You have to have that rare combination of thick skin and tender heart. Most writers get it backwards and have a tender skin and a thick heart. This means that criticism gets a spectacular reaction but no substantive changes. The writer and his friends have the addition of a little more drama for their lives, which they probably didn’t need, but nothing gets accomplished. Rather, when someone offers criticism, there should be very little drama and an eager and substantive desire to learn from the criticisms.[xiii]
