“I took a few writing courses in college. The extraordinary poet Marie Ponsot would talk about the crow sitting on your shoulder saying things like: “That sucks,” ”How could you write that?” and “Are you kidding me?”
Diminutive, chain-smoking Marie would jut her tobacco-stained finger into the air, punctuating every word: Shoot. The. Damn. Crow.” | Jerry Colonna
While that analogy may be a touch too violent for some, Marie Ponsot’s advice is poignant, powerful, and on point.
There are occasions when our inner critic helps us ship better work.
But, when we find those criticisms move from the realm of constructive feedback to the kind that results in inaction, the inner critic needs to be fired.
HT: Reboot by Jerry Colonna
