Being asked for an honest opinion

It's a really tricky task. You don't want to hurt your friend, and you don't want her to keep fooling herself.
The sandwich approach has a lot of merit.
Best of luck.

There are so many ways to publish these days. I didn’t know , for instance, that when you have a traditional contract with a publisher, and an advance, you do not get any royalties until the advance is paid off in book sales. Which is why publishers often plump for ‘celebs’ or other well known people.
If you publish yourself you get royalties straight away. Checks and balances again.

‘She has said she wants an honest opinion, good or bad.’
To some extent you have to take her at her word and do that but it sounds like it’s going to be a verbal feedback session with her hearing it for the first time, so could be tricky, and difficult for her. Yes definitely prepare something to say in advance - one thing to praise and one thing that’s critical but helpful, too long etc. Perhaps your other friends will raise different things.

keepcalmandcarryon -

I only wish people good luck and joy in making a living from the Arts .
It's notoriously difficult.

My daughter has succeeded ,
but I supplemented her for years.
I've found trying to encourage the acting relative difficult ,but of course -I do !
One gifted actor that I know is waiting tables in his forties .
I certainly feel sorry for him .
Two of my friends have daughters who are aspiring singers . It's been a struggle for their mothers trying to support them .

OP, your friend has written a book, it’s been published, now she wants to write another book. She seems to enjoy the process for its own sake, and derives satisfaction from her achievement, so I don’t think I’d be too frank about the book’s weaknesses.

It’s reminding me of a friend who absolutely loves singing, but she has an atrocious voice. None of us are going to tell her that though.

The trouble with the sandwich approach is that anyone who has been involved in courses where it is applied (as in any and all Arts courses) can spot it at 100 paces. It is possible to do it reasonably well, but that skill is only acquired with years of experience, and even then, if something is really bad it's hard to hide the criticism filling between slices of lukewarm praise.

Someone I know who goes to poetry workshops, for instance, often goes on about the sandwich technique, and really believes she applies it, but might say 'I loved the topic of the poem, Gladys, but wondered about the way you expressed it, and thought the structure needed work. Overall, though, the poem was interesting.' Well, she probably wouldn't say anything quite as bad as that (I am making a point), but I hope you see what I mean?

IMO there are other factors - one is that feedback needs to come from someone who knows what they are talking about eg what sells, or what appeals to different markets, what is in vogue nowadays etc (in other words a publisher) and another is that the author is experienced enough at getting feedback to get benefit from it, and many are not.

Is the friend attending the meeting?
In my reading group (not the same I know) we go round the room and everyone makes three succinct comments, otherwise some talk at great length and leave little for others to say. Then we open up a general discussion, which might make it easier to produce kind comments: oh yes, I think that too.

Compliment sandwich maybe? This was good, this could have been better, this was excellent?

In our writing group, one person has just self published a novel. He asked us all to read and comment. I hated it and thought it utter drivel. HoweverI think he was not hurt by my critique as I honestly said that I never read sci fi fiction as I am unable to cope with the unreality but the two chapters I did read were well constructed and well written. He was happy and I had been honest.

Can you not say something similar- the subject matter/ story line did not appeal but it was generally well written but maybe needed a tad more pruning?

Self-published books lack the presence of an editor, which is why it is important to seek editorial advice from everyone and anyone - especially those you feel will be honest - before spending money on it.

It sounds as though your friend has not done this and has laid out money and is then seeking feedback.

So, if you do not feel able to be totally honest with her because it is her baby, then at the very least you might find a way of suggesting that she gets lots of feedback/editing before she tries to self-publish a second book.

Luckygirl, apparently the OP’s friend did pay for an editor and a proof reader, resulting in the book being pruned by a third.

Oh dear .......

Your friend doesn't want your honest opinion if it's not unalloyed praise. You said it yourself- she wants you to leave rave reviews on Amazon and similar sites. Who can blame her - she is proud of this book and wants it to sell. As a script editor/writer I can't stress enough how badly your criticism will be received. She needs that from an objective professional, not her close friends. Friends have asked for my "brutally honest" opinion. I would never give feedback once published - what's the point -but at the early draft stage I stressed many times that it may not be what they want -were they sure? "Oh yes let me have it; I need the help". They didn't want that. Even when coated with kindness. No. They wanted to be told it was brilliant. A work of "staggering genius" with perhaps some tiny amendments needed. They don't know this when they ask - but it's their baby and it truly hurts for that to be badly regarded. I have been "coerced" into writing glowing reviews for Amazon in the past. I don't write any now. Don't trust any Amazon book reviews. They are written by friends, aunties, uncles, former teachers and even bots. It's too late for honest feedback anyway as it's done and the second is on its way. I wouldn't want to hurt her feelings - well done to her for having the guts to get it done.

I used to be part of a writing group and we did give honest feedback because we wanted to write well. We gave the positives too. I did an 'edit your novel' course, which told us how to take out extraneous words. Every writer should want to improve their writing, but normally you would do that before you spend out the money! You can be honest but kind though. Presumably she wants people to enjoy her books. She can ignore it if she doesn't agree.

A relative self published a book, having paid an independent editor. The book was still awful! It was meant to be fiction but read like a history lesson.

She would get really upset if anyone suggested it needed editing.

I'd say only what I liked about the book (presuming some of it was OK). She's going to publish the next one whatever you or the group says ...

Today 'self-publishing' almost always means using Amazon, where there is no up-front cost at all, and revisions can be made at any time. Different if she's gone the old route of paying for a few hundred copies to be printed of course! And she may have paid for professional assistance with layout etc.

'Great story, but it badly needs trimming and tightening up' is an honest comment without being too hurtful I think.

Is this by any chance historical?
I think history often gets in the way of narrative.

This may be key.

As my husband, a writer, says “slaughter your babies” (though someone else said this first).
Writers become too attached to "precious" ideas or fascinating research or a particular character which can lead to bloated or unfocused work.
Maybe this is her best advice in future.

It's costing your friend money, if she can afford to spend even more on a second book then that's OK (not sure how you would judge this) but if not then you have to be truthful in order to be a good friend.
As others have said emphasise some good points in the book, if there are any otherwise be imaginative but then say that being brutally honest you found it to be long winded and that perhaps sending it to be edited before being published might be a very good thing. Good luck!

.

Indeed. JKR's first Harry Potter book was turned rejected TWELVE times before being accepted by Bloomsbury.

My, how they must have all kicked themselves later!!!!
.

I was sent a book to read before publication. I spent ages on it and wrote a very carefully thought out review emphasising positives and minimising negatives. The author was furious. He only focussed on the relatively few negative comments. However, he didn't go ahead and publish it. It was a dreadful book!

Such a pity the author did not get opinions from a few of the group before publishing.

if the big publishers dont want it she is wasting her time, the worst grammatically published book of ever was 50 shades of grey and publishers were fighting for the printing rights, tell your friend this and perhaps she will stop wasting her money on self publishing for a handful of friends

Isn't it asking a lot to expect friends and acquaintances to buy a self published book, read it, review it, provide detailed feedback and so on? Is it the custom for everybody in the hobby group to get this much input into their hobby from other members of the group?

You seem a very kind person and want to support your friend but you are not responsible for making her a good writer and in fact can't do so.

Neither are you responsible for protecting her from whatever disappointments or financial loss her ambition might cost her. And again I doubt you could , even if you try. It sounds as if she is set upon following her own road, as we all have the right to do.

In trying to help her, you could just upset her and destroy the friendship.

Best not to get too involved. Do as people here suggest and make one one or two pleasant comments at the meeting.

Tell the truth - what you might have liked and what you definitely didn't like. Be gentle if you have to but it rather sounds as though this person is on a roll and will continue in he4r current style so if you don't want to be placed in the same position this time next year, be honest now.

An honesty sandwich… first the good, then the bad then finish the critique with more ‘good’!