Comments on: Pregnant with a Novel and Why Blogging Keeps Us From Committing Suicide

By: Just Write Blog Carnival: December 26, 2009 Edition | Incurable Disease of Writing

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:06:44 +0000

[...] Kingsbury presents Suzanne Kingsbury Pregnant with a Novel and Why Blogging Keeps Us From Committing Suicide posted at Suzanne Kingsbury, saying, “This carnival is [...]

By: Lovely Words Vol. 3 – Writing as a Sacred Art

Lovely Words Vol. 3 – Writing as a Sacred Art — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:44:03 +0000

[...] Kingsbury presents Suzanne Kingsbury Pregnant with a Novel and Why Blogging Keeps Us From Committing Suicide posted at Suzanne Kingsbury, saying, “Love your idea of a [...]

By: suzanne

suzanne — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:27:03 +0000

How how funny that he had admitted he didn’t read it? That’s like starting the review by saying, I don’t know what I’m talking about. In Norman Mailer’s memoir, he says that Toni Morrison is a horrible writer and essentially famous because she’s a black woman (isn’t that so funny?!) and then he tells the reader he’s never actually read her book. This from a man who tried to stab his wife with a pair of scissors. Anyway, I love what you came to about it. That they are not fellow writers, are not trying to help us improve as writers, their job is to satisfy their own audiences. People never ask me to review anymore, because I think a book is such a miracle, that I was always saying what the writers’ strengths were, and the editors didn’t want that. Blah!!! Anyway, great to be in touch. Thanks for your wisdom! Suzanne.

By: Tim King

Tim King — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:47:05 +0000

Hi again, Suzanne. Thank you for the kind words.

I don’t know if “they” actually say that about reviewers, not as I said it. But…

I had been personally ripped to shreds, based on the book description, by a critic who admitted—in the review itself!—that he hadn’t actually read any of my work. Now, I had been mentally prepared for bad reviews, but I just didn’t get this. Dismayed, brokenhearted, enraged, I emailed a author friend, who had been writing many years more than I. I told her, “I don’t even know how to feel.”

She replied: “How should you feel? You should feel welcomed to the club.” And then she told me about an equally bad review she had once withstood. Through our discussion, I began to realize that reviewers are not there to be fair. They are not fellow writers in a critique group, and they don’t play by the same rules. Their job is not to help you improve yourself. Their job is not even to give a balanced evaluation of your book. Their job is to satisfy the desires (and sometimes the prejudices) of their audiences. And if they can do that without even reading your book, then they just may.

It’s common for writers to ignore reviews of their own work.

So that’s why your look at this subject tickled me pink.

-TimK

By: suzanne

suzanne — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:00:06 +0000

Hi Tim, Just became your fan on fb. So happy to have your comment especially since it is so beautifully written. God you haven’t arrived until you’ve been ripped to shreds? That’s such an interesting (American?) paradox. I LOVE your blog, by the way. I am going to put it on BLOGS WE LOVE once I figure out all the blah blah blah to doing that. How could I NOT love a blog about dreams and love and writing. I thought Checklist for Revising Your Novel was really great, and I am going to use it as a link to my writers when they turn that final page and are ready for revision. Thanks so much for commenting here.

By: suzanne

suzanne — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:54:18 +0000

I’m so glad Monda chose it, too. She’s picks great one. What is your non-fiction book about? Tell us, tell us!! And your novel? It’s scary, but it’s amazing how much better the chances are then what we actually think. Let us here know what happens with it!!!! And if you need any encouragement or help or whatever….

By: suzanne

suzanne — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:44:28 +0000

Isn’t EasyStreet great????? Thanks so much for coming on here. Do you have a blog? Send the link!!! Suzanne.

By: Kris Ann

Kris Ann — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:30:23 +0000

Oh my gracious! I just came across your blog via EasyStreet Prompts … and I’m in LOVE!!! Thank you for sharing your gift!!!

By: InkyBlots January 2010 Blog Carnival! | InkyBlots

InkyBlots January 2010 Blog Carnival! | InkyBlots — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:42:52 +0000

[...] Kingsbury presents Suzanne Kingsbury Pregnant with a Novel and Why Blogging Keeps Us From Committing Suicide posted at Suzanne [...]

By: Shawntel

Shawntel — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:45:09 +0000

I loved this post! Congrats on your inclusion in EasyStreet’s Blog Carnival. I’m so glad that Monda chose you, because I’ve learned a lot from your post. I’ve got a non-fiction book that I’m putting together, getting ready for an unsolicited submission to a local publishing house, and a novel I’m in the midst of writing with the hopes of eventually being published. It’s scary. And it’s nice to know that even “real” authors feel the same fear. Thank you.