My rule is always that there are no rules — anything less than brutal honesty is a disservice to the writer.

If, as a writer, you don’t have a thick enough skin to handle the editing process and a roomful of people critiquing your work, how well are you going to handle hundreds or thousands of people doing so?

[Reply]

By Rick O on 04.12.09 2:25 am | Permalink

haha well I am editing right now…
like literally… just clicked over to sign in… and I am discovering that I am line editing and only writing the negative things… so I feel guilty… I need to find the positive things… but then again, if it’s positive… then I am just not writing anything, right? haha and so… I will get back to my editing… oh yes I will.

Nightshadows or Guards… Nightshadows or Guards… how will I ever decide???

[Reply]

By Jamie on 04.12.09 2:42 am | Permalink

I think it’s important to point out the good and bad…I mean not as good areas. I think it’s important to tell people what really works and what really doesn’t.

[Reply]

By Joyce on 04.12.09 9:46 am | Permalink

Jamie- I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I’d go with Nightshadows. I just think it’s more mysterious.

[Reply]

By Joyce on 04.12.09 9:47 am | Permalink

I always jot down notes on things that make me laugh, things that make me smile, or things that just make me feel good. It’s necessary as a writer to know and understand what works. Not often to we get the gratification of knowing what someone thinks while they are reading, so add the good stuff.

But if you aren’t totally brutally honest about what doesn’t work for you, you’re wasting the author’s time, as well as your own.

That is not to say you must be nasty. A simple this doesn’t work for me because… will suffice. Point out POV shifts, mixed tenses, and so forth. If the story line no longer makes since, I WANT TO KNOW! That is the whole point of letting someone else read your work. And I’ve found, when I’ve gone back, that often others are right. Not always, but often.

Not only do you need a thick skin, you also need to develop an eye for your story. If you know a suggestion won’t work because or a,b, or c, then don’t use it, but keep an open mind.

I often write scenes in many different ways, to see which one is more like my characters, and works with the plot better.

So edit honestly, otherwise you’re doing no one a service.

Sarah

[Reply]

By Sarah on 04.12.09 11:49 am | Permalink

Liz, I was scared to death to edit anyone’s work. I feel like this is their heart and soul! I mean they really love their characters and the story. It has always been really difficult for me to be negative in anyway to a person, so editing is not my favorite thing to do. However, I do agree with Rick O. I think the best policy is brutal honesty, but I also agree with Joyce in you need to find what you like about the story and praise the person on it. I don’t think it’s good to discourage anyone from writing because you have different tastes or such. I hope I made sense.

[Reply]

By Brenna on 04.13.09 10:53 am | Permalink

When I edit, I keep two things in mind:

-how can the manuscript be made better

-how ready is the writer to take feedback, and how to give it in the most constructive way possible.

I try and avoid personal remarks. I will say “the story is confusing at this point cos of such and such a reason”, but not that “your writing sucks because of this”.

If you remember you are criticizing the writing and not the writer, and the goal is to make the piece shine, you can never go wrong.

[Reply]

By Damyanti on 04.13.09 7:59 pm | Permalink

The cheap ugg world is a comedy to those who thinks, a tragedy to those ugg classic cardy who feels.Look not mournfully into the ugg boots past, it comes not back again. Wisely improve the present, it is ugg on sale thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear, and with a manly ugg bailey button heart. We are the best online dealer,about all kinds of uggs.run retailing and wholesale trade wordwidely for years. Free Shipping And Customs,Super Sale Off Retailing,With 1Week Delivery to your door.

[Reply]

By ugg nightfall boots on 12.20.09 12:27 pm | Permalink