Goodreads asked Kevin Sutherland:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Kevin Sutherland Be curious about your own writing. We so easily fall into the habit of being critical of our own writing, picking at what we don't do well and comparing ourselves to others. Criticism, whether from ourselves or others, is generally a negative experience. This makes us reluctant to take an honest look at our writing, which slows down our growth as writers.

An alternative is to simply be curious about our writing, to come to know our strengths, weakness, styles, voice, etc. without self-judgment. That doesn't mean we should be uninterested in improving our writing. It simply means that we should know and accept where we're at today, so that we can plot a path for tomorrow. For example, I personally haven't done a great job at establishing a character's physical appearance when they're first introduced. Doesn't make me a bad person or a hopeless writer. But it does impact the experience of the reader, and so I'm committed to improving this aspect of my writing.

An added benefit is that when we know about ourselves as writers, we're less likely to be surprised or offended when others offer constructive criticism, as they most certainly will.

So be curious about your writing, and be kind to yourself. We're all works in progress.

flag