A painful but necessary book on writing

[jkmcdonnell]

I swear I saw this book on the shelf in my university's library. Are they trying to bring us down in our optimistic prime?

[BetweenTwoWorlds]

Interesting responses!

For me, since I'm getting only fluffy responses from friends, I'm looking for something a little deeper and more to the tune of the business world. I don't want "nice." I don't want violence. I just want that thing in the middle called honesty.

[Margo]

I just want that thing in the middle called honesty.

That's an exciting stage of development, a transition. So much potential when a writer is finally strong enough to seek that out!

[Claudie]

I think it's good for people to know what they need, and if that is a total lack of tough love, then so be it! :)

Knowing what you want is good, yep. ^^ You're better off than me in this case, because I've never had something critiqued. I'm not sure where my limits are, and am wary of how I'll react to the first beta readers. (I know how I should react, but wanting a tough skin and having one are two different things).

Like, tough love is a critiquer who takes the tough stance and makes the effort to determine a writer's skill level, where to encourage, where to suggest areas for reconsideration, when to hold back, when to unleash the whirlwind. Mostly, though, when to hold back for the sake of building good rapport and for the betterment of the greater good.

That sure sounds like the perfect critiquer. ^^

[polymath]

Like, tough love is a critiquer who takes the tough stance and makes the effort to determine a writer's skill level, where to encourage, where to suggest areas for reconsideration, when to hold back, when to unleash the whirlwind. Mostly, though, when to hold back for the sake of building good rapport and for the betterment of the greater good.

That sure sounds like the perfect critiquer. ^^

Thank you, Claudie. Validation encourages me to continue the quest.

I came by that philosophy the hard way. Applying it is even tougher to do. I stumbled first onto project beginnings are a good place for developmental editors to weigh in. Secondly, finished projects are a good place to weigh in. I'm still prospecting for how in the middle is best to weigh in.

[Matt Phillips]

I'm about halfway through this book, and I'm not finding it too harsh so far. Its tone is similar to many writing blogs. I like its straightforward quality: Do this, this or this, but not this.