by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
We writers wear our hearts on their sleeves, metaphorically speaking. We pour our inner selves out on the page, drawing on the highs and lows of life to interpret the world through words. This is an exhilarating journey. The highs are incredible, and the lows…well…they’re tough. If we don’t take time to process the difficult experiences, those writing wounds can leave disfiguring scars. But when we do evaluate what’s happened, there is wisdom to be found in those writing wounds.
Writing Wounds
- The Vicious Critique: This one can come from a long-time critique partner or just someone random. Regardless, it’s a blog that can set us back from our writing goals if we aren’t careful.
- Tips for Healing: First of all, consider the source. We can tell if a harsh critique comes from a friend who didn’t realize the sharp edge her words carry or someone trying to build their own expertise. Next, think about what was suggested and decide if it’s valid. Remember your writing is YOURS. You get to decide what suggestions to incorporate.
- The Harsh Contest Judge: If you’ve entered a writing contest, chances are good you’ve run into this wound. Generally this comes from one of two types of people. Either a writer who’s trying to build his own credibility by being overly critical, or someone who really doesn’t know the industry.
- Tips for Healing: The best way to move on is to follow some of the same steps as healing from a vicious critique. But in addition, use this experience to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Contests are tough because it’s so difficult to find good judges. Take the hard knocks you’ve encountered to become an excellent judge and help others avoid this wound.
- The Form Letter Rejection: This can be everything from a poor copy of a form rejection letter, to a post-it note on an index card. It feels like what you sent was so bad, it didn’t even rate a civilized no. In ninety-nine percent of the cases, that’s not the truth. This wound has much less to do with what you submitted than the fact that the editor is overworked.
- Tips for Healing: Realize rejections aren’t personal. The editor (or agent) doesn’t have a place for what you submitted. It’s not a judgment about the quality of the piece, but a matter of whether it fits or not. The best thing to do to recover from this wound is to send out your submission again. Get back on the horse, and don’t give time for doubt to take over.
- A Toxic Critique Group: This wound differs from number 1 because it’s more relationally driven. There are lots of things that can make a critique group turn toxic. But whatever the reason, the results can be devastating. This wound can keep writers from trusting a group and really delay meeting writing goals.
- Tips for Healing: First, find someone to talk to. Sharing your experience can help you process what happened and validate the wounds you’re carrying because of it. Trusting someone with what happened will also lead to learning to trust again.
- The Voices in Your Head: Yeah, this one’s a big one. A lot of writers don’t realize it, but they are their own worst enemies. Allowing negative thoughts about what we produce to run rampant, can kill the writer in us.
- Tips for Healing: Stop it. It’s that simple…and that hard. Replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. We need to be as careful about what we say to ourselves as what we say to others.
No matter which wound you receive, take that painful experience and make something good out of it. Look for other writers who have visible injuries and extend compassion and understanding. Take a chance and share the things that you’ve overcome. This will help others who are in the process of healing, and it will help make your own recovery complete.
I’d love for you to share your own stories of healing from writing wounds. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section bel
Edie Melson—author, blogger, speaker—has written numerous books, including her most recent fiction – Alone, and nonfiction – While My Child is Away. She’s also the military family blogger at Guideposts.org. Her popular blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month and is consistently one the Writer’s Digest Top 101 Websites for Writers. She’s the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and the Vice President of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, as well as the Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine.
The Conversation
Good words. So true.
I got my YA novel picked up by a small publishing house several years ago. Exciting, huh? I signed the contract and talked cover design with the designer while waiting for my editing notes.
I was not prepared for what happened. The editor/publisher was brutal with their notes. In the 392 page manuscript, they only said ONE nice thing. They hated my protagonist, hated my writing voice, hated my plot, and overall, thought my characters were stupid.
WHY did they even want it, ya know? I think what happened was they had a reader who said it was great and they sent me a contract without reading the story.
I told my agent, who encouraged me to stick with it. I signed a contract, she said. Christians honor their word.
I tried to talk to the editor, but they wanted it their way and basically told me it was their publishing house, so what they said goes.
I’ve worked with an editor before, and I knew it shouldn’t be like this. But I tried to keep going.
I was devastated for 2 months before I told my writing mentor, my writers group, and my husband. On their encouragement and recommendation, I asked my agent for a phone conference. And my husband told me there was a clause in the contract that allowed me to break it, so if I chose to do that, I would not be breaking my word.
The conference call (me, my agent, the editor, and their business manager) was also ugly and devastating. I ended up utilizing the clause in my contract that allowed me to break it.
I learned no writer should be treated like that by their editor.
A couple years later, another small house picked it up. The first thing she said when she sent the acceptance email was, “I absolutely adore your story!” And we had a great give and take with the editing process. Just like it’s supposed to be!
I also learned to talk to my mentor, my group, and my husband before things get out of hand, but I’ve never had that happen again, thank the Lord. And I’ve worked with several editors since!