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>>>Thank you for the detailed, constructive criticism.
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>>Your welcome
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>>If you fancy swapping drafts for perusal and criticism, I could always send you mine. I sent it to a friend for constructive critique, in the hope that a bit of encouragement might spur me on. It took him so long to get round to it that I'd lost the impetus - and than he only went and done and CRITICISED it anyway! MO-FO! :-)
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>>Since then I've got more into the music and stuff and have actually composed the odd song.
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>If you want to send me a draft, sure, go ahead. My email is mbeane@inbox.com. As long as it is not in a genre I don't know or care about I will give you my constructive criticism, as you have done here.

How would one know what genres you don't know or care for? Or are they those not listed in this thread?

I don't think my story HAS a genre: it's a story of an unfortunate wretch, who's had a miserable life, is all alone, and who tries to commit suicide, is saved by a friendly nut-case, who takes him to live with him and other ex-mental patients in a half-way house, who bring him back to a love of life and, in the process, the main prot. goes a little nutty himself. During the suicide rescue they both end up in hospital, where they get to know each other. It's a human interest story with pathos and humour. I've done c. 7 chapters but there's at least as much to go after that.

Funnily, when I first saw the start of The Fisher King my heart sank in that it was very similar, and I thought "they'd stolen my idea!"
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>As you know, I am heavily involved in youth soccer. One of the fundamental principles of AYSO is Positive Coaching. This does not mean blindly telling the kids they did great even when they didn't. From a young age they are smart enough to know when they did great and when they didn't. What they really want to learn is a better way. The coaches I respect most take their players aside as soon as they can and tell, or better yet show, them how to do it better. You quickly notice that the women and men who coach like that are quickly trusted by their players, whereas the judgmental ones are distrusted. Kids have a radar for this. They will run through a wall for the teachers they trust. The other thing some victory-obsessed coaches may not realize is that kids develop at different rates. Maybe they are grokking every word you say and just can't kick the ball hard enough yet.
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>Sorry for the discourse. It just happens to be a subject close to my heart.

A bit like rewarding a dog for doing good, rather than beating it for doing bad?

Does this mean then that if you've nothing good to say you say nothing? - cos that the hell don't sound like the Mike I've got to know and love! :-)