Second Guessing Yourself

I am a member of several writing loops, boards, etc. People are constantly discussing the various challenges in writing and often ask questions about what they were told by agents and editors. One person made the comment that she'd been told her plotting was too standard even though her scenes were unique.

What the heck does that mean? I mean yes, there are plots that are so cliched that one should probably never touch them, but there is some commonality to all plots that can't be avoided. Like they always say - nothing new under the sun.

Anyway, so I read that comment and frantically thought back through my books, trying to decide if I was being too cliched. It's such a fine balance between believing in your work but willing to relook at it and see what you can improve on. Every time somebody makes a comment about some critique they got, I have the same knee jerk reaction of, "Oh god, did I do that? Does that criticism apply to me?"

Mostly, I think they don't. Occasionally I find some comment or critique makes a good point, so I go back and fix it, but for the most part I love my books and think they rock. I do wish I could get rid of the uncertainty, but writing is so subjective, what can you do but do your best and then let it go? Not worth keeping you up at night.

I suppose I shall never shake this, but I hope to temper my response with time. No need to make myself crazy.

Unless I count as crazy already, in which case, carry on! Nothing to see here.