My friend has every right to rest on
her laurels. She's served as an editor at top magazines. She's
written countless articles and had at least a dozen books published.
And she speaks with great results at conferences around the country.
After decades specializing in
nonfiction, she's decided to expand into fiction. I can see why.
She's a gifted communicator with a colorful past. An inveterate
encourager, she's always urged others to follow their dreams.
Now she's taking her own advice in
pursuing the skills of a novelist. I know of at least two stories
she's developing.
But she's not simply writing, she's
also placing herself in the vulnerable position of letting experts
critique her work.
This past week when Jerry B. Jenkins
conducted a “Thick-Skinned Fiction Clinic” webinar, my friend was
among the first to send her novel's first page for anonymous
critiquing.
Jerry covered her page with red ink. He
liked the story, but showed numerous ways she could plunge readers
more quickly into the tale.
Just what my friend needed. “I
thumped my forehead over the many mistakes I made,” she said. “But
I do appreciate his help.”
With her attitude, I know she'll apply
what she learned – and keep on learning. I look forward to her
final version.
2 comments:
At writers conferences, I'm encouraged to see many multi-published authors attending other authors' workshops, not to teach but to listen. It seems the truly teachable soul realizes there is always more to learn, more polish to gain for the craft. I'd rather follow their examples than be the thin-skinned newcomer who argues that his manuscript is already as good as it can be.
But those newcomers do have a point. As long as they remain thin-skinned, their manuscript is indeed as good as it will ever get.
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