As we all know, or are about to learn, becoming comfortable with sharing our work and receiving criticism about it are two very important aspects of becoming a better writer--a goal of just about every writer who does what they do because they love it. Just like we as people want to become better as a person, natural-born writers want naturally to become better at the things which they do naturally.

"Let the rejections wash over you."

This was a piece of advice I was given recently in joking, but I've thought about it ever since, and really, truly, it's good advice. While for some of us, especially we younger writers, it's difficult to share something with which we've been so intimate for so long, something that's still growing and, if we expose it to the real world's natural elements, might be smothered instantly. And that's completely fine, of course. Sometimes I think it's best to keep these things to yourself while you're still developing as a writer, finding your "identity," if you will, as a writer, your unique style, unique interests, and unique strengths. I really feel that all of this must come before we can begin to publicly address our weaknesses with other people. If this happens too soon, we might even be dissuaded from doing what we love because someone else's fully-developed standards don't take into account the fact that we are still progressing.

However, some of us have been fortunate enough to bring themselves to acknowledge that, yes, we have a talent, and no, it's not Nobel Peace Prize-winning talent, or magazine-publishing talent, or maybe even dA-worthy talent (whatever that means)--yet--but someday it may be if we work hard, remember our strengths and focus on augmenting our weaknesses. For those, it is very important to "let the rejections wash over you." Let other people let you know what they think of your writing. The good and the bad. Understandably, this is a very difficult task for almost all writers. I've described my work this way before, and have heard many, many writers say the same: "my writing is my baby, my brainchild." The natural instinct is of course to protect your baby: but don't be afraid to acknowledge that no one's a perfect writer (not even Hemingway, or Dickens--actually, especially Dickens...Oops, personal opinion overcomes), and one or two negative points do NOT mean that the entire work is "bad" or that you yourself are a "bad writer." While you will eventually come across works that really do need to wind up in the recycling bin on your Dell's desktop for the sake of the world (everyone has them, don't worry), most things can be worked with and good pieces are never "finished." There's always room for improvement. And other people can provide fresh, new perspectives on your work which you are too close to to see yourself. This is a very important step in growing as a writer because others will be able to point out what you need to work on more often than not. (Everyone's a critic.)

To that end, however, make sure you take into account the credibility of the source of criticism. Logically-speaking, those who know what they're talking about always have more weight to their criticism; but, as we all know, it's easy to receive loads of incompetent criticism, too. Don't forget, you don't have to be good at--or know anything about, for that matter--the subject to be a critic. Hence, everyone's got something to say. Please, for your own sake and the sake of your writing, don't let these people discourage you from continuing to write or from valuing your own work. Good critics: 1) know about writing, about literature, and how both of these work in an applied sense; and 2) always see something GOOD along with the "bad." No work is entirely devoid of potential--except for, of course, the Harry Potter and Twilight series (oops, I'm being openly opinionated again).

HOWEVER, that is not to say that anyone can dismiss ALL criticism as having come from someone who's an "idiot" or "doesn't know what they're talking about." Only with experience can we learn to discern between useful criticism and nonsense criticism. And, as always, the final judgment regarding said criticism is always yours.

Whatever you do with others' opinions, however, do NOT stop writing if it's what you love to do. For most of us, I believe, we actually began writing because it made US happy...not because we believed we'd soon boast a massive cult following willing to die (or, in some cases, kill) for our million-dollar series or otherwise on so much as an implied command from us as the author. That being said in an entirely irritatingly round-about way, if it makes you happy, do it. You're not hurting anybody (unless eventually you DO garner a massive cult following and have people killed), and unless you say so, no one can stop you. So take comfort in the fact that most people are idiots and wouldn't know good writing if it generated a mass cult following and got them killed; as well as the reality that as long as you love what you do, someone somewhere will enjoy what you write, and always there will be other writers to support you and give you helpful advice along the way. Despite the infectious devilry which has been cultivated by Amazon.com, otherwise known as "Kindle" and "Kindle 2," it is a good day for writers and for writing.

All of that being said, I hope I've been even a splinter of help to someone somewhere in the big, wide world. But, if not, isn't that just the way it is with writing. Ell oh ell

--Katie