Look for the good
I had an interesting interaction while checking out at the grocery store the other day. As the cashier was handing me my receipt, he gave me a chin nod.
“Cool shirt.”
I glanced down to discover I was wearing my Bob Ross “No Mistakes. Just Happy Accidents” shirt. “Thanks,” I said. “It’s from a gentler time.”
He took in a shaky breath, one entirely too long for someone his age, then let it out in a blow. Eyes down, he nodded. “Yeah.”
Poor guy.
As I rode home, I considered my own feelings toward the “Happy Accidents” philosophy. There’s no doubt that I’m a fan, but it can be difficult to apply it to writing. Being critical is a core part of being a writer. Craft, voice, grammar, rhythm, pacing… there’s a reason writers form “critique groups” and not “happy accident groups.”
Instead, or perhaps in addition, I’ve found a slightly different outlook works for me: looking for the good.
The concept is simple. Instead of looking for what doesn’t work, look for what does.
Reading a novel someone suggested but not enjoying it? Figure out why it was recommended. Maybe the story is trite and formulaic, but its voice is awesome. Or perhaps the characters are shallow, but it has an incredible plot twist.
You can take this approach to books, music, movies, artwork… pretty much anything you consume. Even better, you can use it when reviewing your own work. Instead of just looking for problems, look for gold. Actively find techniques that you used which worked.
You may be thinking, “yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. Compliment sandwich. I do that in my critique group.”
But when was the last time you sat down to read your own work with the sole intent of enjoying it? Have you ever used your highlighter to mark incredible scene work or engaging dialogue?
It’s true that we need to be critical and find flaws in our work, but that’s only half the story. We also need to recognize what we’re doing well. Put another way, if all of our focus is on tearing down our work, how will we spot the parts that deserve to be built up?
If you haven’t already, give it a shot. I think you’ll find it changes the way you write.
Looking beyond writing, don’t be shy about trying this approach with the rest of your life. Food, people, relationships… try looking for the good.
You might just find it.
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