One of my coworkers just told me that I’m a really good writer, that the newsletter now draws people in. This, of course, was before my manager said something snarky about mentioning a certain magazine we got promo in as useless because I had already done something he was trying to suggest (mentioning we were in a certain magazine) and he’s a naysayer with so many inferiority/napoleanish complexes I can’t even wrap my head around his insecurities and the many divisive methods he employs to cut down any bluebird of happiness he see. I imagine him with a pellet gun shooting Birds of Paradise out of the sky. “I couldn’t stand their incessant yapping,” he says. “They’re ugly birds anyway”. (I really need to write a book about nasty bosses and their detrimental effect on the artistic temperament).

Anyhow, I am glad for the compliment, and I’m glad I get to do one infinitesimal thing that I like for this company. The thing about writing for companies is learning to toughen yourself up for criticism. If you’re like me and get really attached to your work, the first couple suggestions or comments, whether relevant or not, really poke you in the chest. You might get a bit heated. But after a few tries, you send out your draft expecting comments and you build a bit of a lizard skin. The skin is extremely necessary. I would recommend every writer buy one.

Speaking of the newsletter, I need to make sure to print out copies for myself, for my “clip” folder.