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David Vowell's avatar

Thank you for sharing this. It really puts things in perspective. I know that y’all are super busy and it would be super hard, but I wish you all had a podcast for things like this.

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Dale Flowers's avatar

I am not an author, but I am "published". Published how? By writing a gazillion Naval messages, evaluations, recommendations, warfare publication and OpOrder reviews & updates, SORTS & CASREP messages, and the occasional JAGMAN investigation and recommendation for disposal of government property or the loss thereof. What did I learn? Proofread, proofread, have a shipmate proofread your work. Criticism/feedback could be very brutal for the smallest typo or failure to follow the required or preferred format. I inherited most of my writing duties because others failed. That was a curse and a blessing. What you wrote, Ms. von Sassy, is very good advice. And re: "Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t ask for advice." About advice, let's remember that often people seeking advice only embrace it if it has the spin they are looking for. I try to mumble my mantra to myself every morning when I am having coffee and am most receptive: "Dale, you are not as clever as you think you are". <-- How many times has that saved my bacon? Always best to disengage one's ego when getting feedback. And, treat all criticism as (useful) feedback. Thanks for sharing, Ms. von Sassy.

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