tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post4397003311426303596..comments2024-02-18T07:27:48.299-08:00Comments on Amparo Ortiz: Why Pats On The Back Can Be CounterproductiveAmparo Ortizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05751368034351196820noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-28857040779703122062011-01-15T06:26:36.401-08:002011-01-15T06:26:36.401-08:00Absolutely correct! There is a lot of ENABLING th...Absolutely correct! There is a lot of ENABLING that goes on here in the blogosphere. :)DL Hammonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02007260062331783715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-58994513465376047922011-01-14T07:25:56.596-08:002011-01-14T07:25:56.596-08:00Golden Eagle--That's the key, I think. To be h...Golden Eagle--That's the key, I think. To be honest in a reasonable way. People's feelings are a tricky thing :D<br /><br />Jennifer--Yay! I don't laugh as hard as I used to, but yeah, I giggle a bit. We are SUCH bad people!<br /><br />Katrina--Thanks! *blushes* But in terms of critiquing another's manuscript, I don't think there's room for prejudice. It's not about what someone likes, but about what that someone thinks works best for the story, you know? No need to hold back when you're trying to help somebody improve :D<br /><br />Nicole--Word. Enablers, begone! ;)<br /><br />Sarah--Wiser words have never been spoken. Encouragement for improvement is the standard. Empty encouragement is a HUGE no-no.<br /><br />Kitty--I would never hate you!! It's okay. Critiquing is a tough job, but I'm sure we'll all get better in time. *fingers crossed*<br /><br />Pam--Thank you! I SO know what you mean. If the person's right there staring at me, I tend to not say everything. But again, this is b-a-d!! We should go to face-to-face feedback rehab, huh? ;)Amparo Ortizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05751368034351196820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-28958867373224693112011-01-13T15:52:16.661-08:002011-01-13T15:52:16.661-08:00Ooh, this is a clever post! I think I do enable so...Ooh, this is a clever post! I think I do enable sometimes--at least face-to-face. I think I'm a far stronger beta reader because I can be honest in my notes. I think that makes me a coward. I guess I feel that since we get rejected enough, it's okay to offer a smile every now and then, right? :)Pam Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09872183610393667619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-23015382463059439102011-01-13T15:10:23.107-08:002011-01-13T15:10:23.107-08:00Gosh - you'll hate me! I so just keep quiet or...Gosh - you'll hate me! I so just keep quiet or wimp out and leave it to better more coherent and more experienced people to take up the baton when it comes to proper critiquing of someone else's work. I just don't feel qualified enough to say what works and what doesn't! I write as I always have and some of my stories get accepted, some don't. I don't know why that is so I can't really be a good proper critiquer if I can't even solve my own writing problems. That's why I wimp out!! Oh dear!<br /><br />Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-57181188384110801582011-01-13T14:31:30.938-08:002011-01-13T14:31:30.938-08:00There are ways to encourage people that are meanin...There are ways to encourage people that are meaningful and ways that are empty. Telling someone you believe they have it in them to work harder, to perservere, to take tough criticism and use it well, and encouraging them to do so-- that's good encouragement. Telling someone it's just a matter of time until they get an agent, for example, might be empty encouragement. Because sometimes it's not a matter of time at all. It's a matter of constantly working to be better. <br /><br />Any encouragement that leads someone to try harder--with the realistic odds in mind--can be useful. I think the journey to publication (and in life) is hard enough that we ALL need good encouragement.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636585111057799728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-31537737706537599852011-01-13T13:39:32.390-08:002011-01-13T13:39:32.390-08:00I agree!! Supportive is one thing, to enable is an...I agree!! Supportive is one thing, to enable is another - don't do it!<br /><br />The Arrival, on Amazon NOW!<br />www.damselinadirtydress.comNicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17648307410383451558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-90395981610153837332011-01-13T10:34:46.384-08:002011-01-13T10:34:46.384-08:00Very true! As a mom, I'm literally the let-the...Very true! As a mom, I'm literally the let-them-fall-down-and-get-back-up kind of guardian. It works wonders for their self esteem and my kids get to the "I can do it all by myself" phase sooner than some people's kids. It's not because of me. It's because of them, and my staying out of their way.<br /><br />In writing, I worry about this sometimes, though. For one thing, writing IS subjective. How do I know something isn't good? Maybe I just have a prejudice against [insert writing style or gimmick here] *shrugs* As a beta reader, I try to catch things that are technically incorrect or which feel like plot holes or character inconsistencies. If I don't see any glaring errors, I tend to gush. A lot. You know this. But, in that case, you deserve it!Katrina L. Lantzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871272394922775923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-68658700276614672802011-01-13T09:42:32.163-08:002011-01-13T09:42:32.163-08:00Ha - this was a great post. And SO true. I think a...Ha - this was a great post. And SO true. I think a good writer can own up to critique and the truth in it, grow from it and revise. And I try and give as honest crit as I can because if not, aren't we all just wasting our time? But, when someone falls, I laugh. I admit it!:)Jennifer Walkuphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15441887850464334900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3917729637280439180.post-50525535962830683542011-01-13T09:38:22.094-08:002011-01-13T09:38:22.094-08:00I agree with you. I was observing the same thing y...I agree with you. I was observing the same thing yesterday, that people are nice just for the sake of being nice--being a bit blunt myself, I believe that telling the person the truth (in a reasonable manner, not in a mean way at all) is the better idea.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.com