Seven Stages of WdC critique

Okay, you have spent hours on your story/novel. You started by transferring your thoughts to paper using a quill which you dipped into an ink well. Maybe you used an IBM Selectric II typewriter, the new model with the correcting ribbon? No, using a computer, but it does seem as if you had been working on this since the days when stories were etched in tablets. Now you are ready to share with the world, or at least with members on WdC. They will soon see just how brilliant you are!

You wait a week or more for your masterwork to receive a review and the all-important rating, visiting the story several times and finding it perfect. But no critiques come in. Worried, not you, it's late, tomorrow it will happen.

A full day passes, and you are tempted to send mass messages to everyone to announce your story has arrived, but you resist.

Then it happens just moments before you plan to call it a night and get ready for your full-time job in the morning. After reading the critique, you are tossed into the first of seven stages of Critique.

1. SHOCK and DENIAL

How could they give your story such a lousy critique? Did they not recognize the hours you worked on this story? The amount of energy you expended, blood, and sweat can be found between the lines if only they looked. No, maybe this critique was written by your ex - the one who always found fault in everything you do; or it was that teacher who gave everyone low grades, which made her feel superior.

2. PAIN and GUILT

As the shock wears off, it is replaced with the suffering of unbelievable pain. Although excruciating and almost unbearable, you must experience the pain fully and not hide it, avoid it, or escape from it with alcohol or drugs. How did you miss that comma? Were you in a grammar coma? And, what is going on with all the switching of tenses?

3. ANGER and BARGAINING

Frustration gives way to anger, and you may lash out and lay unwarranted blame on someone else. If Mrs. Johnson had been a better teacher, I would not make as many errors in spelling or grammar.

You draft a message to the reviewer. "I will do better and send you 1,000 gift points if you upgrade that rating to a four or five." You do not send it.

4. DEPRESSION", REFLECTION, LONELINESS-

When you think you are getting on with your life, a long period of sad reflection will likely overtake you. You seek encouragement from others is not helpful to you during this stage of grieving.

During this time, you finally realize the true magnitude of your writing, and it depresses you. You may isolate yourself on purpose, reflect on things you wrote, and focus on earlier stories from the 3^rd grade that earned you a gold star. You may sense feelings of emptiness or despair.

You do not log into WdC and avoid contact with "real" writers.

5. THE UPWARD TURN

As you adjust to life without your WdC friends, your life becomes calmer and more organized. Your physical symptoms lessen, and your "depression" begins to lift slightly. You see something while on a walk that gives you an idea for a new story.

6. RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH-

As you become more functional, your mind starts working again, and you will find yourself seeking more story plots and characters. You will begin to write with no plans to share on WdC.

7. ACCEPTANCE & HOPE-

During this, the last of the seven stages in this critique model, you learn to accept and deal with the reality of your situation. Acceptance does not necessarily mean instant happiness. But you will find a way forward and post your next great masterpiece in your WdC portfolio.