Writerpedia discussion

How do you tell someone close to you (friend, relative, spouse, etc.) that a book they asked you to read isn't very good without hurting their feelings?

You have to be honest, otherwise you're worse than useless as a critiquer. But generally, there is something you can find to praise first. For example:
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Great idea. Some really novel concepts in there.

Unfortunately the grammar was often poor, but that can be improved. You also changed POV in mid scene several times, which I ofund confusing.

I really likd your main character's dialogue though.
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The old praise sandwich. Kiss, kick, kiss, in other words.

I did tell him that it looked like he had something important to say (it's nonfiction). I think that lessened the blow. Beyond that, I've staved off saying anything else; I'm afraid he'll expect me to say it's a masterpiece. I'd like to say that I'm not the last word on what good writing is (I'm not, to be sure), and that a more accomplished writer may very well think the opposite.

I do a fair bit of critiquing in other groups here, often for young aspirants. I don't want to discourage them, but sometimes, their offerings are dreadful. So I tend to focus on what's good in general, and be specific in my criticism - down to sentence and word level.

To be fair, many of them do heed the advice that I and others give them, and improve massively over the course of six months or a year.

Of course being young, many don't take the advice. They are probably the ones who won't ever become writers.

My aspirant (actually, my nephew)wants to self-publish. Personally I think he'd be throwing his money away unless he learns from the ground up -- take writing classes, join writers' groups and such. In other words, just write.

You're right, Paul, in that many writers with a lesser degree of talent eventually get published because they keep trying, and talented ones never get into print because they don't feel they need anyone's help and give up.