On my thesis advisor's office wall was a framed page from the first draft of his thesis (which he had written under the tutelage of *his* thesis advisor, a guy you may have heard of by the name of Roman Jakobsen).
Every single word on the page had been crossed out or circled or queried or *somethinged*, in red or black or blue ink, and sometimes in red or normal pencil.
Except for ONE WORD.
That word was "but."
Every time I get what feels like severe critique on something I've written, I remember what that page looked like, and I laugh.
That is indeed helpful. :-) I also remember a quote from the header of a chapter in a book written by someone I forget at the moment -- but the quote was from Morris Halle, speaking to a student, and it was, "ARGUE with me!"
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Every single word on the page had been crossed out or circled or queried or *somethinged*, in red or black or blue ink, and sometimes in red or normal pencil.
Except for ONE WORD.
That word was "but."
Every time I get what feels like severe critique on something I've written, I remember what that page looked like, and I laugh.
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But that's what revisions are for. Take heart! The (not apocalyptic) end is near!