By Corbin Lewars
In order to have a better sense of a writer community, one of my clients began meeting regularly with a friend of a friend who also wrote fiction.
“Great!” I said.
“Yeah, it was until this.” He held up several pages of his manuscript, now covered in black ink scrawl.
“Oh no,” I said. “Why did you let him do that? It’s not time for that kind of detailed feedback. It’s still a draft, a tiny bud, it needs light and ….”
“Yeah, yeah,” he interrupted, knowing all to well (and perhaps not caring for) my gardening metaphors. “I told him that, but obviously it didn’t matter. And the worst part is, I haven’t written a word since. I started doubting the project, thinking it lacked focus and was too difficult to pull off.”
“That’s the opposite reaction you’re supposed to have when meeting with a writing buddy.”
“But all feedback is helpful right? Maybe I don’t have what it takes to be a writer.”
“No, you just need a new writing group,” I said.
“But aren’t we supposed to be able to stay inspired and confident no matter what? You probably don’t even care what people say anymore, you just write anyway?”
