How can I be better?
Nearly every day, this is a question I struggle with.
Today is impermanent, imperfect, temporary.
We can always be better.
What will you focus on? How can you get better?
I write every week, almost every day, in an effort to become a better and better writer. Jack London, in his letter to an aspiring writer, cuts to the chase with some (brutal) feedback that many of us (as un-edited, free-publishing internet writers) need to hear.
Feedback is when information about the past influences your present and future actions. As Jenny Blake writes, Feedback is Career Currency: learn to love it.
In a recent review, I asked my bosses to give me the brutal truth: Feedback will sting for a few days, but worse yet is staying the same for the next forty years without improving your craft.
Take the feedback for the long term.
It’s hard to ask for it, but it’s unbelievably worth it.
How can you be better?
How can I be better?
Love it. I want to be a better writer and illustrator :)
Smart post. Feedback is important. However, it`s nice to have a boss (or someone else) who knows how to give feedback.
I want to improve my writing skills. And a lot of other stuff :) One step after the other.
“How can I be better?” and “How can I do ‘this’ better?” are questions we should ask ourselves each and every single day. But then, focus on implementing the answers :-)
Feedback is the breakfast of champions!
Hey Sarah, great comments. Feedback is huge and the only way you know if you are actually growing. Asking is somethimes the difficult step but once you do it’s gets easier. People who are open minded toward learning find it much easier to ask and accept feedback. Constructive is key but once in a while it is nice to just hear a thanks.
So thanks for the post.
I think you mean “aspiring writer”, not “inspiring.”
:-)
Sometimes, it’s enough to just be as we are, taking a break from the constant wear of striving to be better.