Inner Critic
“Say, that’s not half bad,” she said.
“Thanks--” I say.
“… for a first draft,” she said.
“But this is my second draft.”
“Oh — well, it only needs a little polish and it’ll be fine.”
“What would you change?”
“Maybe just change ‘trembled’ to ‘quivered,’ she said. “Yes, I’m pretty sure that will fix it.”
“It’s an easy correction. How’s that, better?”
“Much better -- but there’s still something not quite right.”
“What is it?”
“The scene’s setting. That's it. The setting needs more description. That should do it!”
“Ok, if you really think so.” I made a few select edits, pleased with the changes.
“No, no, no,” she said. “That won’t do at all. Now the scenery description is overshadowing the action. Give some details to the actions to balance it out!”
“You mean adverbs? But, I thought adverbs were to be avoided!?”
“Oh no, adverbs are fine! They’re what define great writing!”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Sure, try it. You’ll see.”
“Well, all right, but I’m skeptical.” I make a couple of corrections. “Yeah, no. I’m not sure that’s better.”
“Oh, but it is!” she says. “Much improved! Now, one last thing. Kill your main character.”
“What? But that’s the protagonist. I can’t kill my protagonist.”
“Sure you can. All the trendy authors do.”
“But it’s not even the end of the first act yet!”
“That’s the genius of it! Be brave! It’s not called ‘creative writing’ for nothing.”
Sigh. “I think I’ll go clean the grout in the shower.”
“You did that yesterday,” she said.
“Shut up. Yesterday was just my first draft.”
if this is a short story, it's funny 
and relatable
if this is an actual conversation, it's important to trust yourself and weigh advice, taking only that which resonates. Often finding multiple critiques helps demonstrate what are common stumbling blocks and what is just opinion.
I'm not sure which this is ☕
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
@abeona I think you and I have the same Inner Critic!
"You can either sit here and write, or you can sit here and do nothing. But you can’t sit here and do anything else."
— Neil Gaiman, Masterclass
Drop me a line at https://morganbroadhead.com
SFx1
HMx5
R/RWCx5
@gideonpsmith I was hoping other writers would find it relatable on a more internal level. It hadn't occurred to me that it might be interpreted as an "actual" conversation. I shudder at the thought of that IRL.
I edited a title into it to subvert ambiguity.
I would like to draw attention to the importance of your comment. You reacted to my post for better or worse, with how it made you feel. That kind of honesty is invaluable. I only created the post because of how I was feeling, not seeking criticism or validation. I just wanted to know I'm not alone. You did that and more. Thank you.
I edited a title into it to subvert ambiguity.
ah, inner critic - that makes sense! Mine is way harsher than that though. Here's some quotes from mine.
"Why were you born?"
"Does it make more sense if you read it backwards?"
"loser"
"Now whats it feel like to enter a competition with 2000 entries and come 2000th?"
"Hey dope, they had to rename the competition from Writers of the Future, to Writers of the Future. Plus Gideon"
😉
of course, it depends on the day. Sometimes its delusional the other direction.
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
I think we all have similar conversations with our muses at times.
Worry when you start doing it out loud in the middle of the supermarket.
R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10
@gideonpsmith I think you and I have the same Inner Critic!
Other internal comments to me from my inner critic:
- What makes you think you can write?
- What's the point of all this, since you're never gonna be able to quit your day job?
- This is too hard, and you're not an expert, so maybe you should find an easier hobby.
- Self-publishing has literally flooded the market with crap stories; trust me, no one wants yours added to the mix.
- Lucrative contracts, traditional publishing, and rock-star author status have gone the way of the dinosaur, and you're not smart enough to navigate the new online techno-roads of publishing. Merge right and let the youngsters pass. Take the next exit.
My one and only come-back to all these comments: F&%@ YOU!
"You can either sit here and write, or you can sit here and do nothing. But you can’t sit here and do anything else."
— Neil Gaiman, Masterclass
Drop me a line at https://morganbroadhead.com
SFx1
HMx5
R/RWCx5
@gideonpsmith I think you and I have the same Inner Critic!
OMG - *your* inner critic is suggesting renaming the competition 'Writers of the future. Plus Gideon" too???? It's worse than I thought!
🤣
in all seriousness - yep agreed, we all have these doubts. And I agree with @morgan-broadhead response to these thoughts too.
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
inner critics are much like outer critics: you can't control them, but you can control how much weight you give their words.
"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: P Q2: WIP Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2024: 45 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
Ahh... It's relatable.
we have a common inner critic 😪 😪 😪
When my outer critic, a.k.a. The Wife, doesn't seem interested in reading my stuff anymore, my inner critic gets louder.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: WIP
2024 V41: RWC (Resubmitted "HM"), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: ---HM (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
@gideonpsmith I think you and I have the same Inner Critic!
Other internal comments to me from my inner critic:
- What makes you think you can write?
- What's the point of all this, since you're never gonna be able to quit your day job?
- This is too hard, and you're not an expert, so maybe you should find an easier hobby.
- Self-publishing has literally flooded the market with crap stories; trust me, no one wants yours added to the mix.
- Lucrative contracts, traditional publishing, and rock-star author status have gone the way of the dinosaur, and you're not smart enough to navigate the new online techno-roads of publishing. Merge right and let the youngsters pass. Take the next exit.
My one and only come-back to all these comments: F&%@ YOU!
I think our internal critics have collaborated at some point. 
