A Pat on My Back

A recent critique of my pages ranged from hilarious laughter to dead serious flaws. The laughter was easier to take, the flaws hit me to my core, knocking my breath free during their swift pats of bringing me back to the real world. But, because the critiquers sincerely believe in me and my worth as a writer, I can handle both and will learn from their suggestions. (That deep down hope that one day I’ll get a chapter near perfect and that my critique group will shake their heads in admiration isn’t dead yet, but it does experience monthly setbacks.)

My original Blogspot was called pat-on-the-back. It was my tongue-in-cheek jab at my name and a hope that I’d see comments and feedback that would move me along the continum of writing skills. As it turns out, only I can move me along the road to ‘better-ness’. Much as I rewrite and consider, it seesm that there is always room for improvement, suggested changes and out and out “this isn’t clear to me”. Which puts me in awe of the Kristrin Hannah’s and Anna Quinlin’s of the writing world.  If I figure out how they become so smooth, so focused, so exacting in their use of language, I’ll let you know. And, if you learn their tricks, send them along. We’re in this together aaaand we need to share our best resources to reach the greater numbers of those who stay the course of writing.