It's Done!

I finished the first draft of my AQ story, weighing in at a respectable 9900 words. Then I made the mistake of re-reading it right away. Man, I saw all the awkward parts and none of the good stuff. It took a lot of self comfort (and a bit of pre-editing editing) to send it off to the group for crit--I really was not proud of some parts. However, the story is fun, made me laugh to read it through, so I think I have something of value beneath all the stuff that doesn't work well.

It's funny, because I spent a lot of time learning to accept feedback of all kinds, lots of it negative, in training for my current career. I don't imagine this is any different. I guess I'm just an automatic worrier--will they like it? Will they think I'm a horrible writer? I'm the only person in the group who hasn't had a writing class or seven (or was an English major). I don't know where this urge to compare myself with others comes from, but I hate it.

I wonder if I can take out a hit on my inner critic. That's a story idea...