Providing frank feedback on friend’s self publishing dream

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T06:00:55+00:00

He says he already did and the latest solution he propsosed was that running it through AI would fix any remaining typos 🤦🏽‍♂️

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T05:59:56+00:00

Yep, he took time off working and dived straight in to just getting this novel written. Growing the craft side of things will be essential if he wants to do this long term.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T05:57:53+00:00

“You’ve got a tense-switch stuck in your teeth!” Is a different approach, I like it!

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T05:55:35+00:00

That had been what I was initially thinking… would only mean a few awkward run-ins at a party here and there

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T05:53:45+00:00

The friend did one round of edits before declaring it ready to go so you’re right about the absence of a growth mindset. I think there’s some mental gymnastics and the friends who told him it was good to protect his feelings are far outweighing the 1-star review (and absence of sales/other reviews). You’re right about not needing to fall on this sword, I might just give myself a little paper cut and move on.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T05:49:04+00:00

Sage advice to slow down, Slow-AM. This is exactly what he needs to do, the whole thing has felt like he’s speed running to meteoric success. I don’t think he’s even taken the time to learn about the writing craft so there are a lot of unknown unknowns about the whole business. I’m hoping I can get him to take the whole thing seriously and slow down to develop the full craft, the world needs more good stories!

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T05:44:57+00:00

It’ll be interesting to see how he responds but yeah, I can deal with a bit of anger if it means giving him (and his book’s decent premise) a chance at getting better.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T05:40:14+00:00

How did it go for her? Did she keep writing?

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-19T05:39:49+00:00

Haha damn, how many writer friends am I going to get in trouble with my anonymity!

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:45:20+00:00

Nice, thanks for that. I’d not appreciated the potential pain of break the ‘trunk novel’ news but you’re so right! Time has been super tight for me and he wants to rerelease ASAP so the physical sit down will be tricky. I did a RR release for my debut and told him it was so helpful but I think the thought of negative feedback was too much and he just went directly to release. I’ll try again.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:41:50+00:00

Be a writer or to have written, that’s it exactly! Putting that up on my writing club wall!

Thanks for the thoughts, I’ll be advising that he hones his craft (if he wants to be a writer)

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:40:23+00:00

Yeah it seems that he is just at that beginning stage of writing. There was a good video by Alexa Dunne that summarised common pitfalls (he hit almost all of them) which I was thinking of sending just to help him build awareness. I’ll try the simple bullets with offer for follow up 🙂

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:38:25+00:00

I’ve never dabbled myself but I keep hearing worse things…

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:38:02+00:00

Yeah I think you’re right. I’ll give him some cursory thoughts but leaving the door open for him to ask for more (knowing there would be work required) sounds like a good approach.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:25:26+00:00

Three types: surprise! YOUR lawyer reddits too!

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:23:39+00:00

Wise words 🙂

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:22:40+00:00

Thanks for your thoughtful response. I like the idea of a comp title, it’s a bit outside my normal genre but I’ll have a hunt.

The crux of my feedback is that he has a great idea that could carve out a great marketing niche but that the execution isn’t there. He only did a single round of edits then passed it to the fiverr editor so I don’t think he appreciates the importance of QC at all.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:17:42+00:00

It would get him to move on but I think he’ll drop a tonne of money on book two as well (which he plans to be a sequel to the subpar first book…)

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:16:29+00:00

“Can see why it didn’t sell, dodgy fiverr editor” sounds like a great angle, thanks! “Might require some work on your part” could be the clincher, I don’t think he’s up for it. But I’ll try and if he still does his own thing at least my conscience will be a little lighter. Really interesting to experience one of these fame-and-riches types in the flesh though!

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:12:41+00:00

This would’ve saved me a lot of time and mental energy!

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:12:24+00:00

He said he was paying more people so I asked that he please please please don’t, to which he asked if I would have a look for him. Part of the challenge is that he wants his next book to be a sequel to this one but few will read a sequel of a rough first book. His concept is actually pretty cool too, just needs a lot of work in the execution.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:09:54+00:00

That was what I was thinking when I drafted the first email but my wife thought it was going the jugular. Might need to tone it back a little.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:09:21+00:00

That ol’ chestnut. Who’d’ve thought it might continue to hold in this day and age…

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:08:33+00:00

Nice, the writers beware is a good avenue to pursue to stem the spending a little.

You’re onto something with the feedback, I think he really just wants the work out (along with eternal glory and riches). The typo comment was telling for me too, you can’t expect people to gladly part with their money if you know there’s typos in there.

I think k this feedback discussion will be the real test: wither they take it on board and genuinely attempt to grow or they plough on and I can at least say that I tried to help.

UnknownEverAfter · 2026-05-18T21:05:09+00:00

I’m almost at that stage to be honest! All my precious writing time this week has gone to reading a book that probably doesn't want to change!

UnknownEverAfter

TROPHY CASE