were never going to read them all; my inclusion was therefore meaningless.
One mouse-click on their part was all it took.
Which is why we need to be careful not to invest too much in the outcome of someone else’s habitual button-press. It’s super-easy engagement - and because of that it can also be virtually meaningless. And we’ve all done it. We say we like something - because we do - then ‘click’, think we’ve helped, made a difference. But I’m sceptical.
There are clearly degrees of support. Taking the trouble to make a comment - which involves thought and many keyboard strokes - is clearly a much more significant statement of appreciation. In the validation hierarchy, because they are active, ‘comments’ are a step-up ‘likes’ in the same way that ‘subscribing’ beats ‘following’.
And buying and then reviewing must be the pinnacle? Surely that’s the ‘gold standard’.
Perhaps one thing that is key is recognising the nature of any engagement: passive vs. active. But there’s another scenario too. Remote clicking and tapping is one thing, but when you’re in the same room, face-to-face? That’s something else entirely.
Which is one of the reasons writing groups have the potential to offer the writer something precious: like-minded people telling you what they think about your work - and to your face, to boot. Even your Zoom-face. And Substack may yet evolve to facilitate something similar and non-sycophantic.
Looking at my writing life through the validation lens, whilst I’m as insecure as the next person, I know am fortunate. On the one hand because I belong to a small number of very good writing groups where honest critique is given by other talented writers. And secondly, because I mentor at public writing retreats. Not only is it splendid to have been asked to so (validation in itself!), but at each retreat I run workshops, talk to writers about their work, share my thoughts on the craft, read some of my own material - and each time I welcome new delegates, or outline the programme for the retreat, or stand up to give the first workshop, I am making myself vulnerable. It’s like starting-over every single time. I have to earn the right to be there. “Here I am; tell me what you think.”
Not a mouse-click in sight.
All of which is one reason why I’m looking forward to getting back on the mentoring circuit next year: re-testing myself, re-validating. I currently have 3-day gigs booked-in for February, March, June, July, October and November; a total of seven rounds of planning, introductions, workshops, one-to-ones, the last night ‘read-around’.
When it goes well. when I leave with a spring in my step, for a few days that’s all the validation I require… Who needs numbers?!
"Ian joined us as our guest writer for our February retreat. It was clear that he had carefully thought out the creative exercises for the retreat and, although they were optional sessions for our writers, they were extremely popular. Ian also offered individual writing surgeries which the majority of the writers took part in on both full days. Ian has a calm and supportive approach, which gave writers the confidence to open up and talk about their work. As a business offering untutored retreats, we are always striving to offer added benefit to our visiting authors, and Ian’s presence and sessions definitely did that." Jan Birley – Writers’ Retreats UK
Hosting and belonging to groups must improve your own writing considerably.