Dithering

[Sandra Scoppettone]

This is hard for me because I'm so used to writing about writing on my own blog.



Do I dare write negative things about books I've read? What if I do and that person joins this group? He/she won't want to be my friend. Then what?



So does that mean I can only write positive things about books I've read? Maybe I should leave that subject alone.



How about movies? I'm not good at writing reviews. I can say I liked something or didn't but I'm not sure I can say why.



I think I'll wait and see what other people post. Yes, I'm a coward.

[Patrick Balester]

On my blog, where I review books that I've read, I usually find that I don't have time to dwell on the books I don't like. And what use is a bad review to a reader, anyway? They want to know what is worth their attention.

As a consequence, I find it easier to only review the books I like.

Is this dishonest? Well, I prefer to think of it as a more efficient use of my time, and the reader's time.

[Sandra Scoppettone]

Sorry this took me so long. Computer hell. Thanks for your kind words and all I can say is that I'm glad I'm in the same cyber space as you.

[Sylvia Matthews]

Sandra, this is a wow for me, you've been a favorite writer of mine for many years.

I've had the same wonder about books I don't like but like the author so that puts up a kind of barrier that I don't really want to have to deal with so...

I don't review books as there are so many people doing it and the buzz words lose their meaning for me so I don't really read them either. I mean if I never see the phrase "the characters were well drawn" again in my life I can pretty much die happy.

I get so much more from being on a couple of mystery lists where people do speak their minds and that are very good at spreading the word about writers that don't make any kind of lists let alone the best sellers list.

Although when a writer I really like makes any of those lists and achieves some accolades and financial success I'm very happy for them.

I do go on about the books I like such as LLs latest and great book What The Dead Know. Very well done in so many ways that I can't stop talking about it. By the time you read the last word in that book you know the author did the work, thought it out and executed it flawlessly. So many savvy mystery readers will be thrown because they'll be thinking they know what's coming and they'll be wrong.

It saddens me that there are so many very good writers who never get any attention at all that way. Ah well it's getting to be a very crowded planet.

As to nuances in email well there are nuances in the written word if people would only take the time to think about what they are saying and try to remember that not everyone speaks the same language even if they *seem* to be speaking the same language.

Gad I could go on about this stuff but well I just wanted to say hi and wow I'm in the same cyber space as you!

[Brian Thornton]

What is this "humor" of which you speak, and can we get some passed along to the kids in the hall?

[Robert Gregory Browne]

I read something recently that said that the tone and intent of a good sixty percent of all emails are misinterpreted by the reader. It's very difficult to get people to understanding intent unless you resort to emoticons to make it clear.

[Sandra Scoppettone]

Don't worry. It's so hard to know these things because there are no nuances in email or posts.

[Christa M. Miller]

Sandra, I just recently discovered your blog... so no, I couldn't tell you were being funny. Especially because I always worry about that stuff. ;)

[Sandra Scoppettone]

Sorry about the size of the text. Here's the thing, I was kidding in my post. At least the way I was presenting it. I'm not really worried about a writer I haven't liked not wanting to be my friend. But you all knew that was a joke. Didn't you? It's so hard to get humor across in posts and email. Maybe it's just me. I can tell Tribe is being funny in his post, for instance. Anyone who reads my real blog knows I'm not afraid of being honest. Thanks for the feedback.

[Daniel Hatadi]

I think honest criticism that isn't brutal is usually a helpful thing. That being said, your text for this post is HUGE! :)

[J.D. Rhoades]

You can be critical without being mean. And I'm always willing to listen to honest criticism from people I respect.