“For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life.” (Prov 6:23)
Earlier this year, I submitted several entries to the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI) writing contest. I entered more categories than I ever had before – eight – including several categories in which I stretched myself. As the feedback started trickling in, I was surprised to see my highest score was in poetry – something I don’t write and an entry on which I spent about five minutes late one night when I couldn’t sleep. My mystery book received a good, but not great, score. I received my worst scores in the two categories that have historically been my best – juvenile fiction and flash fiction. I admit that I didn’t expect much from my flash fiction entry. It was a last minute entry, and I didn’t take nearly enough time to fully develop the story. But I had entered the juvenile fiction story in a different contest a few years ago and placed, so such a low score was kind of a shock.
In the past, I would have let the low scores on these two entries overshadow the high scores I received for my other two entries. Either I’m developing a tougher skin or I’ve simply grown as a writer – or maybe both – because the low scores haven’t bothered me much this time. I know that these things are subjective and based on one person’s preferences. In addition, the comments that I received on all the entries were, for the most part, quite helpful. When the judges pointed out areas in which I needed to improve, their comments were couched in a constructive manner. I think I’m like many people in that correction feels better when the person also points out some of the good things I’ve done, too. I’ve resolved that the best thing to do is use this feedback to continue to improve my writing. After all, that’s the reason I entered the contest in the first place!
Because I look for life lessons everywhere, I noted the similarities between receiving feedback on my stories and the correction I sometimes receive from God. When God corrects me, I sometimes become defensive or even resistant, insisting that I’ve done nothing wrong because I want my own way. But God lovingly and persistently pursues me as he prompts me to change. He shows me the areas where I need to improve, and he shows me the best way to do so. With his help, I can make the changes necessary to become the person he wants me to be.
Dear Jesus, please help me to accept correction from you and put it into practice in my life. Thank you for helping me become the person you want me to be. Amen.
When I am criticized I remember Luke 6:26 “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”
It is not wise to depend on people, like it is to depend on God. Yes, He speaks to us through some people, but rarely through the majority. Low scores did not bother me as I realize that some people simply score lower than others for the same level of work. There is no way to avoid that, as I’ve seen dealing with assessment of training for years.
I entered the OWFI contest hoping to get more feedback than last year, and I did get more. (Last year I didn’t get anything back from half of the judges). However, some of it was not viable. The difficulty came with the realization that some judges simply skimmed over the description of their category and the writing submitted to them. Their comments showed that they obviously missed parts of it. Ironically the lowest scores came from those who simply posted numbers and single, vague comment. The other difficulty came as I read what the some of judges had written. Their idea of good writing differs from mine.
At this point I realized that I need to get tougher, and steel myself to working alone. I will continuing to read what I enjoy and compare my work against writers that I hold in esteem.
Thank you for sharing Luke 6:26 with me. That verse holds great truth. I’m glad you got some benefit out of the feedback you received this year. Learning to have a tougher skin takes time and usually some hard knocks before it can develop. I know I’m still learning to be tougher as well.