Your Own Best Critic
... one writer's advice to another
Among my favorite authors are two Iowa-born writers, now generally regarded as Minnesotans, Meridel LeSueur, 1900 - 1996, and Frederick Manfred, 1912 - 1994. As is evident from their years, their lives spanned the 20th century. I collect the works of both authors and have accumulated most, although not yet all, of their books (14 of LeSueur’s, 27 of the more-prolific Manfred’s).
LeSueur was born in Murray, Clarke County, south of Des Moines, Manfred in Doon, Lyon County, in northwest Iowa. Early in their careers, both authors gravitated toward the Twin Cities. There, Manfred connected with a group of talented individuals similarly drawn to Minneapolis-St. Paul, including Hubert Humphrey, Eric Severeid, Carl Sandberg, Robert Penn Warren, James Wright, and Saul Bellow.
He cites these contemporaries (and others) in a 17-page booklet entitled “Dinkytown,” in which he also describes his first encounter with LeSueur (lightly edited for brevity):
“I’d heard Meridel LeSueur, the novelist and strong-minded leftwinger, held a writing class in a bar in downtown Minneapolis. So one evening I sauntered over to see what sort of class it was. I might ask her to have a look at the manuscript of my first novel. Meridel, I was told, had a national reputation.
It was a joy to watch her run that class. One student would read a couple of pages, then Meridel would try to get comments from the other students. Only after they’d given their opinions would she then, in a mild voice, offer her criticisms. Her comments were always apt, and she tended to stress the strong points of the manuscript.
When the group broke up, she called over to me. She asked my name, what I was doing. When she learned I had a finished manuscript, she suggested I bring it around to her house. I did. Two weeks later I had a call from her. Could I meet her for lunch? I said I could.
We both had a beer and a hamburger. She had the manuscript of ‘The Golden Bowl’ with her but didn’t look at it as we talked. Instead, she questioned me closely about my political views, what had my life on the farm been like, what was my job like as a reporter.
Finally, she picked up the manuscript, and in her warm earth-mother voice, said, ‘I read your book about the Dust Bowl. It is already better than John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. It needs more work… but let me give you some advice. Never take instruction on how to improve it from some other writer or from some self-appointed critic. Work out your own style, your own way of treating your subject matter. Learn to be your own best critic. You write out of something deep within you; only you know when you’re voicing that deep-within-you truly. You’re a good writer, and you’re going to get better -- provided you work at being your own best critic.’
Well! I nearly exploded. I tried not to let my feelings show, and thanked her quietly. From that point on I knew I would eventually be published -- on my own terms. That happened in 1938.”
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Several takeaways from this splendid excerpt. First, the importance of professional affirmation, especially early in one’s career. Manfred sought it, LeSueur provided it, in “her warm, earth-mother voice”. Second, the importance of timely advice, both seeking and providing. Third, the importance of confidence, as in “I knew I would eventually be published.” Fourth, the importance of being true to oneself (“… on my OWN terms”). And, lastly… holding an evening class in a bar. More of this, please!
I have benefited professionally and personally from comparable assistance on numerous occasions. Accordingly, I’ve attempted to pass along encouragement to aspirants whenever possible. I am profoundly grateful for both getting and giving support opportunities. To receive a timely boost is generally long and fondly remembered. To provide a modest boost is an even greater pleasure.
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Pleased to be a member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. My colleagues:
The first reading to the public I did was a review of a photograph book of barns that had no words beyond a single poem. I asked my editor how I was to approach a review of a book with mostly photos. He told me in a very simple way, "You grew up on the farm, write about your barn." So, without further coaching, I set about comparing the quality of the delapidated barns that were miles ahead of the falling in barn that I had to rely on growing up. I focused on what it lacked in a very real way; hauling manure out of the barn in winter. The trials and tribulations of getting a wheelbarrow over an ice covered plank and the manure into the spreader without ending up in the same place as the manure! I was surprised by how many people connected to that one simple act of hauling manure! What really surprised me was when a local poet that has been published many times and well known in Iowa City came up to me and quietly said, "I enjoyed your piece and wanted to say you have a style not unlike Meridel LeSueur." I thanked him for his comments, and then went looking to find something she had written, since I had never heard of her. Not easily found, I gave up, but understood her leftest attitude especially in her early work when things were far from ideal on many fronts for the working man or woman. This piece confirmed to me that yes, we are alot alike! I take no stock in people getting published as a sign you know the craft of story telling. Yes, there are people who are published that can do it, but far greater is the number that fail. The develpment of your own style, is critical to good writing, and if you have to pay the bills with your writing and haven't developed one, well, you are going to have a tough row to hoe! I'm happy in my retirement to be able to work on short stories and "found" things simply for my enjoyment. Ocassionally something shows up in print that I think is a good example of my creativity. Thanks for the insight on LeSueur! I'll resume looking for her work!