When I first started writing, I had a handful of beta readers, all related to me. They’d read my work and say, “I loved it! It was so good!” I’d walk away and pat myself on the back. I’d think, “Well, what can I say? My writing is transcendent!” I’d press publish and go on my merry way. I’m sure you can guess how that worked out for me. In reality, my writing was littered with errors and plot holes. It screamed amateur. To this day, some of my earliest books make me cringe. For a while, I even called myself a failure. A year or two later, I picked myself up by my bootstraps and took a writing class. It finally clicked that I needed different beta readers. I needed an editor that cared enough to make my stories better.

I still remember the first time I handed my work to an editor. I paced around my living room, second-guessing every word I’d written. Several weeks later, when I opened my edited and returned document, my stomach ached at the sight of all the red markings. I didn’t know if I could handle reading through all of the comments and corrections. This book was my heart and soul poured out onto paper! And someone had slashed it to pieces! I took a deep breath and read through the edits. With each comment that I read, my pain lessened. By the end, I realized two things: First, I’d completely forgotten comma and dialogue rules — oops. Second, this editor had some fantastic ideas, and I was excited to implement them.

This moment marked a turning point for me in my writing career. Sure, I still get nervous when I send my work off to be edited. I have a novel out with my editor right now, and I’m anxiously awaiting its return. However, now I wait with excitement, too. My editor gets my writing, and she truly wants to help me be successful. Veteran writers already know this, but for those just starting, critiques are a good thing. Nobody writes perfect first drafts or even second drafts, and writing is not a solitary activity. Many people are behind every great story we read.

So, in a nutshell, here are the things I’ve learned about taking constructive criticism:

1. No one writes perfect, publishable drafts.

2. Beta readers that dance around your feelings and give no constructive feedback are not helpful. Find new ones!

3. Good editors make corrections and suggestions because they care.

4. A manuscript covered in red doesn’t mean you’re a terrible writer, and each red mark is not an assault on your heart and soul. Each red mark is a chance to make you an even better writer than you were before.

5. It takes a “village” to write and publish a great story. 

It can be hard to hear any negative feedback on our work, but when we learn to take constructive criticism with an open mind, we allow ourselves to become remarkable writers.