Who but a writer could do this thing - talk about an art and craft as if he or she had any knowledge whatsoever about that most mercurial of things, using the written word to express and emote. Critics are, in a Satanist sort of manner, writers in and of themselves.

It does leave me to wonder if there are a group of critics who give critical review to the criticism of other writers. I assume there must be, and I hope any critic who lambastes me in any form is allowed to toil away in the darkness of their heart and home, and feel the sting of those "It could have been better" words; but then, as I do, I digress.

Critics are part and parcel of the writer's or any artist's world. I am not talking about professional critics, some negative Newsweek review. Ah, but for the chance to read a review of my writing in such a well-read spot, even if the review isn't fabulous. Just the thought of my writing being reviewed on a national level is, well, hard to beat for an aspiring writer.

I see an unflattering review at that level as being akin to losing the Super Bowl or World Series, or being nominated for a movie award only to have someone else win. Sure, it didn't go as well as it might, but I made it to the big game. All that means, until someone huge reviews my work or the work of any other author, is that the criticism we need to worry about comes on a much closer-to-home and fundamental level - critical review of each other.

I have seen more than a few writing reviews go from well intentioned exposure of work and a few extra sets of eyes to character assassination of the writer. For some reason, writers or other artists seem all too ready to abandon the golden rule of life: Review unto others as you would have them review unto you.

When you comment on someone's writing, feel free to express real opinions. Give constructive and occasionally destructive feedback when it will help the work. Be honest, but not brutal. I have a friend who often clarifies she is "letting it all hang out through brutal honesty". She has lost friends, exposed secret lives, and brutalized other's worlds, all in the context of brutal honesty.