Say It With Kindness.

Offering your stories up for crit can be scary, although it doesn't worry me anywhere near as much as it used to. The first time I gave over a story for others to comment on is one of the most terrifying things I've ever done. Of course it didn't help that Sean Williams was in the group.

I've just sent off my latest story for a bunch of other writers to look at. There is, of course, the hope that nice things will be said and the nervous anticipation that they will think it's awful and you can't write and why the heck are you in this writers' group at all. 

None of us like to be told our work is dreadful. All of us secretly want to be praised. Mostly these days all I want is honesty. Fair critiquing and comments on how I can improve my story. Ideas on how I can develop as a writer. Signposting of weak areas in my work.

But whatever you say, please be kind.