I came across something today that made me instantly paranoid. An author who critiques for the RNA's New Writers' Scheme has blogged about doing the critiques. She mentions that she is currently reading a ms that has some problems - purely anonymous you understand. But as I sent my ms in early and nearly everyone I know is planning to send in just before the deadline in August... This instantly made me think 'OMG, she's talking about me' :-()
If you're about to submit to the scheme you might be interested to read what she says here.
Or possibly not.
She says - "I write screeds about how to improve one's technique but what do you do when the problem is the writer's character?"
Gulp. Apparently some would be writers are just plain unlikeable. Or boring. Or both!
Off to cross everything in the hope that it's not my ms that inspired the post :-(
7 comments:
Ooh... I can see why that would make you angsty... but don't worry, it's probably not about you! I bet there are others who've subbed early. And even if it was... she's just one opinion!! Probably should say this on here... but I don't actually like her attitude much :)
I meant 'I probably SHOULDN'T say this...'
I agree with you, Rach, I thought the post was awful. If that is someone who has been through the same process as we are all going through now, you would think some sympathy and understanding would be shown.
It was the "dim and muddled works" that got me -- I'm sorry but that is just rude.
And Lorraine -- I'm sure it won't be yours. Your work is neither dim nor muddled.
Oh Lorraine. I think it's about me and I haven't even sent mine yet.
But try not to worry - I'm positive it isn't about you. As Joanne said, the words used aren't ones that anyone would associate with your work. And Rachel makes a good point that others will have subbed early.
I really don't think she should have posted this. It was unkind and unprofessional.
It won't be about you. Don't worry! As Rach says, I bet there are quite a few others who have subbed early too. And I have to say, posting about manuscripts that have been subbed, no matter how circumspect you are, is a no no. Blogs are public places and you just never know who's going to be reading them.
Thanks for all the comments. The paranoid part of me will still be checking the postmark if mine arrives back soon though, as she mentions she's posted the ms back in her next post...
I'm sure it's not yours! I don't think she should have blogged about it either. One of those (possibly cathartic) posts that should remain as a draft and then deleted, imo.
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