He's a friend offering an opinion. Different things.
Definitely use constructive criticism, but I'd focus more on the "constructive" than the "criticism" at this point. The guy's writing a book, and it's the first 50 pages- there's going to be a ton of editing regardless, so it's pointless to stomp on his spirits now.
So, no "Do you want honesty" stuff. Just positive-sounding stuff like complimenting the story, and suggesting maybe a bit more description would help you picture the scenes and characters and their actions better.
Definitely use constructive criticism, but I'd focus more on the "constructive" than the "criticism" at this point. The guy's writing a book, and it's the first 50 pages- there's going to be a ton of editing regardless, so it's pointless to stomp on his spirits now.
So, no "Do you want honesty" stuff. Just positive-sounding stuff like complimenting the story, and suggesting maybe a bit more description would help you picture the scenes and characters and their actions better.
Just positive sounding? Mook would be a poor friend then. Any friend of mine who only said positive stuff would be a liar. And I don't want such people as my friends. I want the brutal fucking truth.
I would like some opinions, please...
- 20/12/2009 03:31:49 PM
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Ask him if he wants honesty.
- 20/12/2009 05:49:49 PM
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Who says "no" when you say "do you want me to be honest?" mook isn't an editor, here
- 20/12/2009 08:03:02 PM
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Bullshit.
- 20/12/2009 08:12:16 PM
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Tell him that you want to see him succeed as a writer and then...
- 20/12/2009 06:06:47 PM
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Perhaps tell him the story has good bones, and you look forward to seeing a future draft.
- 20/12/2009 06:56:06 PM
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