I’ve seen a lot of manuscripts ruined by friends and family trying to be nice. What happens is they feel like they are supposed to give feedback, so they just mention things that occur to them. While they are well- intentioned, most of their advice is not only wrong, but it’s also counter-productive and toxic—a dynamic that can send authors into spirals. The bottom line? Unless your friends and family fit into the above categories, or you are okay with ignoring them, don’t let them give you feedback. 180 · ThE SCriBE METhOD