Aunt Gertrude

My agent has this pet peeve. A big one. He hates when he gets a query in which the writer says, "My friends/critique partners/writing class have read the book and love it." He says that's akin to saying your Great Aunt Gertrude read it. Your friends are SUPPOSED to tell you they like it. And even if critique partners like it, no agent, unless you have a "name" author or MFA professor in your group, can necessarily trust that. Nope. The proof is when it starts making the rounds to professionals.

And that's another point. Professionals.

Because one of the steps along the way is when you start to not "react" and defend your work from criticism. When you become a professional about your own work.

We should ALL believe in our story. We shouldn't be swayed every time we get a conflicting bit of advice. I have had writer friends ready to rewrite 350 pages from a SINGLE rejection. It's just one opinion. When you start accumulating them, all with the same general comment, THEN you worry.

So believe in our story, we must. But on the flip side? There are writers whose skin is so thin, they write lengthy soliloquies defending every aspect of their work from a critique. That's not the idea. A critique is an OPINION. But when you find a great editor, a great cirtique partner, that opinion is one honed by professionalism. So that's the time to take a deep breath. Don't react. BE with the critique or rejection for a bit. Discern what's of value.

Here's the thing. You want to play with the big boys? Really? You really think you're ready? Then Aunt Gertrude can't be the only one to read your work. At some point, it has to leave your circle. And that is just another step on your journey.

Thoughts? Have you moved beyond Great Aunt Gertrude yet?