And nothing but the truth

Yesterday I was talking with a gal who works at a local magazine who had recently taken on the task of editing/reviewing her friend’s first novel. Her friend asked her because she felt she could get honest feedback about all the important things: plot, character development, quality of writing.

I told her that constructive feedback is hard to come by, and her friend was lucky she was willing to take on the job.

When I wrote my first novel, Mer Si Raen Ambush, I was fortunate that my best friend was willing to give me painfully honest critiques, without sugar coating the truth. She was also qualified and dedicated to the task of editing. It was invaluable help.

If you’re thinking about writing  your own first book, the most important thing you can do if find a qualified person to read your rough drafts and give you the truth about how you’re doing. Matching the right person to the story is something to keep in mind. Not everyone enjoys the same kinds of stories, and you don’t want to ask someone to read something they wouldn’t normally find entertaining or interesting.

Having been in the position to critique others recently as a member of Scribophile, I better appreciate how difficult that honesy is, and how much of a gift my friend gave to me.  If you don’t have a friend who can assist you, Scribophile is an excellent resource for new authors, with helpful articles, advice and editing from fellow members. It’s also a place where you can find people who will agree to read your book offline and share their reactions.

Sometimes it can be hard to hear what others have to say, and you may not always agree with their opinions, but I’ve learned that anyone willing to read your work and share their thoughts is to be appreciated.