Writing Advice

I have tried to write several posts about my receiving advice on my writing and my giving others advice on their writing.

I have to admit that I am mean when I analyze someone's writing, which is why I should never be asked to do it unless they are ready for the onslaught of fear and death that I'd drop on them. Someone has to be ready for that kind of action and be completely prepared to deal with the consequences. But most of the time, I would rather not do it. I don't really like hurting people's feelings, because nine times out of ten - I don't think they're ready. I've only ever read one person's work where I was supposed to give an opinion and I didn't think they needed much extra work done on their project. I don't think experienced writers go around asking for opinions.

Anyway, the following is a list of items that I would insist upon in order to be prepared to give an opinion on a piece of writing.

1. The writing must be current. I don't like it when someone asks me to look at something that they last looked at a couple of years ago. That has happened to me a couple of times and I find it most unpleasant because I go through it and give them my suggestions and they scream at the top of their lungs that they can do better, but that the piece was written two years ago. Why did they give it to me in the first place then if it wasn't an accurate display of what they can do?
2. Don't ask me to beta read. I would do this for someone if I was doing it on a betareading exchange, but other than that 'no'. There are a couple of reasons why I wouldn't want to do betareading. The biggest reason is that I don't believe that a betareader should have a whole lot of creative control. If they're beta reading, they should just be looking for errors, and making sure that everything makes sense. The reason for this is that a beta reader can easily step beyond their role and try to start writing the story themselves. This is not good - whether I'm doing it, or whether it's being done to something I'm writing. If someone wants my creative advice (in my opinion, it's the more precious of the two skills), then that's one thing - and I'm more comfortable giving general creative advice rather than picking over every sentence with a fine toothed comb. Because once I start picking - I'm afraid of going overboard.
3. Lastly, I have had this happen a couple of times, but it's when someone asks me to take a look at something I'm uncomfortable with reading - like smut or slash. I never read anything with graphic nudity in it and I don't like vicious needless violence.

Okay, so now I'm going to write about when the tables have turned and I'm on the receiving end of the 'advice'. I get quite a bit of writing advice since I write on several different archives. I'd say that it doesn't take much to separate the men from the boys when it comes to good advice, but it's not that simple. I've had a couple of regular reviewers on ff.net who really know their stuff, but it's more like she or he drops a line asking one specific question and then takes off before I get the chance to answer.

For me I have a hard time taking writing advice under the following situations:

1. The person knows me personally. I stopped asking people I know to read my writing a long time ago, and I'm not about to start that practice up again any time soon. Because they know me - nearly everything that comes out of their mouth has to be discounted - even praise. Don't get me wrong though - I'll let people who know me read my work, but most of the time people who say they'll take a look at my writing won't, so there's no point.
2. They don't write themselves. I know quite a few people who writing - both online and off. Some of them I'll listen to and some of them have such different styles than me that I literally gag when I read their work. So, a simple perspective from someone who writes isn't enough - I have to respect them as a writer.
3. Lastly, maybe they don't have to be a writer and maybe it's okay if they know me, but they have to love me so much that they don't mind giving me bad news and they don't mind pushing me to be better, because they want me to write the BEST THING. So, for those few people - they can say what they want - I know they want to help make me the best author! I'm their star, so it's okay if they shoot arrows at me. I guess my point with this last point is that I can't take advice from people who want to drag me down.