Would you tell a friend their book is awful?
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Anonymous
| No |
Anonymous
| I sort of hinted at this with an ex girlfriend and it destroyed our relationship. I liked her poetry but she couldn’t write prose |
Anonymous
+1 I have a friend who writes nonfiction books on, let’s say, something like the history of pottery. This is not a particular interest of mine, nor do I have a pottery-making friend who needs a holiday gift. She’s written multiple books on this same topic; i only bought the first one. But I take a photo of the latest book in my hands and put it on social media. This is really all you have to do to show some nice support and cheer for any friend in a creative profession, really. |
Anonymous
| You say congrats and (something vague here). The same way I said “congratulations - it’s great!” when you insisted on showing me your kitchen renovation with the white cabinets and “Eggs - 5 cents” faux wall sign. |
Anonymous
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Don’t tell her it’s awful. It’s published so their is no point to it. I’ve bought friends books and gone to their signings even when it was a book I wouldn’t normally read. To me it’s like attending a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, graduation, confirmation, wedding, etc. It’s a big deal for your friend. Don’t rain on her parade. It’s not like she can change anything now.
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Anonymous
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No. My friend published a book a year ago.
It was terrible. I bought 4 and gave them away. But it was beyond bad. |
Anonymous
Books and reading are like old expressions for attraction: there is a lid for every pot or you are not everyone's cup of tea. I would not assume because one "friend" was harsh that others were lying or that your book is awful. Your friend could be jealous and then hate-read your book. Your friend's taste in literature is different than yours or your other friends. |
Anonymous
How would you do it? |
Anonymous
| Surely there are one or two characters or specific sections that you could say something positive about? If she is legit asking for criticism, then offer something constructive but always lead with the positive! |
Anonymous
I came here to say kind of the opposite—good prose, terrible poetry. I have a friend who’d published a couple of short stories about 10 years ago. I loved her writing . About 2 years ago, she wanted to start writing poetry and shared a poem with a few of her friends who write. It had some unintentionally really problematic imagery. She’d used a metaphor that could easily be considered racist. When we were very insistent that she needed to reconsider it, she became kind of condescending and implied we just didn’t understand her deep, deep poetry. It was like the critique turned her into a different person. None of us have heard from her since. |
Anonymous
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Hi OP-
Just coming on to say I’ve published books- one was a big commercial success. It has 4.5 stars on all the major sites so it was a success in general.. however, I will tell you I know that the vast majority of my friends have not read my books. If someone comes to me and says “I loved your book” I might say “cool, consider leaving a review on amazon, please!” But all this to say, I learned from a big time author that your friends aren’t your audience and I know it can feel like a letdown. I do believe friends should support these endeavors bc publishing a book usually is a multiple year effort of blood, sweat, and tears. Thanks to all the PP’s who say they buy their friends’ books, go to their signings, write the reviews, post on social media, etc. It is so appreciated!! |
Anonymous
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Calling Toal BS on this post.
I am a published novelist with one of the big houses and there is absolutely no way I would ask a group of acquaintances what they think of my published novel(s). I don't even ask my close friends or family. In fact, none of the writers I know would dare. We know the people who love our book(s) will seek us out and tell us (and they do). |