Constructive Criticism

Casually I floated my cookbook idea across the bow of a very veteran nonfiction book writer, more thinking aloud than anything else. She snapped back with excellent responses: "Gotta have a title, a 1 sentence concept and a sales hook," she wrote in a terse email. "Do your research at the bookstore and analyze what's out there and why those books sold." She's an acute analyst. "Your cookbook idea isn't focused enough and the angle is too much what YOU can do, not what the book can do for a reader." I won't reveal how she shot down my half-baked premises, except to say that it jolted me into a more realistic view. Notice she did not blast the notion of writing the millionth cookbook, but sharpened and redirected my aim. This is both encouragement and constructive criticism at its best. It's what you should look for in a writing group, class, or coach.

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