WRITING TOOLS CHAPTER 49LEARN FROM YOUR CRITICS

Tolerate even unreasonable criticism. Convert debate into conversation.

Conversations have give and take.Debates have winners and losers.

A conversation can conclude with both sides learning, and a promise of more good talk to come.

Never defend your work against criticismExplain what you were trying to accomplish.Debate then likely becomes a conversation.

WRITING TOOLS CHAPTER 49LEARN FROM YOUR CRITICS

In summary: Do not fall into the trap of arguing about matters of

taste. Do not, as a reflex, defend your work against

negative criticism. Explain to your critic what you were trying to do. Transform arguments into conversations.

If you learn to use criticism in positive ways, you will continue to grow as a writer.

WRITING TOOLS CHAPTER 50OWN THE TOOLS OF YOUR CRAFT

The tools have been organized into four parts.1) Nuts and bolts: Power of subject and verb,

emphatic word order, stronger and weaker elements.2) Special effects: Use of language to cue readers,

overpower cliches with creativity, set a pace, overstatement and understatement, showing over telling.

3) Blueprints: Organizing, difference between reports and stories, planting clues, generating suspense.

4) Reliable habits: Routines for courage and stamina, transforming procrastination into rehearsal, reading with a purpose, how to help and be helped, how to learn from criticism.

WRITING TOOLS CHAPTER 50OWN THE TOOLS OF YOUR CRAFT

Now, how to store all of your tools on the

shelves of a metaphorical workbench.

WRITING TOOLS CHAPTER 50OWN THE TOOLS OF YOUR CRAFT

Writing is not like the work of a magician, so follow these steps to get to a finished product. These are your shelves or toolboxes.1) Idea (explore): Be curious and store up ideas.2) Collect evidence: Get out of your cubicle and look for

stuff.3) Find a focus: Express your topic in a title, a first sentence,

a summary paragraph, a theme statement, a thesis, a question that will be answered, one perfect word.

4) Select the best stuff: New writers dump all their research into a story. Veterans use a fraction of what they gather.

5) Recognize and order: Work from a plan.6) Write a draft: Fast or slow; whatever works for you.7) Revise and clarify: Writing is rewriting.

WRITING TOOLS CHAPTER 50OWN THE TOOLS OF YOUR CRAFT

Examples of what to do with these shelves. In the focus box keep a set of questions the reader

might ask. In the order box have story shapes such as a

chronological or narrative and the gold coins. In the revision box keep tools for cutting useless

words. And keep a copy handy of the The Quick List in the

back of the book.