Well, nothing is more telling to a writer than a lukewarm reception, or this:
"Your story is very descriptive akin to the popular and enjoyable stories I read when I was younger. Very melancholy—keep on writing."
And that’s from a sibling, and the one still speaking to me. I think I’d be devastated to hear this from an editor, but aren’t sisters supposed to support?
Of course, this was the first draft which I should never ever ever have asked her to read, especially seeings that she lives in the cultural center of Florida. (I’m being not nice. I don’t care. The statement shriveled me just as being called "cute" used to do back when I was.)
So I guess I’d best put down my crayons and go read some stuff and learn what grownups appreciate.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
Don’t you dare write what grown ups like! It’s the child within us that keeps our work fresh and original. There too few of us out there that understand that our desire to write comes directly from childhood and all we saw, heard, and did. I never share my work with my siblings. They are all very “supportive” – how nice, very interesting, blah, blah, blah. Husband is the same way. You can only share work in progress with a precious few. And hey – I’d be happy to give it a read. I have lots I’m working on too and maybe we could share?
Yes! My work in progress is the link on the right, Big Tim Dawson. I’ve been reading your offerings of the numbered chapters you’ve been posting, and if that’s what you’d like me to read closer, or anything else–just e-mail to me. I think you’d like Roxana Robinson’s A Perfect Stranger that I’ve just finished and could lend it to you if you’d like. She has that intimate, homey, draw-you-into-her world style you also exhibit.
You think I exhibit that? I am so flattered! I definitely would like to work with you on our writings. Give me a few days to get my act together. I got a new computer for Christmas and the tediousness of transferring files is beginning.