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Listening to other writers without imposing your own viewpoint into their comments is the first step towards becoming a better writer.

5. Remember-it's your story.
In a workshop in which I participated, a woman, who hadn't turned in a single page of her own novel, presented a reworked first chapter of another member's young adult novel. She liberally changed several aspects of the story and read the chapter aloud. The author listened politely and then said, "Thank you, but it's my story."

Egbert had a similar experience. In one critique group in which she participated, a member made several suggestions. She went home, made the changes, and returned the next week with the rewritten material. The same person who had made the suggestions questioned the changes in Egbert's work. "Never rewrite for somebody else," she says. "You should only rewrite if it rings true to you."

No matter what suggestions, opinions, or criticisms other writers offer-the work is yours. Even if the phrase begins, "You'll never get published if you don't ...," use your own judgment. Take the comments you like and leave the rest.

Writing is a difficult task. We want compliments on our talent and hard work. Yet our labors are not going to receive instant rewards. In order to make our writing the best it can be, we must allow fresh eyes to review our words and we must accept criticism-or our efforts may never pay off.

Learn more about this author, Michele Bardsley.
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