It's a well-known fact that criticism is easier than praise, and a LOT easier than building anything. It's the forever black stain of social media, that it made it so easy for mediocre people to express their mediocrity in anonymity.
Constructive criticism is invaluable. But it’s hard. And when I give it, it never feels good. Creating something is hard (as you know). Constructive criticism is hard, for me, in a different way. It sucks telling someone their piece didn’t work for me.
But then I think back to early drafts of “A Fire Inside.” I’d built up the MC Max, but not so much his friend Alexis. She was one dimensional and it was pointed out to me. I went into overdrive, making her three dimensional. Now? I think readers like her more than Max lol.
It's hard for me too because I don't want to hurt. I meet people online, I read their stuff, but I don't really "know" them. I don't know how they respond to comments. Will they take it personally? But I want to be honest too, because that's what's really helpful... so there's a lot of word smithing involved, careful phrasing. When it doesn't work for me, I have to say so... but maybe the writing is good, so I'll say that. It's a delicate balance.
Except in extreme cases, I’m not convinced of my own opinion. Sure, there’s good and bad writing. Often, however, it’s a case of: this worked for me. Or, this didn’t work for me.
Sure, there's taste and leanings, but when you read a lot (and you do) you get a feeling for what rings and what doesn't, for what has depth, or is truly enjoyable (we can't always be serious), for the books we want to recommend to friends and those we don't... I'll give you an example: a few years ago I read James Lee Burke's "Black Cherry Blues" - I loved it, I thought it was really good. Yesterday, we were in a bookshop in New Iberia (Burke's heartland!) and they had a shelves loaded with his stuff. My husband said: I'll get one, which one? (he's not as rabid a fan as I am). I said "Black Cherry". He started reading right away, and he's totally hooked. So my opinion is shared...
It's a well-known fact that criticism is easier than praise, and a LOT easier than building anything. It's the forever black stain of social media, that it made it so easy for mediocre people to express their mediocrity in anonymity.
Constructive criticism is invaluable. But it’s hard. And when I give it, it never feels good. Creating something is hard (as you know). Constructive criticism is hard, for me, in a different way. It sucks telling someone their piece didn’t work for me.
But then I think back to early drafts of “A Fire Inside.” I’d built up the MC Max, but not so much his friend Alexis. She was one dimensional and it was pointed out to me. I went into overdrive, making her three dimensional. Now? I think readers like her more than Max lol.
It's hard for me too because I don't want to hurt. I meet people online, I read their stuff, but I don't really "know" them. I don't know how they respond to comments. Will they take it personally? But I want to be honest too, because that's what's really helpful... so there's a lot of word smithing involved, careful phrasing. When it doesn't work for me, I have to say so... but maybe the writing is good, so I'll say that. It's a delicate balance.
Except in extreme cases, I’m not convinced of my own opinion. Sure, there’s good and bad writing. Often, however, it’s a case of: this worked for me. Or, this didn’t work for me.
Sure, there's taste and leanings, but when you read a lot (and you do) you get a feeling for what rings and what doesn't, for what has depth, or is truly enjoyable (we can't always be serious), for the books we want to recommend to friends and those we don't... I'll give you an example: a few years ago I read James Lee Burke's "Black Cherry Blues" - I loved it, I thought it was really good. Yesterday, we were in a bookshop in New Iberia (Burke's heartland!) and they had a shelves loaded with his stuff. My husband said: I'll get one, which one? (he's not as rabid a fan as I am). I said "Black Cherry". He started reading right away, and he's totally hooked. So my opinion is shared...