Have we ever said to someone who's really, really good: that's really good, I could see that being published, or do we nit their commas and whatnot because that's what we're supposed to do in a crit. (I have a couple of people I've handed it back to -- well, one, actually -- and pretty much said it's brilliant. But I have read a couple of others where if I'd picked it up in the library, I'd have read it easily and not known it was from a new author, and I probably haven't said that to the people concerned. Sorry.)
Similarly, has anyone actually been honest enough to say to someone I really don't think you have the skills you need?
I never have mainly because a. how do I know? I am an amateur author with my own tastes which are widely divergent from others. Most epic fantasy that I've read, the published stuff, I mean, if it was sitting in front of me for a crit, I'd red pen everywhere. (Mostly it'd be get on with the story and stop describing a horse. But others like horse description, apparently. )
and b. intrinsically, despite the madame whiplash comments last month, I'm quite a nice person, who'd hate to douse someone's dreams. I'm happy to comment on punctuation and the story, and I'm mostly honest about whether I liked it, loved it, or it wasn't for me. But I couldn't, actually, say to someone they were rubbish, in my opinion.
And yet, I'd want them to tell me. Nicely. But I'd want to know so that I can decide not to waste my spare time writing. I have other things I could waste it on. What about anyone else? How honest are you, really? ....
Similarly, has anyone actually been honest enough to say to someone I really don't think you have the skills you need?
I never have mainly because a. how do I know? I am an amateur author with my own tastes which are widely divergent from others. Most epic fantasy that I've read, the published stuff, I mean, if it was sitting in front of me for a crit, I'd red pen everywhere. (Mostly it'd be get on with the story and stop describing a horse. But others like horse description, apparently. )
and b. intrinsically, despite the madame whiplash comments last month, I'm quite a nice person, who'd hate to douse someone's dreams. I'm happy to comment on punctuation and the story, and I'm mostly honest about whether I liked it, loved it, or it wasn't for me. But I couldn't, actually, say to someone they were rubbish, in my opinion.
And yet, I'd want them to tell me. Nicely. But I'd want to know so that I can decide not to waste my spare time writing. I have other things I could waste it on. What about anyone else? How honest are you, really? ....