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The
Critic-- A Writer's Best Friend?
By Bass Mitchell
A crumpled wad of paper rested in the corner of my office. It was there for
days, only getting an occasional sneer from me. I even recall kicking it several
times and maybe even stomping it once or twice. Here's how it got there and why.
I have known since the first grade that I wanted to be a writer. This knowledge
would no doubt cause a fatal shock to every English teacher I have ever had. But
I vividly remember being seven years old and sitting at my desk, anticipating
the feel of paper and pencil, and the thrill of learning to write. Yet, that
desire lay dormant in my soul until the end of college.
Then, one day, I sat down at an old typewriter and that first joyous
anticipation of writing came back as if no years had passed by at all. Out
popped an article that I just knew any magazine would be thrilled to publish.
With glee I sent it to one and waited eagerly for a call or letter praising it
and its author. I waited and waited...
Finally, I checked the mail one day and there was a thick letter for me. I ran
inside and tore it open. It contained the article I had written-- all three
pages, about 700 words on a topic related to the family. I unfolded it and felt
my face flush as red as the ink that covered my masterpiece. Words were circled.
Phrases were underlined. Cryptic symbols looking like some ancient language were
everywhere. Comments filled the margins. I felt like I was back in my eighth grade
English class with Mrs. Johnson. In fact, I checked to see if maybe she was the
editor! Nope. But surely this editor was related to her.
Anyway, I crushed the red soaked manuscript in my hands and hurled it against
the wall. It fell into the corner. Who did he think he was? How dare he do such
a thing? Doesn't he know a good writer when he reads one?
Several days passed. I sat down and my eyes came to rest on the object of my
crushed ego. I got up and walked over to it, picked it up and unfolded it. This
time I read it. The editor had several handwritten comments at the end-- all
concerning how to write for a magazine. Suddenly, any lingering anger fled and
in its place came a deep sense of gratitude. This man, unknown to me and I to
him, took a significant amount of his time to take my article seriously. He saw
potential in it, in me, and was suggesting a rewrite and even referred me to
another publication he thought could use it.
Over the next few days I rewrote the article, following his advice. I submitted it to
the publication he recommended with fear and trembling. Several weeks later I
received a letter, not another thick one that I expected. It contained an
acceptance letter and a check! That was many hundreds of articles and four books
ago. I am convinced that none of it would have happened without this editor and
many other caring critics like him over the years who gave me the benefit of
their constructive criticism. But good luck today getting editors to do what
this one did for me. I am certain that many of them would like to do this but
just don't have the time. Still, giving feedback can be a wonderful gift they
could give rather than just the standard, impersonal rejection letter.
I learned a valuable lesson from that experience-- a critic can be a writer's
best friend! Someone who will read your work and give you honest feedback, not
just stroke your ego, is one of the most helpful resources at a writer's
disposal. Seeking constructive criticism has been one of the primary ways I have
really grown and developed as a writer.
Everything I write now, I get several persons to read and respond to. I try to
get someone to look at grammar, someone from the target group I have in mind for
the article or story, and at least one other person. For example, I am writing a
chapter book for children. I sent it to an English teacher, a librarian who
knows a lot about children's books, and to a child in the age group I have in
mind for it. The result has always been the same-- feedback that has made each
work much better than it would have been otherwise.
I have continued this practice with a small group of writers. We met
at the University of Virginia in a class on learning to write for children. I learned a
great deal in the class but the most helpful part was when we took turns reading
one another's work and giving feedback. We followed this guide-- share first
what we liked about the story and then what suggestions we had to make it better
or to continue the storyline. The writer was not allowed to respond until
everyone had shared. Though that class ended, we stay in touch through e-mails
and meetings to continue to do the same thing because we all have found it so
helpful. I simply don't know how I could be as effective a writer without such a
group of caring critics.
This does not mean that you have to agree with everything a critic says. I feel
strongly that we have to believe in ourselves and our ideas, and write according
to what our hearts tell us. J.K. Rowling would have given up long ago if she had
taken too much to heart the critic who told her that she would never make any
money from children's literature. I think we know how that turned out.
So, as a writer who seeks feedback, you have to learn how to filter it. Take and
use what seems right and good to you, that helps you better tell your story or
communicate your ideas. Critics can be and are wrong sometimes, but often are
right on target with what you might need to hear. In time, a writer can
distinguish the helpful from the not so helpful without losing sight of your own
vision, deafening that inner voice that is uniquely yours, or causing you to be
crippled by self doubt.
If you visited my office today, you would see on the wall behind my desk a
framed, wrinkled manuscript still decorated with red ink. It is a constant
reminder to me that the critic can be a writer's best friend.
Bass Mitchell lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is a United Methodist
Minister and much of his writing has been in the area of religion and
spirituality. He has written many articles for a variety of publications and has
had four books published-- three by Abingdon Press and one by CSS Publishers.
But he has recently taken on the challenge of writing children's picture and
chapter books, and started a novel. He may be contacted at
bass.mitchell@homiliesbyemail.com.
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