It didn’t strike me as a problem, though.
Instead, this problem masqueraded as a goal: To write submissions so good, my critique partners had as few comments about weaknesses in my manuscript as possible.
The more positive comments I could win, the better.
As I advanced in my writing career, I took those goals with me. Only, then, in addition to wanting to avoid constructive criticism and earn praise from critique partners, I also hoped to achieve the same from editors and readers.
Why do these tandem goals—avoid criticism and earn praise—now strike me as problematic?
