A week ago I posted about a poetry workshop I planned to attend with Fred Chappell. He’s a pretty renowned poet and author and I was excited to be part of his class. And it was a really good class.
He asked each of the 15 participants to bring three poems we wanted to discuss. I picked three that I thought ranged from okay to pretty good. As it turned out, we each had to pick ONE of those three for the class to talk about. This presented a quandary. Did I read the one that I thought was pretty good in order to impress everyone? Or did I pick the okay one because I could actually use some feedback to help me improve it? Did I want to invite praise or criticism?
Ugh. I do so love praise.
I ultimately read my least favorite of the three and was rewarded with a nice mix of positive feedback with some suggestions for improvement. Basically, I got affirmation and assistance. Nice.
Today I was faced with a similar quandary. I’m going to a writer’s retreat in October and a multi-published author of Christian fiction is offering critiques. She said she’d be happy to read my synopsis and first 20 pages. Enter the quandary. Do I send her the book that was a semi finalist in the Genesis Contest so she sees what a good writer I am? Or do I send her the book that I know needs fixing so she can help me fix it?
Of course, the real problem here is that no matter how good I think the writing is or how ready I think my books are for publication . . . I’m wrong. So I sent the book I know needs work. And I clamped down on the urge to tell this award-winning author that if she wants to read a really good book, I can send her that, too.
As I said to a friend earlier this week. I am a vain, vain woman.
Meet Sarah
Sarah, I think that all authors are vain on some level! We have to believe we’re good writers, otherwise, why would we waste our time w/it?
The key is being willing to accept valid critiques, and sounds like you’re doing just fine in that dept. Feedback on how to improve is such a great resource, and one I’ve finally learned to take without taking it PERSONALLY!
I can accept critique pretty well–unless it’s from my husband. He’s not allowed to critique beacuse I care TOO MUCH about what he thinks!
YOU AND ME BOTH! I tell him he can read it when it’s published! But I’m thinking maybe I should give him ONE more chance. (Totally derailed an earlier book attempt with his ONE comment!)
What happened to the last sentence? (the version I read that came in my email.) As I commented on FB, there is a difference between confident and vain. And I think you took the braver and better route in both of your choices!
Your self-awareness is remarkable, Sarah! 🙂 See how obedient I am?
Obedient AND a make a fabulous lemon bar!
It is definitely hard to get criticism! Praise is so much more comforting… I am glad you are trying to grow and have recognized that constructive criticism is helpful on that path. I need to be reminded of that too.