A few years ago, I picked up a new hobby: crocheting. I'd wanted to learn for a while. Then I seriously injured my foot and ended up stuck on the couch all spring and summer, so I had both the time and the opportunity to really get down to business.
A few months later, as the weather got colder, I decided to make a winter hat for myself. In search of yarn, I went to a tiny local shop. I explained to the employee what kind of yarn I was looking for. Her reaction surprised me. With a look and a tone that implied, "Are you stupid? You should know this," she proceeded to explain why the yarn I wanted wasn't right for a winter hat.
Um . . . ouch.
Sometimes the people who critique your writing are like that. They act as if it's obvious what you should fix and as if you're dumb for not doing it in the first place. That stings.
You know what, though?
As insensitive as that employee was, she did help me make a better decision about the yarn for my hat. The kind I thought I wanted would probably not have been warm enough and/or might have stretched out of shape over time. So I kept looking. Eventually I found some yarn--at a different store!--that was the right material and the perfect colors. I wore the resulting hat until (sniff) I had to get a new coat that no longer matched it:
So if someone gives you a jerk-y review or critique of your work, you're allowed to feel however you feel about those comments. Just don't give up. You can learn something every time a person gives you feedback. Sometimes you just learn how to be a more decent human being. Other times, buried in the unkindness is a valid point that can help you make your writing better.
Maybe situations like that are why some writers are so afraid of being edited. My goal is always for you to come away from our interactions feeling inspired and empowered to continue your wordsmithing. If you're ready to begin that journey beyond this post, click "Services Offered" at the top of this page to discover which of my services is right for you.
Write on,
Candice
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