A Writer Immune from Criticism?

After the Backspace seminar wrapped, I joined Terrie Farley Moran and her friend, Deb Lacy, at the MWA Lee Child dinner at the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park. Walking into that building is like stepping into Miss Havisham’s house…fun and transformative. It gets you in just the right mood for a writerly evening. But I digress. I mention this dinner because of something Lee said – that he never wanted to be a writer and only decided to become one when he lost his job as a television director. Therefore, he never believed a lot was riding on it – only a paycheck. Oh, and an audience to buy his book. He said he didn’t really need the praise – still doesn’t. As long as his books sell, he’s doing OK. So, was he being entirely honest? Yes and no, perhaps. Like most writers, he’s probably a perfectionist and he obviously took great pains to craft his famous Jack Reacher character. He spent long hours, thinking about what would be interesting to readers. And he invested himself in his writing. If one does all that, is a writer ever completely immune from criticism?

Lee’s point was that only those who have always dreamed of being writers are the ones stung by harsh words. But if Lee spent that time and effort – even if it was never his life’s dream – is he above it all and doesn’t care? Does that happen when what you’re pursuing is not what you wanted to do in the first place? Or, does that happen after writing twelve, commercially successful, books? I would argue that it never happens. Lee puts too much of himself into his writing not to care what people ultimately think of his ability. I would argue that’s what makes him keep writing. Striving to write the perfect book is what all writers do in the end. It may not have been their dream, but it haunts them nonetheless.