Angelia Vernon Menchan

Angelia Vernon Menchan is an author, publisher and public speaker who owns two publishing companies, MAMM Productions and Honorable Menchan Media. Mrs. Menchan is also a Budget Officer and former Job Corps Counselor. To date she has published twenty-three books of her own work, both fiction and non-fiction and more than eighty ebook novellas on amazon.com. You can access her bibliography on www.amazon.com search words: Angelia Vernon Menchan




Contact information:
Website: http://acvermen.blogspot.com
Email: acvermen@yahoo.com
Phone numbers: 904 714 2272 904 303 2679

Friday, August 17, 2007

Constructive Criticism

It seems that there are those who feel authors aren’t open to constructive criticism….
I am sure that is true in some cases, maybe many cases…
But in my case and in the cases of authors who have been in the game for a minute…
Were it not for constructive criticism and helpful insights we wouldn’t be here…
Doing what we do…
Some of my best lessons have come from those who have said, ‘This would work better if you tried this, or this would read better if you did that’…I love that, help a sister out…

As a reviewer, my goal is to be as fair as I can, but to offer whatever I can to assist…
I have been known to read a book twice, when reviewing if I am not feeling it…
Because I am thinking that maybe it is just me…
What I think is occurring in many cases is that the critic feels he or she is being constructive…when in fact intent matters not a whit…if the recipient can’t relate to what is being said or offered…and many times the offerings aren’t constructive, they are or can be destructive….
Anytime someone opens their mouth to say, “If it were me” or “I am not trying to be funny, but”…look out…
I was once in a forum where young people would join in droves….
They would participate…then one day you would notice they weren’t participating any longer…many would wonder why….I knew why….
Those in the know, 'the experts' were throwing out what they called ‘Constructive Criticism’ but they were demolishing the hopes and dreams of its youngsters…

One thing I have learned as a mentor is that there is a lot of power in what you say and how you say it…
If I see a young person reading something, instead of saying, “I know you aren’t reading that trash’…I will go out and purchase them something that will allow them to know there are other possibilities….
If I read something someone has written and it is laced with something negative or with demeaning images, I will challenge them to write the same things in a different way, you can be funky and fresh in so many ways…by no means am I saying massage the egos of people who are putting out trash,
What I am saying though is that writing like any other thing is a learning endeavor and if you can reach out to a beginning writer, offering suggestions and critiques without demolishing hope, dreams and aspirations, then please do that…
Not only will you have given back, but, you will have helped to forge a new crop of writers, who will be able to bring it….

I am not trying to be funny…honest!

Love and Blessings…
angelia

7 comments:

Yasmin said...

KUDOS!
xoxo

Angelia Vernon Menchan said...

Thanks Sis...

Love and Blessings...
angelia

Gwyneth Bolton said...

Great post! This is right on the money. It's all in how people say the things they say and how open folks are to listen to what is being said. A slip in either one can cause constructive criticism to tilt in the other direction... Excellent post.

Gwyneth

Angelia Vernon Menchan said...

Welcome back Sis...

thanks as always...

love and Blessings

angelia

Jennifer C. said...

This is so true and I appreciate this. You are a true mentor to me personally. I know that I have sent you stuff and you have read my stuff posted here, but never once have I ever felt beaten by your words. See you are the professional, experienced author and I am just a person sitting at my computer typing my thoughts that one day will be on a shelf for others to read.

Thanks,
JC

Angelia Vernon Menchan said...

I Love You Jennifer and my goal is never to hurt those I love but to guide and be there for...

blessings...

angelia

Poetic Genesis said...

WONDERFUL!! You got it sis! I love when I get constructive criticism. It takes a great person to give it to you. A person who truly wants to see you grow.

Right on time

stay peace

genesis/he hi metu ra