I seldom if ever give unsolicited advice but I am going to break one of my own rules here. If you are an aspiring writer, you should be excited about your creation as any other artist. You want to share it but you are new at the game and you are not totally sure of yourself. Before you publish it, you want someone to read it and give their honest critique. Hopefully that critique will be a valid two thumbs-up, and you have just launched your writing career on your way to Pulitzer prize one day. I hope you are too. I really do. This is where my advice kicks in.
Not to preach here, but the last thing you should do is take your creation, poem, essay or book to a friend and ask him to critique or edit it. You put him on the spot. He feels obligated to compliment you. Chances are, they are not qualified to edit anyway..That includes me. I am not qualified to edit.
Even if they are qualified, their time is valuable. To stop what they are doing to fix your mistakes is not fair to them. When l am writing, and that is pretty much all the time, l must keep my little mind on my subject or l might lose my train of thought. Not unlike driving a car. A big NO-NO!
Most writers that l know are the same way. Writers are writing just about all the time, whether they are holding that proverbial pencil and paper or not.
If you stay in the game long enough, you will understand what l am saying and why l am saying it. It’s a writer’s thing. Our mindset you might say. We live in our own world.
Let’s say you choose not follow my advice which is quite okay with me. You find that person who agrees to edit and critique your writing.
There are only two ways he can go. He gives you the two thumbs up and you are ready to roll, or he gives you two thumbs down and you are devastated. Then what? The dummy! He doesn’t know good writing when he sees it.
That has put a strain on your friendship. You will probably get over it but why put your friend and yourself through it. On the other hand, suppose your friend gives you two thumbs up and you writing sux. There you are, holding a worthless piece of paper and don’t know if. You submit it for publication and all you get is rejection after rejection.
If you want an honest and tell- it-like- it-is editor, find someone who knows what they are doing and make whatever arrangements is necessary for him to tell you the way it is. Whatever you do, don’t get defensive if he hurts your feelings. Chances are, he will. Good writing or not!
Ralph Gordon Recipient of William Faulkner Literary Award
