I want to use this forum to talk about comments, and to thank all of you who have commented on my stories over the past four years. Most of them have made me smile, or laugh. Some have truly touched my heart, and every once in a while they have made me cry.

I remember during If It Is Meant To Be when I was writing about Nica’s death and Bette’s guilt,  I received several comments, PMs, and e-mails from women who had all experienced a similar situation. Their stories both broke and touched my heart.

Now, not all the comments have been glowing, or full of praise, which is exactly how it is supposed to be. The whole point of having the comment section is to both encourage, share experiences relating to the story, joke with the author, and yes...when something doesn’t sit right, to tell the author why not. And, while it is not okay to personally attack me, I want you to know that you don’t need to try to hide your disapproval under a thick coat of sugar either. Tell me what you really think!  I WANT to know!  LOL I remember someone left a comment once in a chapter of If It Is Meant To Be that simply said, “This is really lame ” And, while some of you may think that wasn’t very cool, let me tell you that I paid attention to that comment. It made me think twice about where my storyline was going, and how realistic everything I was writing was. Now, could she have worded it differently? Maybe. But, why should she? She wasn’t attacking me personally. She was saying she thought what she had just read was lame. We all speak differently, phrase things differently. I believe she had every right to word that comment just the way she did. And, once again, I would like to think that her comment, just as much as the wonderful, heartfelt, and positive comments help me to become a better writer, and a better storyteller.

If it wasn’t for that last reason (when something doesn’t sit right to tell the author why not) who knows what direction I would have taken on my first story When You Get It Do You Still Want It? I think the original plan was to have the story be short and sweet...you know, just something to get my feet wet. But, I had several people who kept saying, ‘wait a minute Sea, this isn’t gonna fly...it doesn’t make sense...it’s not realistic...I don’t buy this storyline for one minute ’ And I am so grateful for them for calling me on it, because they were absolutely right!  

It was because of those comments that I went back to the drawing board and looked at my story with a different perspective. Honestly, if it wasn’t for those people, I would have never gone in the e-mail direction. It is because of them that I actually sat down and really took the time to flesh out ideas, tried to hear realistic conversations in my head. I truly owe those women a huge thank you for pushing me to be a better writer. To go deeper.

It is because of those women that I realized that I didn’t need to write drama just for dramas sake. Honestly, anyone can write drama...just look at all the action packed movies and books that are so popular. They leave your head spinning as they launch you from one drama to the next. But, they do that to hide the fact (in my opinion) that they don’t have a strong enough storyline, or the writing just isn’t good enough to keep you interested...so they distract you through drama. I don’t want to distract you. I want to just tell a good story that keeps you engaged, and interested, and entertained, not in a constant state of chaos.

I guess I am writing this now because I recently read the phrase “constructive criticism” used in conjunction with comments. And, as I was reading I realized that it really comes down to the simple fact that everyone has a different opinion on the definition of, and a different reaction to  constructive criticism.

Here’s are snippets of one person’s definition of CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM:


“Constructive criticism is criticism kindly meant that has a goal of improving some area of another’s person’s life or work. Often constructive criticism refers specifically to the critique of someone else’s written or artistic work, in perhaps a teacher/student setting, that would allow that person to further improve the work or to improve their approach to future endeavors.

The trouble with constructive criticism is that not all people are receptive to it. They may either feel their self-esteem shrinking under criticism, or they may feel that all criticism is negative. This can destroy the intent of constructive criticism.

Further, not all people who think they are employing constructive criticism are actually being helpful. They may think all criticism is helpful and may not spare the person any details or couch the criticism in ways least likely to make a person defensive. Communication is loaded with multiple intentions, especially in a parent/child or spousal relationships. Thus people may not know how to actually employ a critique of one aspect of a person without involving their own feelings or frustration that make a critique negative.

In all cases, constructive criticism runs the danger of being perceived as negative. In these situations, it is unlikely that any criticism will actually provide help. Even when a person tries to present criticism in a non-emotional way, it may still be considered a personal attack.”


I will end this very long thought by saying to you...I want to be the kind of writer who keeps you engaged, not dazed. I want to be the kind of writer who will entertain you, not distract you. I just want to tell you a story that is so good, you can see the scene in your head...you can actually feel yourself in the room with the characters.

And, if in order for me to achieve that level of writing you feel you need to tell me every once in a while that what I am writing is lame, or offensive, or insensitive, or doesn’t make a lick of sense....then, please...by all means, tell me! Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing...I want to entertain you, and you want to be entertained.

Thank you again for your constant loyalty to my stories, and to me as a writer. It has meant EVERYTHING to me during these last four years of writing fan fiction.

See you in between the pages!  

I agree, sometimes the tough comments make you look at a story and go, "hmmm." When I was writing The Gathering, I remember someone telling me they didn't *buy* Sam Vance. So I sat and painted a better picture, with words of course. I am totally lucky to have a friend, MJ, who does my editing, and she does tell me the truth. Change this, that's a bad word, you can do better. And she has made my writing better. Oh, and I am a drama writer... And it shows.