First of all, there's a great difference between being critical and giving good critique.
Some people can do this without tearing someone to ribbons. On the other hand, one has to develop a way to deal with critique in a healthy way without taking it so personally that any/all critique is seen as being mean.
If someone needs beta reader/editor - I do that. I try very hard to offer reviews and assistance without ripping someone apart but I am honest and candid. I also work with a new writer to barter services or charge on a sliding scale because I know novice writers don't have huge budgets to use to get their work into shape for a professional publisher, or even to a self-publishing house.
I do tell people if their work is something that I believe I can be positive about and helpful, if not, I will tell them that too in the nicest way possible, or try to do so. We've all been there, as writers, and we all should remember what it felt like to receive a good word, some positive encouragement when we did do the work and were trying to come up with a good creative piece.
Writing isn't a "Hey, I should get credit for just running it through a spell-checker" type of process. In my opinion, there has to be creativity, inspiration, imagination, depth, and construction; a formula of thinking that shows this writer had developed a story from start to finish. After that, they took the time and energy to transfer it to paper or digital format and did the hard work of making sure their work was clearly translated to their audiences' language in a concise way so that it's understood.
Doing all of this in a highly-competitive market that is over-saturated by other people trying to do the same thing, in the shortest amount of time, because time is of the essence, and getting paid ONLY (generally) after the work is completed, is frustrating and can make a person quite anxious. Welcome to the rest of the world, right?
Competing with the very people that one may or may not have reached out to ask for help or guidance in the early stages of the work. That can cause sour grapes for some writers who've been asked to help others and get "burned" by not receiving credit or accolades, even an acknowledgement from those they've helped. New writers should take note of those who've helped them not just with research but editing, reviewing and acting as readers for their first books.
These are the names one should include in giving the author notes, where the writer gives credits where they are due, often in the fronts-piece of their work, followed by the dedication page. Those are great feelings to share and other writers will take notice if credit is given and be more willing to help out again in future should they be asked.
There are so many things that then must happen - marketing, selling, gaining an audience. These are the pesky things that if, like myself, one is more interested in writing, researching, and editing, becomes a struggle. That's where I bog down and need to reach out to others who've mastered the sales processes and techniques in the same manner.
I ask politely and with respect to those who've blazed marketing trails ahead of me and made it work for them. Would it be wonderful if my friends just picked up my manuscript from the dust bin and sent it to a publisher who then called me with a $250k royalty payment and a publishing agreement for my next three books? Sure, who wouldn't love to have that "Stephen King" moment? I would. It could happen.
So yes, we should all try to remember our innocence and dreams, whether it's to be a writer, a painter, a chef, a dancer, a singer, a hiker, a actor, whatever we may dream of being - and no matter at what age. Dreams and goals are important to keep having and remember to be kind - reviewers, helpers, editors, beta readers, etc., but writers - beware and remember when you become the experienced ones to reach back and help those coming up behind you as you look ahead, for there be dragons out there, don't venture out unprepared.
Some people can do this without tearing someone to ribbons. On the other hand, one has to develop a way to deal with critique in a healthy way without taking it so personally that any/all critique is seen as being mean.
If someone needs beta reader/editor - I do that. I try very hard to offer reviews and assistance without ripping someone apart but I am honest and candid. I also work with a new writer to barter services or charge on a sliding scale because I know novice writers don't have huge budgets to use to get their work into shape for a professional publisher, or even to a self-publishing house.
I do tell people if their work is something that I believe I can be positive about and helpful, if not, I will tell them that too in the nicest way possible, or try to do so. We've all been there, as writers, and we all should remember what it felt like to receive a good word, some positive encouragement when we did do the work and were trying to come up with a good creative piece.
Writing isn't a "Hey, I should get credit for just running it through a spell-checker" type of process. In my opinion, there has to be creativity, inspiration, imagination, depth, and construction; a formula of thinking that shows this writer had developed a story from start to finish. After that, they took the time and energy to transfer it to paper or digital format and did the hard work of making sure their work was clearly translated to their audiences' language in a concise way so that it's understood.
Doing all of this in a highly-competitive market that is over-saturated by other people trying to do the same thing, in the shortest amount of time, because time is of the essence, and getting paid ONLY (generally) after the work is completed, is frustrating and can make a person quite anxious. Welcome to the rest of the world, right?
Competing with the very people that one may or may not have reached out to ask for help or guidance in the early stages of the work. That can cause sour grapes for some writers who've been asked to help others and get "burned" by not receiving credit or accolades, even an acknowledgement from those they've helped. New writers should take note of those who've helped them not just with research but editing, reviewing and acting as readers for their first books.
These are the names one should include in giving the author notes, where the writer gives credits where they are due, often in the fronts-piece of their work, followed by the dedication page. Those are great feelings to share and other writers will take notice if credit is given and be more willing to help out again in future should they be asked.
There are so many things that then must happen - marketing, selling, gaining an audience. These are the pesky things that if, like myself, one is more interested in writing, researching, and editing, becomes a struggle. That's where I bog down and need to reach out to others who've mastered the sales processes and techniques in the same manner.
I ask politely and with respect to those who've blazed marketing trails ahead of me and made it work for them. Would it be wonderful if my friends just picked up my manuscript from the dust bin and sent it to a publisher who then called me with a $250k royalty payment and a publishing agreement for my next three books? Sure, who wouldn't love to have that "Stephen King" moment? I would. It could happen.
So yes, we should all try to remember our innocence and dreams, whether it's to be a writer, a painter, a chef, a dancer, a singer, a hiker, a actor, whatever we may dream of being - and no matter at what age. Dreams and goals are important to keep having and remember to be kind - reviewers, helpers, editors, beta readers, etc., but writers - beware and remember when you become the experienced ones to reach back and help those coming up behind you as you look ahead, for there be dragons out there, don't venture out unprepared.
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