Reviewing Reviews.

I have been reviewing some books over at Good Reads.  I spent a lot of time reading the reviews (by other readers) on a book by James Scott Bell called Plot and Structure.  You can get the book through Writer's Digest, in Book Stores or like everyone else in the world, order it on Amazon.

 I recently completed this book and was adding a review when I noticed a string of reviews that were in my opinion harsh and in some ways unwarranted.

When I ordered the book I had just finished reading an excellent book called " The Story Within" By:Laura Oliver.  Which I had also read several reviews.

What do both of these book have in common?  They are books written on the craft of writing.  I find book like these and several others to be inspiring and fun to read. I love reading about something that I love to do, write.

What I discovered while reviewing the reviews horrified me, writers are really hard on each other. Many of the reviews were from fellow craftspersons that seemed to be  looking to find the magic formula to success. (I believe the formula only exist in the form of lots of hard work.) I was heart-broken when I read a few reviews that bashed the authors and said they did not bring anything new to the reader. Must be nice to know everything about writing--you are telling me that you did not get inspired, nor find one thing that you said if even only to yourself  "Ahh that is a great idea."  HA!  I say poppy-cock!   If this is truly the case it may behoove you dear reader to reexamine the book, or for the benefit of all us others --write a book and enlighten us.

Here is my plea.  Writers, craftsmen and women, story tellers please lighten up.  I was deeply disheartened that some of my fellow writers felt they were entitled to tear apart another's work, simply because they felt the book didn't tailor to their needs.

The excellent writer is humble enough to recognize that (s)he can learn from every book on the craft.  Not one of these books said their preferred method of writing was the only way. In fact, I believe both of them clearly and repetitively stated that the ideas were just that, ideas and method that may work to increase or improve ones writing.  They simply presented ideas and ways to better ones skills.

Take this thought, do with it as you please but humble yourself seek out tidbits to make your writing stronger, not chunks to tear apart a fellow artist.  I implore you all to learn from each other and unless your name is Stephen King, J. K. Rowling, JD Robb (Nora Roberts) or some other amazing craftsperson that I don't have the time nor space to list take a self-evaluation, learn to learn, uplift each other. Be proud of your craft and confident in yourself to know you still got a lot to learn baby.  In fact, I would bet that the previously mentioned authors would agree they too are always learning from their peers.  

Just a thought for the day.  Now I'm going to go write!