Status report Page 4,509

Quote: Harridan @ June 5 2012, 8:01 PM BST

Reading a final draft of a children's book that my sister's friend has written. He wanted my frank and honest opinion on it and I'd love to say that it's great, but it just isn't! I don't think I can bring myself to tell a complete stranger that his book stinks and needs re-writing! It's every tired cliche from children's literature rolled into one with grammatical errors to boot. Hopefully he's robust enough to make use of my criticisms and improve rather than packing away his pen forever...

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Well you had no trouble telling anyone who cares to look on here how crap you think it is so I'm sure you'll be fine.

ok...

Have I pissed you off, rwayne? or are you just offended on behalf of the anonymous writer that I have anonymously slated?

You must appreciate that there is a difference between saying something is crap, and saying something is crap to the person who created it? Or are you just annoyed that I decided to tell everyone what I was doing (on the 'status report' thread)?

Well, if he asked for frank and honest I'm sure he won't complain about constructive criticism. Maybe you can cushion the negative stuff between two positives, however small they might have to be?

Quote: zooo @ June 5 2012, 8:51 PM BST

Well, if he asked for frank and honest I'm sure he won't complain about constructive criticism. Maybe you can cushion the negative stuff between two positives, however small they might have to be?

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Yes, I think I'll have to. It's so tempting to chicken out, though!

Quote: Harridan @ June 5 2012, 8:37 PM BST

ok...

Have I pissed you off, rwayne? or are you just offended on behalf of the anonymous writer that I have anonymously slated?

You must appreciate that there is a difference between saying something is crap, and saying something is crap to the person who created it? Or are you just annoyed that I decided to tell everyone what I was doing (on the 'status report' thread)?

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Not pissed off at all... but it's good of you to update your post specifically ask me because your original "ok" got no response. I'll try and answer for you.

It just seems like a rather odd thing to post. I've no idea how many children's books you've written or your particular experience/knowledge of the publishing of them (nor do I want to know) but you must appreciate that if someone trusts you with their book that has, presumably, had much time and work invested in it, that it would seem more appropriate to reply to the person who wrote it.

Also, regardless of your experience, to suggest that your saying you don't like it would prompt a writer to give up forever or that they should 'improve' as per your suggestions seems to me to be rather conceited.

Of course you can post what you want but when we do in a public place we can expect people to react to those posts can't we?

Status: Puzzled.

Quote: rwayne @ June 5 2012, 8:59 PM BST

Status: Puzzled.

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Yeah, ditto.

I don't want to argue with you, rwayne.

Quote: Harridan @ June 5 2012, 9:01 PM BST

I don't want to argue with you, rwayne.

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*applauds*

Quote: Harridan @ June 5 2012, 9:01 PM BST

Yeah, ditto.

I don't want to argue with you, rwayne.

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I'm not arguing with anyone... just answering the four questions you asked me.

That's that settled then.

Quote: Lee @ June 5 2012, 9:03 PM BST

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Honed your sniping skills yet?

Rwayne, think Harridan IS trying to be kind and seeking ideas of how to break bad news? ok

Quote: Harridan @ June 5 2012, 8:01 PM BST

Reading a final draft of a children's book that my sister's friend has written. He wanted my frank and honest opinion on it and I'd love to say that it's great, but it just isn't! I don't think I can bring myself to tell a complete stranger that his book stinks and needs re-writing! It's every tired cliche from children's literature rolled into one with grammatical errors to boot. Hopefully he's robust enough to make use of my criticisms and improve rather than packing away his pen forever...

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Surely they'd have done better giving it to some children? Can an adult truly appreciate what a child would like? Or is it for older children?

Adults will be the ones choosing whether to publish it or not.

Quote: Nil Putters @ June 5 2012, 9:08 PM BST

Surely they'd have done better giving it to some children? Can an adult truly appreciate what a child would like? Or is it for older children?

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It's for younger ones. He wanted my advice because I've spent the last year studying children's literature so my sister suggested I might have an insight that his friends might not.

Quote: zooo @ June 5 2012, 9:10 PM BST

Adults will be the ones choosing whether to publish it or not.

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Indeed, and the adults buy the books. It's an odd area of publishing - the writers, publishers and purchasers are not members of the target audience, but they used to be so their idea of childhood is coloured by nostalgia and about 20+ years out of date.

Quote: Harridan @ June 5 2012, 8:01 PM BST

Reading a final draft of a children's book that my sister's friend has written. He wanted my frank and honest opinion on it and I'd love to say that it's great, but it just isn't! I don't think I can bring myself to tell a complete stranger that his book stinks and needs re-writing! It's every tired cliche from children's literature rolled into one with grammatical errors to boot. Hopefully he's robust enough to make use of my criticisms and improve rather than packing away his pen forever...

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Years ago a friend gave me her husband's novel which was a sequel to 'Alice in .Wonderland' etc. God, it was awful! Fortunately she only gave it to me to read to my sons and didn't ask what I thought of it. Good bedtime reading - easy to fall asleep - boring. So sad because he'd had it professionally typed and bound. Haven't ever seen it in the book shops!