Jason Howell asked Terry Lynn Thomas:

Terry... Can you recall the most hurtful or wrongheaded review, comment, or critique you've received on your work? (on or off the internet) Do you think this bit of feedback ended up shaping you in any way? If you were stuck in an elevator with the person who delivered that bit of feedback, what (if anything) would you say to the person? Thanks, Jason

Terry Lynn Thomas Hey, Jason. Thanks for the question. It is a good one, and the answer is a resounding yes. I have had one person tell me that I should take a beginning composition class. She teaches at community college, and although she is a fabulous teacher, her comment was off base and cut to the core. I immediately called my agent, who talked me off the ledge. That is just one instance. The road to publication is rife with criticism, and I imagine once my debut is out, there will plenty of people who do not like it. I remain hopeful that I will find the readers who like my work. That is my ultimate goal. Criticism, or constructive feedback, is an absolute necessity for the writer. As a professional, you must be able to learn to take the feedback, and use it to hone your skills. The teacher (who obviously is not a fan of my writing) is still an acquaintance, and I've decided that her opinions about my ability to write are none of my business! Thanks for the question, Jason.

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