I don't review many of the books publicists and editors send to me in hopes of a good review. Writing is an art and like many American Idol hopefuls who think they are meadowlarks but are more akin to chickens being strangled, we are not good judges of our own work.
I am writing the "great American novel," have been for more years than I am comfortable admitting. It is a vast, sweeping saga and I think it is the best thing since, well since anything wonderful. Alas, the many changes my editor and the wonderfully brilliant ladies at my writer's group suggest have punctured many a hole in my ego balloon. Still, I am heaped with enough praise to keep me going. I have adopted a rule. If I find myself defending something in my book that is being criticized by my editors, it needs to go or be changed.
If you are a writer of articles or books, my best advice is to let go of the love of your words enough to allow others help you make it the best it can be and shape it into something that engages the mind of your readers. Not that you have to take every suggestion, but consider each suggestion seriously, from their point of view.
For The Messenger, I review traditionally published books that have been edited by a professional, and I review self-published books. Many of the Self pubs are awful. They are full of inconsistencies, spelling errors, grammar errors (using "less" when it should be "fewer" is a common one), and choppy writing that doesn't make sense. Or, they meander in a sort of stream of consciousness that goes nowhere. To be fair, there are many self-published books that are wonderfully well-written and a pleasure to read. These, I review for The Messenger.
If you have story you would like published, an article, a rant, or a book you would like reviewed, please send it to me. I love new authors and it keep The Messenger fresh and alive.
I hope you enjoy the reviews in this issue of The Messenger. I picked the best of the stack to offer to you. Good story-telling is one of life's greatest gifts, both reading and writing. Enjoy!
Anita
