Okay, kind of a quick post because things have gotten a bit unexpectedly busy (see, you should really be subscribed to the newsletter) and I’m trying to get set for San Diego Comic Con next week and also for a guest who’s crashing with us for SDCC

There’s a sort of natural progression I think a lot of us go through as writers. At first, we tend to get praise more than criticism. From parents, friends, schoolteachers, and other folks who want to encourage us and make us happy.
Then at some point we realize (well, a lot of us realize) that the blind praise isn’t getting us anywhere. We need real feedback and criticism if we’re going to improve. So we demand it, that we and our writing be taken seriously and we get a response past “oh, wow, this was soooo good!”
And then, just as quick, a lot of us switch to “whoooooaaaa, hang on with the feedback and criticism there, buddy! You sure you know what you’re talking about?”
Yeah, us. That was me, too.
It’s only natural. Stories are the thoughts and ideas and dreams we pulled out of our heads. If you’ll pardon a bit of melodrama, we gave birth to them and gave them to the world. So it’s not surprising that criticism of our stories feels like criticism of us. And as such… we’re probably going to have one of two reactions.
One is sort of a deflation. We’ll agree completely because, yeah, what was I thinking telling myself I could write good stories? This needs so much work. It’s awful. I probably shouldn’t try again. Ever.
The other, of course, is that this criticism is wrong. This person is wrong. They completely missed what I was trying to do. They didn’t get the reference. They don’t understand the genre. They’re nitpicking. They’re too young and they don’t understand how things work! They’re old and they don’t understand how we do things now! It’s their fault, not mine. Because my story is perfect. It has to be! Do you know how much time I spent on it?!
Learning to take criticism is a lot like finishing stuff. It’s going to take a bit of the fun away from this, but it’s something I really have to learn how to do. Our stories will almost always need work. It can be depressing and frustrating, absolutely. but it’s also a chance to learn what I do well and what I need to work on. I can learn and improve…
Or I can insist everyone else is wrong. And learn nothing.

And hey, as I mentioned above San Diego Comic Con is next week! Between covid and publishing schedules, it’s been a few years since I’ve had a semi-busy con. I have panels, signings, even some business meetings. Plus, y’know a few things I want to see and some folks I’m hoping to say hi to. If you’d like to say hi…
Thursday 2:15 until 4:15 I’ll be at the Writers Coffeehouse (room Marina D at the Marriott–next door from the convention center). There’ll be about half a dozen pro writers there answering all your questions about writing, publishing, and all that odd stuff that falls in between. Bring us your questions! Absorb our experience!
Then from 5:00 until 6:00 I’ll be signing up in the Sails Pavilion (AA09)
Friday 11:00 until 11:30-ish I’ll be at the Blackstone Booth (#1134) unofficially signing books. Just a casual, not-really-on-the-schedule thing if you want to stop by, say hi, get a personalized copy of The Broken Room or Combat Monsters or bring something of your own. There maaaaay be some other things there as well…
Then from 4:30 until 5:30 I’m signing again up in the Sails Pavilion (AA09)
And from 6:00 until 7:00 I’m doing a panel on Writing Military Fiction & Alternative History (room 32AB) loosely based on/ inspired by the Combat Monsters anthology.
I’m trying to make up a nice little graphic with all this info on it. I’ll post it here when it’s done, so you can tuck it into your digital wallet and have it handy. If you want it. Past that… you might see me wandering the floor. If you spot a masked man at a publisher’s booth or toy display who looks like me… well, it might be me. Halfway decent chance, really.
Next week… well, next week is SDCC, like I just said.
But the week after that… let’s talk about squeezing more in.
Until then, go write.
And maybe I’ll see you at Comic Con.