Don't Be My Critic

Whenever someone tries to give me advice or suggest a change, I pull a Sherlock.

After I'm finished being offended for a few hours, I reread the part they suggested a tweak and relent to their "rightness." My family knows I do this. In fact, Sunday my mom pointed it out to me while we were sitting on the couch going through my lesson plans for a missionary trip to Jamaica. She thought I should change a word. I thought I should keep it the same. "You're going to go back and change that later, aren't you?" she asked.

No comment.


It's safe to say I've got a pride problem, that's the only reason I'm so grumpy when people criticize me. It gets even worse when query writing approaches. I started that a week ago and my sister's response was, "Oh no! You're going to be so mean!" Yikes.

My inability to take criticism well is a flaw I need to work on. How? Other than forcing myself to swallow criticism with a smile and digest it later, I can't think of much else. Wish me luck! I'll be getting edits back on THESE WICKED WATERS soon. Then I'll be editing my query letter.

Not sure which is worse.

Thank You, Elementary

I'm a huge fan of anything Sherlock Holmes. Not that I've ever read the books (it's on my bucket list, okay?), but I love the spin-off TV shows. Sherlock, Psych (it sort of counts), and Elementary.

                                                       

Earlier this week I got season two of Elementary out at the library. Commence binge watching. 15+ episodes in three days. Huge accomplishment. Now you can probably see why I was so behind on my NaNo-ing!

                                          

Anyway, in one episode, Sherlock was trying to solve a particularly difficult case. Watson came downstairs to see Sherlock doing sit ups and push ups. Sherlock explained that physical activity helps get blood flow to the brain, which aids in thinking.

                              

Elementary, my dear Watson.

So what have I been doing before I sit down at my desk to write?

I stretch.

I do push ups.

I do sit ups.

                                             

Then I get a glass of water and start working. The difference between "warming up" before writing and just sitting down is enormous.

Give it a try. You may be as surprised--and efficient--when you start writing as I was.