Gotta Write

Writers get a lot of criticism.  It’s just a profession that allows everyone else to see how you’re doing, and so that opens things up for people to tell you when you’re doing something badly.

I try not to let it get to me when someone criticizes my writing.  Sometimes the criticism makes a lot of sense and actually helps me out a lot.  After all, it’s hard for writers to take a step back sometimes and have a look at their writing without thinking it’s the coolest thing ever.  There have been times I’ve written something and I was convinced it was incredibly clever only to be met with, “I don’t get it” from the people who read it.

If you don’t believe me, ask to read the short story I wrote on Percocet.*

I feel the worst when the criticism comes from someone who is actually paying for the writing.  If someone is paying you to write something, you darn well better get it right.  I have a policy: If someone pays me to write something and they don’t like it, I’ll revise it.  I don’t ask for more money, and I don’t argue.  Luckily this doesn’t happen very often, but it has happened.

Do I let criticism stop me? Heck no.  Do I like criticism? Not really, but it can be useful.

*The Percocet was prescribed after surgery, thank you very much.