Anyone watch American Idol? Simon is my hero. He tells it like it is. I, though, cannot do that. I'm bound by some kind of 'be nice' ethic that won't let me tell people not to quit their day job.

I did a few critiques today, returning the favors others do for me. I see things that are good, and things that really, really don't work. I wonder, sometimes, if these people actually listen to crits or if they merely want the candy-coated stuff like -- "I LOVE YOUR WORK!"

Ugh.

Personally, I do manage to feel bad when my work is hammered, but I do my level best to overlook the protective need to strike back. It might take me a day or three, but I'm a rational adult who knows I've asked for it.

If you put your work out there for critique, don't be surprised if someone actually tells you what's wrong with it.

Okay, I feel bad. I read a piece today that was, well, written by someone who has no idea what a story should contain. Passives all over the place. Description to yawn through. And the story? It was there under all the rubbish, but I had to piece through to find it. My inner Simon is screaming for attention, but I remained civil. I remained encouraging. I did NOT mention that, if I was a publisher, I'd toss it in the circular file after the first paragraph.

And then I looked at my own work, saw it from Simon's eyes, and practically wept. All right, the pot calling the kettle black. Aren't I just the bomb.

So I will continue to be nice, pleasant, and encouraging, because who knows? I might teach someone something in a manner they might hear.

Keep on writing...