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Dear Miss Manners,
I'm mostly a fiction writer but I recently wrote a draft of a one-act play. I gave this play to a couple I know, both artistic. He's a painter and acts, she's a dancer and acts as well. I wanted some feedback.
I gave them a printed-out copy well over two weeks ago and I haven't heard a thing.
I realize "Please read something I wrote" is one of the more annoying requests someone can make, which is why I have NEVER before given them anything. But this piece is different. It's 30 pages, a light comedy, they're both into theater, and as I say, I just wanted some feedback. I told them so. "If you can think of any way to improve it, lemme know."
Silence.
If it sucks, I can take it. I'm used to rejection. Doesn't bother me. They know that.
But it's the silence that gets to me. Did they even read it? Or is it so bad it's unreadable? I have no clue.
In her defense, she works a lot. He, however, is unemployed and has gobs of free time. And anyway, their weekends are pretty open. Again, 30 measly pages, mostly white space.
My feelings are hurt. Am I being too sensitive? And is it up to me to badger them for their opinion if they have, in fact, read it already, or is it up to them to volunteer what they think? If my hurt is legit, how can I express it without calling them vulgar names for body parts and ruining the freindship?
Any advice would be appriciated.
Miffed Muse in Ohio
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