tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post6165349302477915705..comments2024-01-02T16:42:15.732-05:00Comments on Redlines and Deadlines: Speed SubmissionsECPI Editorshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00569261288668237013noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-60404329347709279012009-01-29T14:44:00.000-05:002009-01-29T14:44:00.000-05:00And there's the key ... "comments are constructive...And there's the key ... "comments are <B>constructive</B>"<BR/><BR/>Saying, this gets the big R because it mentions Panama on page 1 is NOT constructive. Especially if you've been watching body language and facial expressions, and it was clear there was interest to that point.<BR/><BR/>Another editor did this alone at a different conference, and she let everyone finish their alloted pages and then DID give helpful advice. It was clear SHE was the one who felt uncomfortable -- having to judge and make comments on listening. I know I'm more of a visual person, and would have a lot of trouble giving feedback based on something read aloud.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-20648451698337301602009-01-29T14:34:00.000-05:002009-01-29T14:34:00.000-05:00We had a one hour workshop like this, but with onl...We had a one hour workshop like this, but with only one editor at one of our regular RWA meetings a couple of years ago. She may have been the one doing entertaining snark elsewhere, I don't know, but she did some of that here.<BR/><BR/>One writer went home and cried after her page was dissected and has since quit the group...which is probably a good thing. If she couldn't take that much of a critique, she'd probably have become suicidal over a rude rejection or a bad review. <BR/><BR/>Our group has chosen not to do this again because of that member's experience. It's too bad.<BR/><BR/>It takes all kinds of guts to put your baby out there for others to judge, but as long as the comments are constructive and on target, I see it as a great opportunity for the thicker skinned.Hot Ash Romance Novelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10633691302884163101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-36497431244949117972009-01-29T12:03:00.000-05:002009-01-29T12:03:00.000-05:00I wish I'd had the chance to do that a while ago. ...I wish I'd had the chance to do that a while ago. I feel more confident in my first pages now, but oh for the chance to hear someone's opinion who mattered when I was honing my craft. Trouble is - I wonder if it's like American Idol - Pop Idol in the UK. Are there lots and lots of people who haven't got a clue that they just can't do it? How do you say it's awful without wrecking someone's dreams? Much easier to say no in an email or a letter so kudos to all who took part. I take it those you critted don't have your home addresses!!Barbara Elsborghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15825994197656747262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-29357075033847379292009-01-29T11:10:00.000-05:002009-01-29T11:10:00.000-05:00Ralene - I was referring to a RWA conference a cou...Ralene - I was referring to a RWA conference a couple of years ago. Not your recent one. <BR/><BR/>Jeanne - it's all a crap shoot anyway. There are hot buttons for editors and agents -- in this case, it was any story not set in the US, and they were doing cold reads. My opening scene was one of those "show the hero in his normal job" and he was in the middle of a covert op in Panama. The rest of the book was set in the US, and one HOPES that under typical agent query reading, she'd have seen that in the query letter before reading the pages. <BR/><BR/>But when one's on the submitting end, one doesn't know whether an agent doesn't want to see kids or dogs or stories with curly-haired heroes. I had a rejection from an editor because there was a plot thread dealing with a meth lab -- and these were the BAD GUYS and they got their come-uppance, but she said it was an automatic rejection point for their house. Who knew?Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-78808509260639087772009-01-29T11:08:00.000-05:002009-01-29T11:08:00.000-05:00Uh, actually, I think I know which person Terry me...Uh, actually, I think I know which person Terry meant. SHE may have been trying to be entertaining (she popped in late), but the rest of us were trying to be helpful and factual. Several of us had discussed beforehand that we wanted to be frank, but not cruel.<BR/><BR/>RaeleneECPI Editorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00569261288668237013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-26157378446541325192009-01-29T11:07:00.000-05:002009-01-29T11:07:00.000-05:00Uh, actually, I think I know which person Terry me...Uh, actually, I think I know which person Terry meant. SHE may have been trying to be entertaining (she popped in late), but the rest of us were trying to be helpful and factual. Several of us had discussed beforehand that we wanted to be frank, but not cruel.<BR/><BR/>RaeleneECPI Editorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00569261288668237013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-74402871888346762822009-01-29T11:01:00.000-05:002009-01-29T11:01:00.000-05:00I never heard of this before. An interesting conce...I never heard of this before. An interesting concept. But Terry mentioned that the editor was being snarky for entertainment purposes. I just think that's mean. They are ripping apart someone's work for "entertainment" purposes? The comments/suggestions/critism should be real.Jeanne St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02632934633859621258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-18526537270117725572009-01-29T07:09:00.000-05:002009-01-29T07:09:00.000-05:00Been there, done that, have the scars. Although in...Been there, done that, have the scars. Although in speaking with the agent afterward, she said something to the effect that they were being exceptionally snarky to be 'entertaining.' <BR/><BR/>(Word verification: "parve" -- Blogger is going Kosher?)Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-55542678400793844382009-01-28T21:52:00.000-05:002009-01-28T21:52:00.000-05:00Actually, Jory, we do have it on the Romanticon ag...Actually, Jory, we do have it on the Romanticon agenda, as an event for aspiring authors!<BR/><BR/>RaeleneECPI Editorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00569261288668237013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983687699975451453.post-47366444933666822982009-01-28T20:03:00.000-05:002009-01-28T20:03:00.000-05:00Cool idea. Maybe it could be incorporated into Rom...Cool idea. Maybe it could be incorporated into Romanticon somehow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com