tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post9064542473891138454..comments2024-03-05T11:26:21.204-06:00Comments on All the World's Our Page: DeflectionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-27799279956226762552011-09-07T20:37:31.782-05:002011-09-07T20:37:31.782-05:00As someone who's spent a lot of time in the pa...As someone who's spent a lot of time in the past six months both beta reading (great stuff) and reading books for blog review purposes (pretty bad stuff that was hard to review fairly), I can say it takes a lot of time and effort to provide feedback to others. And if that 'other' isn't willing to take feedback from a beta that her own friend recommends, well... Tell her to thicken her skin!Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-51163165567602602602011-08-17T10:32:52.823-05:002011-08-17T10:32:52.823-05:00Goes to show you, if you don't have anything n...Goes to show you, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. You never know when it will come back to bite you on the ass, or what bridges you will burn. <br /><br />I hope you were still able to help your writing friend out!Kristen Callihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01448274676402616525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-69987415083190568922011-08-17T08:09:43.877-05:002011-08-17T08:09:43.877-05:00I feel sorry for your friend. It sounds like her w...I feel sorry for your friend. It sounds like her writing partner isn't really prepared for this endeavor. You mentioned that your friend and her partner had disagreed over some weak spots (that you also happened to comment on). If this partner doesn't want help or feedback, I wish them luck getting to a point where they actually work with an agent and/or publisher.Preciehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05071233480999640713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-54972411898043441622011-08-17T00:04:12.615-05:002011-08-17T00:04:12.615-05:00You know, if she's not going to take your advi...You know, if she's not going to take your advice anyway, maybe it's just as well that your time isn't wasted reading the MS again...<br />I'd hate to be her future editor - or agent. Nothing grinds my nerves more than a drama queen.<br /><br />I feel bad for your friend here, too. <br /><br />I'm an enthusiastic beta reader - I love giving and receiving crits. And I'm a total feedback junkie, even if I'm shaking in my boots while attaching my document and pressing 'Send.' <br /><br />But when I'm in the thick of beta reading, I'm not all that concerned with sugar-coating -- and this is where some people have got their hackles up getting crits from me in the past. I don't do it on _purpose_. If I believe in somebody's work, by gosh, they will _know_ it - I have no problem hiding my enthusiasm. But I can't cheerlead all the time or I'd never get the work done, and the work is what I'm there to do, so...<br /><br />Some people just need a lot of reassurance. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, and it's really common among beginning writers, but when they repeatedly request feedback more for the ego boost than to improve their writing, it becomes unproductive - a waste of the beta's time and kind of fruitless for the writer too. I may be enthusiastic, but I'm no therapist; if I sense that this is what's going on, inevitably I end up not wanting to crit for that person anymore. <br /><br />There's a big difference between 'I did my best, can you take a look at it and tell me I'm on the right track?' versus 'Hey! Read this! (read as: look what I did!) ...oh, what, you thought it needed work? Well, screw you!"<br /><br />Part of the problem might have been that you and the writer don't 'know' each other - but I really think the problem was her attitude. (Of course.) The lack of a 'thank you' would have rankled me in and of itself - thoughtful critting is an effort that should not go unacknowledged, no matter what the beta's critique said. It's just common courtesy!<br /><br />Agree with other commenters, though - she'll find out what's coming to her. Hopefully she'll learn her lesson at some point.Jill W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13154417703559169377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-47753377779702678712011-08-16T17:28:25.686-05:002011-08-16T17:28:25.686-05:00Some people are unbelievable! Why be a writer if y...Some people are unbelievable! Why be a writer if you don't want an honest friend's advice (or a friend of a friend) and would prefer an average Joe reading your work and then laying down the smack by leaving a nasty comment and review on Amazon? I'd say let her have her rejections. After so many, she'll get the point.Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2274987097756433491.post-14510363744377134202011-08-16T14:55:52.239-05:002011-08-16T14:55:52.239-05:00Good Grief! I agree, let her go. I'm just worr...Good Grief! I agree, let her go. I'm just worried about your friend who has to work with her.Zan Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00166450116524323462noreply@blogger.com