Member-only story
Writing and Design
When a Friend Critiques Your Design
Feedback is sort of welcome
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“What is it?” queried Dave, my long-suffering friend. I ask Dave for his opinion on things I create. I don’t particularly value his opinion, I tend to ignore it — but it passes the time when we’re sharing a beer.
I replied patiently that the design shows an author’s hand writing in a book and…
“Why doesn’t he use a laptop?” asked Dave, helpfully.
I started explaining how a laptop could also be used for gaming, spreadsheets, or browsing the internet — but I was in danger of losing Dave’s rapt attention.
“So I used a pen instead,” I replied triumphantly. I waited for Dave’s approval. The point of showing your creativity to friends is to gain their approval. No one really wants to know the truth. Not from friends.
“Weird pen,” said Dave, my literary genius.
I wondered how long the conversation would last if I mentioned “quill pen” and decided against it. I agreed it was weird and I’d fix it in the next draft.
