A couple of days ago Damien Isaak posted a question "Cover letter. Go for it.. Tell me good or bad" and added "Just give it to me straight....."
I took time and care, recognising that on some points my view is biased, to give as honest and positive a response as possible.
I did not expect my comments to be liked but I hoped that they would provoke thought and, possibly, be of some positive benefit.
I have re-submitted some amended work and asked for comment.
While the response "Damien Isaak1 hour ago
David the fishmonger Butcher.
Would you like to borrow my WPB I have room..." might be seen as humorous is it useful, positive or informative?
I have no objection to being criticized for my work and often find even negative criticism useful when it can be applied to achieve improvemnt. Positive comment that helps me to develop my work is even more useful.
Just being told that anything is "great" is very pleasant: but it doen't do much to help me to develop.
So, what do we want on here? Unbridled praise or to be "given it straight"?
Perhaps Damien would like to explain why my effort should go straight into the WPB or, possibly, what would improve it?
Then again I would really like comments from anyone that would be kind enough to take a look.
David
Hello, David. I hope people do mean what they say in their comments, whether they praise something or not. I always prefer honesty. It is also true that we are all learning here and we cannot really give professional advice. And if we do venture to give some, it should be taken 'cum grano salis'. Writing not only differs from one author to another, but there are also various genres to consider. For example, I wouldn't know what to comment on the fragment that you have posted, because I'm not familiar with the genre. But I do hope that people that have written comments to my short stories have been honest.
So, yes, it's nice to have feedback and readers, but only as long as they mean what they say. Otherwise, I don't see any sense in this.