This week's post is by writer and editor Yolanda Smith. We are excited to have her join the Write Editing team.
By Yolanda Smith

Perhaps you were born
with a steely personality, but if that isn’t you, here are three practices that will
help you form a thick skin:
Separate Yourself from Your Work
You are not your work.
Your writing is an extension of you, much like a limb or digit. If one of your appendages
were severed—God forbid—it wouldn’t fundamentally change who you are. Writing
is personal, and part of our essence leaks into our work, but after we’ve
sweated and bled all over the page, our core self remains intact.
A tough critique is not
a slam on your personality. It’s an opportunity to learn how to maneuver
through criticism, deciding what to use and what to reject. Learn to wield
objective analyzation like a skilled swordsman, slicing away input that doesn’t
work for you, and keeping the voices that ring true.
Carry Determination in Your Back Pocket
Hold your manuscript
loosely, but don’t lose sight of your end goals. Bulldog tenacity is a
necessary component of a successful writing career. Fiery determination—and a
bucket full of prayer—will carry you beyond hurtful situations. Be aware
difficult and dark moments will worm their way into your creative life, but set
your eyes on the prize and don’t let go for any reason other than a divine
change of direction. Sometimes I write myself a reminder before submitting a
piece of work and put it in a prominent place where I can see it when I receive
a response: Remember, this acceptance or rejection
will not make or break you. You may cheer or you may cry, but both are
momentary reactions. Take a few breaths to enjoy your celebration or wallow in
your sorrow, then get back to work.
Get a Second Opinion

Here’s a bonus element
for gaining the tough hide necessary to persevere in your writing life:
submissions. Submit anywhere and everywhere you can, thereby opening yourself
to criticism. You’re bound to find plenty of opportunities to grow beyond the
pain, and your thick skin will layer at a solid rate, I promise.
Have you developed a thick skin as a writer? If so, we'd love to hear your suggestions.
(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net, Michelle Meiklejohn, and Stuart Miles.)
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