I for one am all about creative debate. It gets juices flowing and encourages the creative revisions. Like Sherlock Holmes, he needs a Watson to make comments, in order to have the "aaa-HA!" moment that helps him solve the case.
So who do you pick to be your watson? there are a few watson's you should avoid:
1.) The Yes-man: this person loves your stuff no matter what, everything you write is a work of literature and destined for greatness. While sharing your manuscript with this Watson is a great confidence booster, their feedback does little to improve your story. Think about having them read your completed manuscript first (if the person is dying to read it). You want a person who loves your work, or your concept, your direction but is still able to critique it.
2.) The Grumpy Gus: Unlike the Yes-Man, the Grumpy Gus is either jealous of your work, or is incredibly hard to please, or is looking to put your stuff down. They criticize everything sometimes even making their critique personal about YOUR inefficiencies and YOUR short comings to the point where you feel miserable and like your story is dirt and a waste of your time. You never want someone who calls your work names, or stupid, or pointless, or who uses negative terms to describe your characters (unless they deserve them). A good Watson will criticize the weaknesses in your story but who will also provide some positive feedback, or at the very least respect you as a person and as a writer by not making their criticisms a personal attack on you.
3.) The Rock: Getting this Watson to open up is like pulling teeth, they read it, it's OKAY but getting them to communicate the finer points of their criticism is next to impossible. They don't want to engage in a debate, may take your banter back and forth personally as if you're arguing with them. (Note: don't argue with your Watsons, use a point, counter-point approach, don't get defensive about your work, seek to explain not to defend the reasons why you wrote whatever they have a problem with, but be respectful and non-antagonistic with them you WANT people to LIKE you enough to read your stuff).
4.) Mr./Miss Indifferent (aka The Flake)- this person will initially seem really excited about your work, they may at first sound like a Yes-Man but once you finally get them your work they'll sit on it forever, and any attempts to talk about it will gain an indifferent "yea sure I'll get to it" but very little progress. Once they FINALLY get to your work they're just like "well it's FINE...there are some issues blah blah blah" but nothing they say is constructive. Or maybe it sounds like they haven't even read your work and are just making stuff up! Save yourself the aggravation and avoid someone who seems bored with your writing, or who takes forever to get back to you about it. Don't depend on their opinion, seek out other people to bounce your ideas off of. This one's a dead end.
Like I mentioned earlier Sherlocks, respect your Watson's. Make sure that you thank them, make sure you tell them how much you appreciate their feedback. Remember however that their opinion is just that don't allow it to completely dominate your work. It is YOUR book after all, YOU'RE the author. Respect yourself too, if you feel strongly about something in your work that you feel shouldn't be changed DON'T change it just because they say so. If it's really a bother to them and you don't want to change it then let it sit there a while continue on with your wiritng and come back to it. Maybe when you go back to it you'll see what they're saying about it. And if not then maybe they will see where you were going with it and change their minds completely. Above all always find someone who treats you with respect, you're a writer, you're an artist, don't let people treat you or your work like dirt. You work awfully hard on your stuff, don't be discouraged even when you're criticized, take it in stride and be happy, it's a sign that you can continue to progress!!
Have fun! I myself am Watson searching right now!!
