tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post4846072231458148685..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Critique?Jeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-24237981339180905832015-05-07T17:56:06.393+10:002015-05-07T17:56:06.393+10:00Really enjoyed your post, Deb. All too true. After...Really enjoyed your post, Deb. All too true. After joining Omega Writers and meeting people like Annie Hamilton and Rochelle Manners, my motto is now, 'Perfection is impossible, but excellence is essential.' And I will never again self-edit or have family/friends edit. I am so very grateful for the professional mentors and editors I have. God has provided the money to pay them and they have been worth every cent!Jenny Glazebrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709461499025091397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-84671042782006047092015-05-07T17:35:43.771+10:002015-05-07T17:35:43.771+10:00Great post Deb. I was about to tell you how much I...Great post Deb. I was about to tell you how much I loved the line 'Encouragement is a gift of truth, wrapped in love and tied with grace.' when I looked up at Nola's comment and saw she'd mentioned it too. However, it's true. It grabbed me. Thank you for a cleverly presented blog with plenty of truth wrapped in love and tied in grace! :)Anusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-52594564093513312122015-05-07T11:59:55.007+10:002015-05-07T11:59:55.007+10:00heh heh heh about the Larry Norman story. Yep. ;-)...heh heh heh about the Larry Norman story. Yep. ;-)Deb Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777597126643958146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-46957497928678317692015-05-07T11:57:53.280+10:002015-05-07T11:57:53.280+10:00Hi Deb - Love your example. I remember going to a...Hi Deb - Love your example. I remember going to a Larry Norman concert once (showing my age). He told a story about how he's been places where someone has introduced themselves with "God gave me this song" and he's thought, "Gee, I thought God would be able to write better songs than that" :) It is tricky when someone is defensive about constructive critique, but also tricky to give the critique in a constructive way. I love your line "Encouragement is a gift of truth, wrapped in love, and tied with grace." Thanks for sharing Deb xxNola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-40679679003198346742015-05-07T09:53:26.773+10:002015-05-07T09:53:26.773+10:00Having a little chuckle about the typo. ;-) Agre...Having a little chuckle about the typo. ;-) Agree completely with all you said, and you were blessed indeed to have Mary point you in the right direction with your first book. There does need to be another article to show the other side of this coin--the critique giver. My advice is that we must be sincere in everything we say (don't tell someone it's brilliant if it isn't) but over everything, be kind. <br />Deb Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07777597126643958146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-41993926764098587232015-05-07T09:47:13.908+10:002015-05-07T09:47:13.908+10:00See? Made my point!See? Made my point!Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-73987584671477634332015-05-07T09:46:31.602+10:002015-05-07T09:46:31.602+10:00I shold've edited this myself instead of whizz...I shold've edited this myself instead of whizzing it off!!!!<br />Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-7230510163338463922015-05-07T09:44:20.520+10:002015-05-07T09:44:20.520+10:00Oh, I did enjoy your post, Deb. And I love the tru...Oh, I did enjoy your post, Deb. And I love the truth of that proverb. It would the very best thing for first time writers to first whip off their manuscript to an editor for an assessment instead of asking a friend. Yeah, yeah ... money. But we're all more willing to listen to the professional ( because it costs) instead of the friend, anyway. Yet, when we first begin, we don't even have an inkling of of all the steps involved. maybe it's just as well because it might've stopped in our tracks. :-)<br /><br />Now as for blaming the Holy Spirit for their own inadequacy, O' dear. I'm afraid the dear Lord gets blamed for more than a writer's errors also. Even so, If we're writing Christian fiction or nonfiction, we need His guidance so we won't slip into any theological errors...easily done. Another pair of wise eyes is a must in our writer's world.<br /><br />Because I'm constantly writing 5 minute radio programs and don't have the time to read M/Ss, I've made it a point to suggest the best steps to take to any aspiring writers. That's the kindest, and most helpful way from my point of view. Of course if you do have the freedom to help another with a critique, do it with all the love and patience you'd want for it to happen to you! I well remember with my very first book, dear Mary Hawkins gave me some really helpful pointers to set me on the right track. (She should get a 'mentor of many authors' reward.)Rita Galiehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586506137798711397noreply@blogger.com