For Betsy

One of the skills every writer needs to develop is the ability to be open to criticism. I have been in one critique group or another for over ten years. I have sent my stuff out to editors, some of whom were helpful, some not so helpful. I know the three basic errors I make over and over and can't seem to correct. I have learned that what makes me angry is usually the things I have to work on.
I had struggled with a short story for the whole month of January and I was really really proud of it. My critique group had torn it apart and I had put it back together. Then I sent it to my final reader sure I would get back a few useful comments. What I got was "This is not up to your usual standards." Darn if she wasn't right.
What surprised me was not so much that she had found fault with my most perfect story, but that I was truly grateful for her honesty. A writer can't do better than to have an honest critic.