We all have inner critics. Some manage them better than others do. All too often, I tremble under the tyranny of mine. She’s not cute and harmless. Not at all. Think She Devil, like this:
I’ll give you an example of how she works. A writer friend emailed me the other day to ask if I’d considered offering editing services to increase my income. She said, “Your writing is so precise and careful.” and indicated she felt I could be of benefit to other writers. All well and good, right?
The next day, while doing some mind-numbing work, I thought about the email again. Suddenly, my inner critic offered a different interpretation.
Inner Critic: Precise and careful, huh?
Me: Yeah, so?
Inner Critic: Sounds to me like she thinks your writing is a bore.
Me: No … I don’t think so.
Inner Critic: Textbooks are precise and careful.
Me: But … I’m pretty sure she meant that as a compliment.
Inner Critic: Ha!
Me: What did she mean, then?
Inner Critic: There’s an old saying: Those who can, write; those who can’t, edit.
In typical She Devil fashion, she poofed away, her cackle echoing in her wake, leaving me to question my worth as a writer … or an editor. She’s pure evil, is my inner critic. Next time she pops in, I’ll slap her with a wet fish.
Linda Cassidy Lewis 
Mine has reared her head today! I’ll throw her off me now!
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Good choice, LMV! 🙂
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I think your inner critic is twins with mine. I teach courses on positive thinking, self confidence building etc etc and still have this witch inside me that doubts what I can do. So toss her out, slam and lock the door and change the locks. You are a great writer and would be an enormous help to others if you decide to take up editing. Good luck.
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I regularly toss her out, Judith, but she sneaks right back in. Thank you for the vote of confidence. 🙂
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Since I stop by so much and read, I thought I’d go ahead and order your book to support you. So I ordered a Kindle copy for my Kindle. So now I own Brevity of Roses and look forward to the read.
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Thank you, Kathryn. 😀 That’s the bright spot in my evening. I hope you enjoy the read.
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Make it a very BIG wet fish!
We all seem to have that inner critic, and she likes to sneak up at the most inopportune times. I dream of a time when she’ll either change her nasty ways or else dissolve into oblivion, finally getting the hint that she’s not wanted. Linda, I’ve started to take the attitude that when opportunities present themselves to me I’ll at least explore the possibilities, unless it’s something just too far fetched like sky-diving or bungee jumping. 🙂
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BIG west fish, got it! 🙂 I should probably adapt more of your attitude, Laura. Not that many opportunities actually present themselves to ME, but I tend to dismiss some ideas with a quick, “I can’t do that.” Or maybe that’s my inner critic again. Hmmm …
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She must be the mentor of the I Suck Fairy who so frequently visits me. They have a very similar MO.
Make it a really big wet fish. Like a sturgeon.
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I think they’re sisters, Amy. The ISF visits me quite often too. We must be ever vigilant! 🙂
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