Dad, why are you asking HER? What she know about novel writing?
I write, and I know better than to ask my sister (who’s a little older than Maria would be, but in the right ballpark) to critique my stuff.
In fact, most of the time, family in general don’t make for good critics, or at least only up to a certain point, and unless they have some good writing backgrounds of their own. Usually they don’t know what they should be looking for, are too praiseworthy (because you’re family and they don’t want to hurt your feelings) or just not interested in reading it in that sort of detail (the problem I usually face).
My Mom never gave us false or undeserved praise. She was artistic herself, and felt that it hurt us more than helped to delude us. She would be quite frank and say if something wasn’t good, and why it wasn’t. In the long run, it did help. It taught me to demand more of my work.
Dwilesjr over 11 years ago
I often feel the same way about my ideas, I have so many projects I just can’t seem to get off the ground.
johnzakour Premium Member over 11 years ago
This is from my life BTW.
Comic Minister Premium Member over 11 years ago
Oh boy.
Thomas Scott Roberts creator over 11 years ago
I’ll say!
scyphi26 over 11 years ago
Dad, why are you asking HER? What she know about novel writing?
I write, and I know better than to ask my sister (who’s a little older than Maria would be, but in the right ballpark) to critique my stuff.
In fact, most of the time, family in general don’t make for good critics, or at least only up to a certain point, and unless they have some good writing backgrounds of their own. Usually they don’t know what they should be looking for, are too praiseworthy (because you’re family and they don’t want to hurt your feelings) or just not interested in reading it in that sort of detail (the problem I usually face).
johnzakour Premium Member over 11 years ago
For my first five or six novels I’d always ask my son. If he liked it I knew I was in good shape.
Thomas Scott Roberts creator over 11 years ago
My Mom never gave us false or undeserved praise. She was artistic herself, and felt that it hurt us more than helped to delude us. She would be quite frank and say if something wasn’t good, and why it wasn’t. In the long run, it did help. It taught me to demand more of my work.