Some Responses to My Last Entry

I received a few replies to my inquiry on my personal Facebook page when I linked the blog post there. I figured I'd share them and see if they spark any other interesting ideas!

Stephen Garratt, a 35 year-old non-writing male from Virginia, stated

Guess it depends on why you don't like it. If it's just not the genre or style you prefer, I'd say read with a critical eye, look for grammar mistakes and other things that someone more "absorbed" might overlook. Then you can give impartial and constructive feedback. Now if you just think it is poorly written, that's the same quandary everyone faces when asked for "honesty" and my answer is usually "lie nicely."

Marge Perko, a writer in her 20s from California, stated:

First, ask the writer what he or she needs from the feedback session. Be specific - does he or she want to go over dialogue, the flow of a certain scene, etc. By asking the writer to narrow down the focus of the feedback session, you can concentrate on details and be constructive TOGETHER. If it is a genre/topic you are not familiar with, you can be honest and say "I'm not usually a fan of/a reader of (genre).

Anyways, what I was trying to say was: set your parameters early. Writers groups and sessions can be very professional, supportive encounters. Good luck - and congrats again on hitting your writing goals!

So, what say you?!

The Reading Writer's Review Dilemma

So, I've been thinking. Yes, this is a dangerous pastime indeed!

I have made several writer/author friends via Twitter — which is exciting because everyone's really amazingly supportive and I've made some good 'close' friends even though we mainly keep in contact through tweets. But this has made me think, as I continue to read a book that I've been meaning to read for a while and just haven't had the chance. Of course, this writer isn't my friend (she's a bestselling author — you know, one with books that B&N makes an entire end-cap out of), though she is among my favorites, and I do follow her on Twitter ... but I digress ...

My dilemma is that I'm not really liking what I'm reading right now. Of course, I could get sucked in at any moment and the entire novel could end up being quite lovely. But overall, not my favorite. That happens, I know.

BUT, what happens when I read the hard work of someone whom I do consider a friend and have been corresponding with , and I don't like it?! It hasn't happened to me yet, thank God. I haven't read any of my published friends' works for a few reasons and this dilemma is among them. If I read, and they will know I'm reading, they're going to want to know what I think. Then I get worried I won't think too highly of it and, even in my nicest most constructive form of criticism (which I still hate to give), make them upset/angry with me for not particularly caring for it.

So, what gives? What do ya' do?

My plan of action, should this occur, is be as nice and professional and as constructive as possible — besides, just because it's not my cup of tea doesn't mean that it's not the next bestseller or another person's soon-to-be favorite — and let the chips fall where they may.

What experiences has everyone had with this sort of thing? Good one, bad ones, some as big as your head ...

Wait, wrong train of thought ...

Unfocused

Oh my goodness. It's almost 2012 ... on the one hand, I can't believe it. On the other — THANK GOD!

I've had so much going on this past year: moving out on my 'own' (well, with my son), doing the whole divorce thing, trying to rediscover who I am, among other things. One of the parts of my 'rediscovering' myself is immersing myself in writing.

I have always been a writer. My family would never see me without a notebook and a pen (usually some odd color like electric blue, hot pink, green, or — my favorite — purple). I've written numerous short stories and random bits of emo poetry, but when I turned 16 I started planning my first novel. Technically it's a two-novel "series". It's taken almost 10 years of off-and-on writing, but I'm very nearly finished with the first book. I'd really like to thank my #Twitter friends for their help and support, it's played a pivotal part in my rededication.

I've recently decided that Wordpress.com wasn't working for this blog. I wanted it to be fun and pretty-looking. Wordpress doesn't really have many customization options. So, I hope this is pretty. :D I might change it around a little more — probably just because I can.

I'm looking forward to 2012. This year has been stressful in so many ways ... I'm anxious for a new feel and a fresh beginning. I'm looking forward to when my life begins. ;)

The Importance of the Interwebz — and Self-honesty

Okay, so I've shed my safety cloak of a pseudonym (thanks Ms. Kirchner!) and have begun this blog as a place to rant, rave, ponder, and post random bits of fiction to acquire honest and constructive feedback.

The only thing that I seem to be lacking is the Internet — affectionately known as the interwebz. Now, how am I posting this, you wonder? From my phone. iPhone, I haz it — and I would probably marry it if I could. But still, nothing is quite the same as a keyboard stretched beneath your fingers and a screen big enough you don't have to squint at much to read.

Alas, one of these days the interwebz shall come home to me. Unfortunately I am one of the many (read: bazillions — it's a real word, I promise, look it up!) members of The Unemployed and have been for too long. While this allows me more time than most to write, it also has its limitations. But I can't let that be an excuse.

I think far too often we all use excuses to convince ourselves that we can't do something that, in reality, if we just add a little bit of extra "elbow grease", is perfectly feasible. I know I've done it — anyone else? Hello? I'd say "Buehler" here but I think it'd be a touch clichè.

I guess, then, that I just need to suck it up, type slow enough so my iPhone can comprehend, and do some extra proofreading to see what autocorrect has mangled my words into.

What about you? What excuses do you use to inhibit your productivity? Come on now, be honest! :D

Laughter and love,
Meg