I'd like to think he can practice what he preaches.

I think it's a gift in and of itself to know it when you see it, miss it when you don't, and be able to explain both clearly.

Doing? A separate gift.

Signed,
Coached Improv For Years, And Can't Improvise

Doing? A separate gift.

Totally.

Thing is, we're specifically discussing a discipline that can make or break the careers, not of the person who is doing the critiquing, but of the person doing the creating.

Whole 'nother ballgame, there, the difference between a coach or teacher trying to impart knowledge, and critic/reviewer telling a million people "do not like this."

critic/reviewer telling a million people "do not like this."

Well, I think any critic/reviewer that tells people that sucks right off the bat.

Well, I think any critic/reviewer that tells people that sucks right off the bat.

yesyesyesyes. So do I. Which is why I flatly refused to review fiction for which I could find no resonance point.

Years back, when I was doing reviews for the Chronicle, I got sent galleys of the debut novel of a brand new acquaintance. I never mentioned this to her, BTW; so far as I know, she doesn't know now and since we're no longer friends and haven't been for 14 or so years, she doesn't need to.

And I loathed the book with a passion. The biggest issue I would have had to get around was that it was mystical Celtic fantasy: gnomes. Invisible elves. Great broadswords.

Well - okay. I am in the teeny minority of Tolkein-haters out there, but beyond that, this level of overdone magic (with fake-feminist overtones) makes my hair hurt. I read the thing, but by the time I'd reached page 50, my tum was in knots and there was no way I was going to be able to be fair about it. The fact that we shared an agent really put the tin cupola on it.

I sent it back to Pat and Alix and whimpered, and they passed it on to someone who loved the genre. And I always felt I'd done the only reasonable thing. Because just because I can't like the thing, what earthly right does that give me to tell the rest of the world they won't like it?

(BTW, I'm not talking about basic novels with a Celtic setting; I'm speaking specifically about magic and gnomes and whatnots. Can't abide the things. Basic novels with Celtic settings are fine, AU or otherwise.)

Oh, and I love my husband. Tour shirt:

[link]

or just saying "tfoo tfoo tfoo".

I really like this. I'll think it next time I compliment a baby (which I do a lot).

Ooooooh! I think I need to get a Weaver mug!!!

Mussst have the tour t-shirt. It will be mine!

(Nice duck and cover, there, Miz Deb--and I'm grinning ear to ear.) Also, PF is giving me no love all day today, is it hosed?

Bev, wasn't a duck and cover; I was actually thinking about Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy first, which has no real magic in it, except his ability to see beyond things. No elves, no gnomes. Class Celtic AU on a classic topic, and she does my favourite version of it.

But thinking about it? Yours is covered by that, as well; no elves or gnomes or tiny people who speak thus and thouly and have hairy feet.

I love the damned tour jersey, and must have one for myself.

um, Deb...Christmas is a comin....

Off to get haircut...