If you want a good way to critique your own writing, become a judge in a contest. This advice was given to me a couple of years ago, and I'm finding it still holds true.
I'm waffling about how much detail I want to put into The Project. My BFF editor knows a lot of the stories and told me, today, that she wishes I'd included more. That being said, it's scary deciding to no longer be a secret keeper. That is how abusers maintain their power: If you tell, you'll be in trouble or others will not believe you or you will cause others pain. The lesson is learned to a punishing degree. Change is not easy. I don't have to decide, today, and I can change my mind, tomorrow.
That would, indeed, be a hard thing to have to decide. You want your book to be helpful, in which case it's good to include stories that will help to the best degree -- but those stories are real things that affected you, and it's bound to be difficult to open up in some cases. Praying for wisdom for you as you waffle!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret. That helps.
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