Last summer I got bored with the books I had on my bed stand, and I started asking people what they were reading hoping to find some inspiration. Being a long-time fan of sci-fi and fantasy, I quickly discovered what a sheltered life I have led. I decided to start documenting the variety of literature that people were attracted to. You Can’t Judge a Book is an experimental interview that’s as much about the people as it is about the books they are reading. In this case, the title is both a metaphor and literal.

My first attempt at an interview was with my mother. She’s an 84-year-old widow with seven children, 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild due any day now. I often borrow books from her, so her choice in literature is no surprise to me. You might find this Kansas farm girl’s taste in literature unexpected.

Listen to You Can’t Judge a Book: Prairies to Dunes

The DeHart household is a little somber today. My wife just realized that ten years ago today we bid our final farewell to Big Red. Lois was very fond of Big Red, and I don’t think she’s ever truly allowed herself to go through the grieving process. Sometimes she’ll see or hear something that reminds her of Big Red, and her eyes will get all misty. Just between you and me, I didn’t really care that much about Big Red. Oh sure, it was fun taking her for a ride, and I remember how Lois and I used to wash her out in front of the house. We’d get her all soaped up and the two of us would end up just as wet as Big Red. Yes, we had some good memories with Big Red, but she took up a lot of space and needed a lot of attention. It seemed like there was always something wrong with her. It soon became more expensive to take care of her than she was worth. I know, I know. That sounds cold hearted. Like I keep telling Lois, Big Red is in a better place now. In the end I think it was all for the better that she left us when she did. We were only prolonging the inevitable. Sooner or later you just have to accept the fact that they won’t be there forever. Now matter how much love and money to put into them, eventually your favorite car is going to give up the ghost.

But wait, there's more: Big Red

Here’s another approach to evaluating writing that I picked up from Toastmasters. Pete Sullivan, a friend of mine, lived by this approach whenever evaluating a speech. I’ve adapted it for evaluating writing and I call it my Genie Wish list. It’s quite simple.

Start of by pointing out what you like about the story. If I haven’t drilled it into you yet, be specific. I don’t know how many times I’ve asked for feedback and the reader provided such meaningless praise as “I liked it,” “It was great!” or “Where do you get your ideas?” While praise is great for my ego, being vague does not help me understand my strengths. For instance, I might be uncertain if I’ve truly conveyed the motives of the antagonist. If my reader connected with those motives in some way, but just says “I loved it.” I might unwittingly dismantle those constructs and turn something the reader enjoyed into something bland. Back up any praise you offer with specific examples. What did the main character do or say that made you want to strangle him? What about the narrative made you feel like you were there? What was the wording in the dialog that made you cry?

But wait, there's more: Evaluating: Genie Wish List

One of the trickiest aspects of social media is finding your voice. Or rather finding the voice that will attract readers, followers, friends, fans, ad infinitum. At some point you might find yourself asking the question “Am I willing to compromise on my self image to build a following?” I see a lot of blogs, podcasts, videos, tweets, and posts that are outrageously popular because they are loud, obnoxious, and in your face. For many people that works. Do I need to ramp up the attitude? Do I need to start hurling insults at politicians, celebrities, the establishment, and people I generally don’t like in order to get the attention of the masses?

But wait, there's more: Should I be like Gary V?

In my last post, I wrote about some basic elements of critiquing or providing feedback for writers. I discussed the importance of being honest and seeking feedback from people who are familiar with your writing so they can help track your progress. In this post, I want to share one evaluation technique that can be used as a model for an effective critique. I picked this (along with a few others) up from my years in Toastmasters, and have found it’s just as effective for evaluating writing. This particular technique is good for helping the writer know how effectively they have communicated the message of their story. I call it the sensory evaluation.

But wait, there's more: Sensory Evaluation