tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post7835365996741256412..comments2023-07-14T05:59:27.018-04:00Comments on Aaron Paul Lazar: How To Help Budding Authors (without killing their spirits) by Aaron LazarAaron Paul Lazarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-45305677852815932562014-10-02T15:33:04.221-04:002014-10-02T15:33:04.221-04:00Pat, I love your story. It's so true, and I...Pat, I love your story. It's so true, and I'm sure a lot of writers are nodding their heads, shouting, "Yes! That was me!" Thank you for coming by today!Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-57933628677512774632014-10-02T14:19:51.599-04:002014-10-02T14:19:51.599-04:00It's a rite of passage, no?
How well I recal...It's a rite of passage, no? <br /><br />How well I recall my first telephone review with an editor, a New Yorker who minced not a word; my fragile ego was shattered to bits and a Major Sob Fest was in order. I hugged a bottle of Scotch real tight as I ran for the bathroom, slammed the door behind me and grabbed the Kleenex. <br /><br />Funny how the skin toughens, how the very criticism that once sent me howling is now my most precious asset. That lesson right there -- treasuring the truth -- is part of the journey. So for all of you out there still protecting a cowering and vulnerable writer's ego, take it out, put it in the sunshine and tell it safety is in opening to criticism, not hiding from it. <br /><br />You're the best, Aaron. So glad to see you're still helping new writers. Your advice has stayed with me over the years. I recently read Story Engineering by Larry Brooks; he puts out a lot to think about.D. Pat Thomashttp://www.d-pat-thomas.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-87474628079751090992014-09-29T15:05:42.600-04:002014-09-29T15:05:42.600-04:00Andy, that is really the most fun part of writing,...Andy, that is really the most fun part of writing, I think!Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-56083841522311986662014-09-29T14:59:22.334-04:002014-09-29T14:59:22.334-04:00It was nice to read this, I love to write but I...It was nice to read this, I love to write but I'm not jumping into a book any time soon.<br /><br />I just love coming up with ideas for stories, hopefully it will continue!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118271178930460075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-23318322524033013872014-09-29T06:00:48.680-04:002014-09-29T06:00:48.680-04:00Pam, Thank you so much for your feedback. One of t...Pam, Thank you so much for your feedback. One of the tough parts when we're starting out (and even now) is that we want to be nice people. Heck, we are nice people. So when another nice person asks us to "take a look" at their book, we are soooo tempted to say "Of course!" I find it extremely difficult to say no, but it makes me feel better to just do a little - a few pages, for example, and then move on. ;o) Happy writing!Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-18771068925403858992014-09-28T16:18:44.351-04:002014-09-28T16:18:44.351-04:00Aaron, I wish I had read this wonderful post befor...Aaron, I wish I had read this wonderful post before offering to help out a friend. I made all the horrible mistakes a person could make, including not just asking for a few pages first. Worse, I knew the book wasn't even put together. Now, I pretty just beta read. Len Maxwell got on my case and said I should continue to edit books, but I don't think so. Your letter was wonderfully worded.<br /><br />You, sir, have become a great writer.PamBrittain.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618074194039339652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-45662615099771420462014-09-26T18:41:38.437-04:002014-09-26T18:41:38.437-04:00Thank you, Mary. I've enjoyed helping with you...Thank you, Mary. I've enjoyed helping with your short stories!<br /><br />And Ruth, maybe I should write my next article about reviewing. There are a lot of similarities to the approach I just shared - how to know if you should accept a book in the first place, ways to back out gracefully if you make an error in judgement, ways to find something good in every book, if possible, etc. <br />Aaron Paul Lazarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06117814221437165664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-39869690347699218872014-09-26T18:06:25.882-04:002014-09-26T18:06:25.882-04:00Thank you for sharing an excellent piece on advice...Thank you for sharing an excellent piece on advice for those published authors giving back to their audience. <br /><br />I wonder, too, if you have advice for book reviewers, like myself, who occasionally come across a not-so-perfectly published book to review.<br />Ruth Cox aka abitosunshinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12670570644577223420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29301159.post-29963720491836364682014-09-26T17:49:15.492-04:002014-09-26T17:49:15.492-04:00 Aaron, this is an excellent Blog, and you are mos... Aaron, this is an excellent Blog, and you are most thoughtful to create it. I will be posting the link in various places like twitter and google+<br />You have been a wonderful friend to take time to read and advise me on some of my short stories. I hesitated to ask you to review or even look at Annon because I know how busy you are.<br />I thank you sincerely for being an inspiration to me and other authors.<br /><br />MaryMary Bradley McCauleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12783440295999481103noreply@blogger.com