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For the people who write poetry&novels (details)

What should I say to my friend who asked to read her novel,and I think it's a complete crap and bs? Sweet lies and bitter truth,what would you prefer to hear?

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    Best Answer (Chosen by Voting):

    martysmax - 61-65 years old - female

    Posted by martysmax Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:21AM

    Constructive criticism and find something that you like about it and expound on that.

    [ Reply ] | Like (5)

15 Answers to "For the people who write poetry&novels (details)"

  1. MrSquishy - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by MrSquishy Mar 6th, 2013 at 7:38AM

    Positive criticism...tell her how to make it better....and be patient.

    Like (2)

  2. hunkalove - 61-65 years old - male

    Posted by hunkalove Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:43AM

    Find some nice things to say, but then say it's just not your cup of tea. That's a version of the truth. I have a writer friend who is pretty good and keeps writing young adult novels, which bore me silly, and I just tell her it's good writing but it's not the kind of thing I read.

    Like (2)

  3. romanticdreams - 46-50 years old - male

    Posted by romanticdreams Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:31AM

    You should tell your friend, you can do it in a way without tearing him/her down. I write at times for magazines, believe me, have been beaten up a few times by my editor but I appreciate her honesty and wanting to make me a better writer

    Like (2)

  4. soul78 - 31-35 years old - male

    Posted by soul78 Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:24AM

    You could be constructive with your criticism whilst telling the truth remembering your friend is asking you because she trusts you'll be honest, the problem with asking you might be because you know your friend and maybe your judging the book by the person who wrote it perhaps Is just a thought to consider.

    Like (2)

  5. number145 - 41-45 years old - male

    Posted by number145 Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:24AM

    Truth.

    Like (2)

  6. belial259 - 31-35 years old - male

    Posted by belial259 Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:23AM

    Can you truely offer constructive criticism? Do you know about sentence structure and deconstructing our own language?

    Like (2)

  7. SelfishIfIThinkOfMyself - 26-30 years old - male

    Posted by SelfishIfIThinkOfMyself Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:22AM

    The bitterest truth is always better than the sweetest lie even though no one wants to hear cold hard truth. People generally like it less to find out later they were lied to and made a fool of.

    Like (2)

  8. easternshorebuzz - 70+ years old

    Posted by easternshorebuzz Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:21AM

    Yep
    A lot of people think Twilight is crap. Look at how much money that made for the author.
    I wish I could have been her friend and helped her out. Maybe I would have gotten a share of the royalties and a friend for life.

    Like (2)

  9. onehunglow9er - 26-30 years old - male

    Posted by onehunglow9er Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:20AM

    Say is a good "rough" draft but needs a lil work before she can call it finished...

    Like (2)

  10. rudedevil01 - 51-55 years old - male

    Posted by rudedevil01 Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:19AM

    How about subjective criticism ,try finding bits you do like then say the rest of it should be more of the same

    Like (2)

  11. 40beeens - 36-40 years old - male

    Posted by 40beeens Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:19AM

    Tact is the key here. Describing it as crap and bullshit probably won't go down too well. Good luck. It's an awkward position to be put in.

    Like (2)

  12. PunkGoesCrunk - 26-30 years old - male

    Posted by PunkGoesCrunk Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:19AM

    Just say it's okay. That way they know it's not good. But they don't get all butt hurt. But if you know them really good, then just tell them it's ****.

    Like (2)

  13. Serenitree - 66-70 years old - female

    Posted by Serenitree Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:19AM

    Try constructive criticism. Tell her that it needs work, and give her some ideas where it could be improved. Unless you don't want her for a friend anymore, then you can tell her she doesn't have what it takes.

    Like (2)

  14. FragmentisPoetae - 22-25 years old - female

    Posted by FragmentisPoetae Mar 6th, 2013 at 6:18AM

    bitter truth!!!

    Like (2)

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