Critique therapy

Having your work analyzed is sort of like sending your child to a shrink so you can hear about all the damage you've caused as a poor parent. At the same time, you can't tear yourself away. Could anything be more personal or compelling?

Yesterday, I received a critique on my MS and am really pleased with it. And who wouldn't be? There's nothing like the thwack of a hammer on your thumb to let you know you're alive! Actually, the comments were very helpful and extremely revealing -- eerily so.

Want to hear a little psychobabble 101?

One of my characters, a 16-year old girl who has been traumatized by a family death, is left to her own devices to get through her emotional turmoil. The adults around her either ignore her pain or use their own wounds to solicit her sympathy and understanding of their neglect.

Thing of it is, I never noticed this kid was expected to act more adult than the adults until it was pointed out to me. The writing of her experience seemed entirely normal because, of course, that girl was me. It was one of those epiphanal moments when I realized that my psyche was dripping through my writing. I suppose this is nothing terribly profound except that I had been blind to it till then. Funny, the things we don't see that are right in front of us.

On a less introspective note, the critique pointed out my strengths -- which were lovely to hear -- and helped me with some areas of the story I wasn't happy with. Problems for which I could find no clear solution -- in most part because of my own inability to see the forest before me.

It will take me some time to review and assess this draft before I can determine the best approach to the next one. Refocusing will be challenging as I've already begun the next MS and don't want to tear myself away from it.

Perhaps I need a day out in the garden, away from the keyboard. Looking at the weed situation, I know my garden needs me out there!

Hope you're having a terrific day,
Colleen