I don't recall exactly what he said but this was the gist:
Tell him that you may not be one of the target audience he is looking for. It doesn't mean that his writing isn't good, it just means that you aren't quite able to connect with his style and that someone else may be better able to help him.
Yeah, it hurt my feelings a little initially but I was grateful for the honesty and it was put in such a way that it didn't totally blow my dreams out of the water. (That happened when I started reading REALLY good books and realized how much I sucked.)
It also saved him and I from future problems. I would have hated to find out that he had been lying to save my feelings and wasting time for both of us.
Good luck.
Tash
*Edit
Now that I have looked at the other replies I see that there are many good answers in this thread. It is looking like you came to a good place for answers. I love these people.
Tell him that you may not be one of the target audience he is looking for. It doesn't mean that his writing isn't good, it just means that you aren't quite able to connect with his style and that someone else may be better able to help him.
Yeah, it hurt my feelings a little initially but I was grateful for the honesty and it was put in such a way that it didn't totally blow my dreams out of the water. (That happened when I started reading REALLY good books and realized how much I sucked.)
It also saved him and I from future problems. I would have hated to find out that he had been lying to save my feelings and wasting time for both of us.
Good luck.
Tash
*Edit
Now that I have looked at the other replies I see that there are many good answers in this thread. It is looking like you came to a good place for answers. I love these people.
This message last edited by Tashmere on 20/12/2009 at 08:15:15 PM
I would like some opinions, please...
20/12/2009 03:31:49 PM
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Ask him if he wants honesty.
20/12/2009 05:49:49 PM
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Who says "no" when you say "do you want me to be honest?" mook isn't an editor, here
20/12/2009 08:03:02 PM
- 392 Views
Bullshit.
20/12/2009 08:12:16 PM
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Tell him that you want to see him succeed as a writer and then...
20/12/2009 06:06:47 PM
- 360 Views
Perhaps tell him the story has good bones, and you look forward to seeing a future draft.
20/12/2009 06:56:06 PM
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Do what my husband did with me.
20/12/2009 08:11:33 PM
- 408 Views