On Negativity

One of the most helpful things you can do as a writer (or in life) is learn to identify the difference between negative criticism and negativity. It’s easy to get the two mixed up at times and I suspect that the line between the two varies slightly from person to person.

But in life you will meet people both critical and negative. You want to surround yourself with critical people – people who will say “I love ya, but you’re wrong”. They are honest, warm and utterly, utterly brutal.

Negative pe...