tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post5123652712057206594..comments2024-02-12T15:15:51.364+02:00Comments on The Five Year Project: Some more tough love.Misha Gerrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-34324803798320625802014-01-27T22:43:37.580+02:002014-01-27T22:43:37.580+02:00Good tough love, Misha. It's all true, and wor...Good tough love, Misha. It's all true, and worthy of mention. I think I'll always have a hard time with honest critique. Fortunately, I have critique friends who know this about me. It doesn't stop them from being honest, but they are conscious about pouring on the encouragement too. I'm very lucky. Tough love is received best when the loving is detected.<br /><br />xoRobynRawknrobyn.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15997241410192066577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-32485531467558368072014-01-27T22:14:50.854+02:002014-01-27T22:14:50.854+02:00Very, very well said. Honestly, the thing that sca...Very, very well said. Honestly, the thing that scares me most about the rise of self publishing is that so many authors seem to think editors and crit partners are only there to fix grammar and give warm fuzzies. EVERY story need an objective, tough-loving, experienced editor to make sure that the author's intentions come across to the reader. <br /><br />And yes, its fine for an author to balk at advice - but then they should own the thing and not whine when readers call them out on it.Nicki Elsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412032684225126973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-35459797793690658492014-01-27T09:07:47.754+02:002014-01-27T09:07:47.754+02:00Tough love, but definitely to the point. It's ...Tough love, but definitely to the point. It's good to hear this now and then to bring you back to earth. I'd be a liar to claim I was an amazing writer, but it's also about taking the steps to become one and listening to others around you for critique. Great point and great post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05652657763430690997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-83093792643505928572014-01-27T00:39:58.582+02:002014-01-27T00:39:58.582+02:00I take my CPs and my editor's opinion into acc...I take my CPs and my editor's opinion into account and really think them over. I usually address all the issues that are brought up before the book goes to press. For that reason, I don't read reviews after the book is in print because I know there will be readers who won't like my book, but I wrote the book I wanted and I'm okay with that.Kelly Hashwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13936313159809041986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-84061277495839802962014-01-26T23:56:09.133+02:002014-01-26T23:56:09.133+02:00I totally agree with you. I've been in too man...I totally agree with you. I've been in too many conversations lately about how writers shouldn't review other writers unless they are giving a 5 star (or whatever the top star is) review. To me, there is no point in reviewing a book if you are only going to do it to bolster someone's feelings or sales. I want honest reviews, as should all writers, in my opinion. Sadly, many take offense when the suggestions could improve their writing. Shell Flowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08127004188099765270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-26094683516277637262014-01-26T22:17:57.705+02:002014-01-26T22:17:57.705+02:00My CPs and I are sticklers about craft and crit ea...My CPs and I are sticklers about craft and crit each other <i>hard</i>. But there are plenty of people who don't care about rules. They self-pub their books with barely any editing. And who can say they're wrong? The things I see selling the most on Amazon are the lowest priced books -- not the best written books. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07735576044552810103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-6491526259989114422014-01-26T20:19:32.061+02:002014-01-26T20:19:32.061+02:00Literary intentions that aren't clear are like...Literary intentions that aren't clear are like artists who paint new age abstract art - people just aren't going to get it. And it's pretentious to claim there's a deep meaning behind it, because if no one gets it, then it's as good as no meaning.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-7380126807014502802014-01-26T19:47:30.490+02:002014-01-26T19:47:30.490+02:00How true! Taking responsibility is certainly the ...How true! Taking responsibility is certainly the way to go! <br />Awesome post, BTW!Veronica Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14411581380408080378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-78596356407457205812014-01-26T01:57:40.658+02:002014-01-26T01:57:40.658+02:00"But at some stage a writer who wants a succe...<i>"But at some stage a writer who wants a successful career needs to put his/her pro writer pants on."</i><br /><br />Yessssss!Carrie Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540590799406170410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-59111658303326960032014-01-25T12:47:13.127+02:002014-01-25T12:47:13.127+02:00Intentions not laid out are no use to a reader.Intentions not laid out are no use to a reader.sjphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05772883091207430753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-6522094869741330582014-01-25T11:14:30.013+02:002014-01-25T11:14:30.013+02:00Even if the writer "intended something" ...Even if the writer "intended something" with all that dialogue, if the point wasn't clarified, then the purpose failed. I've read some books I really didn't like the MC for a good part of the book, but stuck with it to see if there was a purpose. Sure enough, the author excelled at developing the character into someone I understood. Still didn't like the character; but that was also done with specific intent, and done well.<br /><br />But, not everyone "got" the message imparted in the story. Readers are entitled to their opinions, ad you can't please everyone.<br /><br />........dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-15097601833532875212014-01-25T00:31:49.674+02:002014-01-25T00:31:49.674+02:00I wrote a book I knew not everyone would like. So ...I wrote a book I knew not everyone would like. So far I've only seen one reviewer openly hate it. And she's entitled to her own opinion. However, I did think she went too far with it, but as you said that's another topic.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09962862566388212238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-81304360467651190532014-01-24T17:59:56.317+02:002014-01-24T17:59:56.317+02:00I agree with you on that blaming others is a sign ...I agree with you on that blaming others is a sign of weakness. Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-18323423431043376012014-01-24T12:47:45.121+02:002014-01-24T12:47:45.121+02:00Readers have different tastes, so while some might...Readers have different tastes, so while some might love loads of dialogue, others won't like it at all. That's OK - as writers we can't please everyone and as readers we're perfectly entitled to our opinions and preferences.<br /><br />What's not OK is to blame the reader for disliking our work, or worse to criticise the way they read it. Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-1428947018451040982014-01-24T12:44:43.829+02:002014-01-24T12:44:43.829+02:00The skydiver INTENDED on opening his parachute. . ...The skydiver INTENDED on opening his parachute. . .Sean McLachlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09778503397743759469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-22481807368980443392014-01-24T11:03:48.576+02:002014-01-24T11:03:48.576+02:00Hi Misha .. seems like you've struck a chord h...Hi Misha .. seems like you've struck a chord here - and I'm sure I'd agree .. anything that doesn't pull me in gets put to one side, I need to be engaged.<br /><br />It does as Karen says apply to life too .. asking for help or advice isn't easy at the best of times, as we think we know ... but we need to do it - or be critiqued for our work, we need to ask and then accept their judgement ... we can incorporate it or ignore it .. but at least be polite to think about it .. and acknowledge it's an area that you need to look into ... <br /><br />So true .. I hope those figs are being put to good use, and I gather the temperature over there is hot!! Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-48626510001696294092014-01-24T10:24:22.187+02:002014-01-24T10:24:22.187+02:00Brilliant post, and so true! I stumble across thes...Brilliant post, and so true! I stumble across these things all the time while editing, and it's really hard when the writer doesn't understand why certain changes need to be made.<br /><br />Sometimes, I think it's about experience. At first, any criticism is HARD to take, but after a while, it should get easier. If it doesn't... writing might not be the best career path!Kyra Lennonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13853462182450429660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-18405216883893667742014-01-24T04:19:53.602+02:002014-01-24T04:19:53.602+02:00I don't see why you would worry about getting ...I don't see why you would worry about getting into trouble with this post. It's true on so many levels.<br /><br />If the reader didn't get what you intended, then maybe that reader is not who you were writing for (which is OK), or maybe you didn't convey your intentions well enough (which is your problem). In no way is the reader to blame.Botanisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12098709722475364465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-8710177678002843992014-01-24T04:03:38.042+02:002014-01-24T04:03:38.042+02:00I can definitely relate to this post, and I think ...I can definitely relate to this post, and I think your argument is completely correct. I've been frustrated by more than one story that had a good premise but went wrong somehow, either due to the characters or the writing that should have been revised; it made me feel like it could have been a lot better than it was. <br /> Neurotic Workaholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775298184138766683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-67821227096723533502014-01-24T00:40:31.888+02:002014-01-24T00:40:31.888+02:00Own your stuff. That is true in every aspect of li...Own your stuff. That is true in every aspect of life... including writing.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-37327073740465784322014-01-24T00:07:29.449+02:002014-01-24T00:07:29.449+02:00Yep. Do you want to be just a writer or do you wan...Yep. Do you want to be just a writer or do you want to be a professional writer--putting out stories other not only 'want to' but actually do read and enjoy?Terry W. Ervin IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561009802388207515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-5602488353756645902014-01-23T22:33:33.285+02:002014-01-23T22:33:33.285+02:00If you don't take responsibility for your acti...If you don't take responsibility for your actions no one else will. Great post xxxLuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14763977205905550024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-2023369093638511442014-01-23T22:25:08.023+02:002014-01-23T22:25:08.023+02:00Excellence. What, I do. But you determine your own...Excellence. What, I do. But you determine your own work.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-35462004583171634452014-01-23T22:09:57.896+02:002014-01-23T22:09:57.896+02:00Yup, gotta take responsibility not only in our wri...Yup, gotta take responsibility not only in our writing but in our lives. It can be a tough call, but who else is going to do it? And when we DO make that call, we have to be willing to let accept the consequences. :)Bish Denhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359927719391990534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-86260697067704605492014-01-23T21:53:35.854+02:002014-01-23T21:53:35.854+02:00Taking responsibility is the way to go. Great post...Taking responsibility is the way to go. Great post!<br /><br />NasRomance Reader https://www.blogger.com/profile/10633164931292182035noreply@blogger.com