Lin, I know exactly what you mean.
However, perhaps I have an unusually feisty friend group, because I have two people who tend not to hold punches. One who justwon't reply if he doesn't like something.
But I am doing this was me = to send out.
I'm generating a lot of writing right now, and just felt the need. I will post some here.
But, you know, I justs got through being a co-judge in writing contest, and it was amazing the difference in opinions between us, both with years in the writing world.
I have come to place where I don't believe there is such a thing as 'best" or "good" vs "bad."
The issue is me feeling it's the best I can do today and moving on.
And sending out and letting it make it ways, here in site, with friends, and to I guess little journals would be best external place.
I have to research that. I don't want to set up for fall by sending to REDBOOK and so on. Nor to some literary snob place or to some place that gets l0l,000 ms a week.
So I would take advice on that from colleague. One I plan to send to is the SUN out of chapel Hill. It's midstream but not major league and does welcome new writers. But only one of its kind I know.
And I got some enrgy from submitting a 500 word shortie to WD and think I may submit to some more contests, again, for energizing me rather than expecting to win.
I've got a lot more practicing to do. I've done a lot of nonfiction for agencies/PR/etc. taught writing. But doing my own fiction, the past two years are my hardcore practice and I still have lot to do.
Thanks for response.
And I will post one here when I decide which to use.
And I take all comments with grain of salt. In writing classes I've been rather harshly critiqued and also the other, maybe worse, told how WSONDERFUL it was. Neither is on the money.
But truth - who knows what truth is? ONly one reader and one reader's opinion.
Murky waters. Must trust own guidelight the most.
Interested in response to this; how others feel.
best on Valentine's day. Aella