Fine Dining vs. Fiction: The “Waiter” Problem in Writing
Fine Dining vs. Fiction: The “Waiter” Problem in Writing
Wednesday Directed Writing Group Episode 5a Lesson
Are you treating your novel like a fine dining experience? Here is why that might be a mistake.
In this lesson, Adam Simon explores the “parasocial” relationship between authors and readers, comparing successful authors to lifestyle brands like Air Jordan or Selena Gomez. The core problem? Unlike a waiter at a fine dining establishment, an author cannot hover over the reader’s shoulder to refill their glass or explain a confusing plot point. Once the book is in the reader’s hands, you are absent.
This creates a need for rigorous product testing—but Adam argues that the traditional method of hiring a paid editor is often a trap. From “Evaluator Bias” to “Competing Visions,” we break down why paying thousands of dollars for a developmental edit often leads to cognitive overload rather than a publishable manuscript.
In this episode:
✦ The Lifestyle Brand Analogy: What writers can learn from Michael Jordan and Selena Gomez.
✦ The “Waiter” Problem: Why you can’t rely on being there to save the reader’s experience.
✦ Paid Editor Gotchas: The four major issues with hiring professional editors (Prioritization, Evaluator Bias, Competing Vision, and Cognitive Overload).
✦ The Alternative: Introduction to naturalistic feedback and the “Retelling” method.
Key Concepts:
✦ Parasocial Relationships: Leveraging the intimacy/isolation dynamic of reading.
✦ Transmission vs. Story: Understanding which feedback targets the writing and which targets the plot.
✦ The DNF Factor: Why paid editors can never truly test if a reader will “Did Not Finish” your book.
Want more writing help?
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