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This sounds heartfelt, and yes, we've all been there. So follow the hashtag to collect them all! #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP https://twitter.com/tadethompson/status/1252986233854230529
1. If you're a writer, chances are you get regular requests from people to "just look over" their manuscript. Some of these people are friends; others are total strangers. Either way, they should know better, and it's okay to tell them so. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
2. Reading and critiquing a manuscript is a specialist job. Some people make a living from it. By asking a writer to do it instead, you're not only assuming they'll work for free, you're asking them to take someone else's job. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
3. Obviously, most people who make this request probably don't realize how rude they're being, or how much of the writer's time it would take for them to do the job properly. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
4. But reading a manuscript takes time, and so does writing feedback. A professional manuscript evaluator might spend a week on a job like this, and would (quite rightly) charge accordingly. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
5. Some authors get dozens of these requests per week. Even if they wanted to, they wouldn't have time to respond to them all. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
6. It's easier to refuse such a request from a stranger. But when the request comes from someone you know, it can feel like an obligation. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
7. But unless you're in a writing group in which you routinely critique each others' work, it's usually a mistake to approach another writer - even if they're a friend - for feedback on a manuscript. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
8. If the writer knows you, it may be embarrassing for both of you if they think your manuscript isn't of a publishable standard, and their saying so might jeopardize your relationship. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
9. Quite apart from the etiquette issue, there's a practical copyright issue, too. A professional writer just can't afford to put themself in a position where someone might accuse them of having stolen their unpublished idea. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
10. So if you need feedback on your work, hire a professional editor or manuscript evaluator. Yes, it costs money. Most services do. But if you're starting a writing career, you don't want to do it by taking other writers for granted. #TenReasonsNotToAskAWriterToReadYourWIP
