I don’t know why, but writers post up their manuscripts, asking other writers for their honest opinions.  But, when other writers give that honest opinion, out comes the angst, the anger, and the tears.  You would think that, by the time a writer has their five million words…or even two million words written, they would have developed a bit of armor.  And why ask for critical opinion — “rip it up” — if that’s not what is desired? 

 I’ve come to the conclusion that what most writers want isn’t honesty.  They want candy, flowers, and praise — ONLY.  And that’s fine…if they didn’t state right up front that they wanted their work given a tough eye. 

What’s worse for me, though, is when, reciprocating (because I’m asked to) and so putting a bit of my own work out for opinion, these same folks will offer very good suggestions, and I (in ignorance, I suppose) ask for clarification, like: would the sentence work better this way, then, or would it be better done this way? 

What happens next is totally beyond me as I am labelled “reactive.” 

Huh?   I scratch my head. I just wanted to discus it.  …What?  Am I just supposed to swallow what they say whole and not engage in discourse if I need clarification on their intended meaning?  …Well,  I guess not, because, when I do begin to discus and ask questions, off they go in a huff, claiming that I’ve somehow gotten all bent out of shape…which I haven’t.  I guess I didn’t use enough smileys or something.

Recently:

• Writing Pedagogues
• They Work Very Hard
• Treading the Dangers of Fiction
• Infighting About Grammar & Punctuation
• Scary Writers
• New Novel, Chapter Two
• To the Book Store
• New Novel Amid Chaos
• Raw Gore, Explicit Cruelty, Debased Sex in Novels
• Back from Summer Hiatus