Have you ever had a critic you trusted? How did you find that person?

I think some people trust their spouse to tell them the truth, good or bad. Others have editors or coaches or teachers they trust. Still others have friends.

If you have had one, how did you find them, and what made you able to trust their opinion? Did they reflect the public in some way? Were they hard on you? Easy? Did they give good advice? Or just point at problems or things that worked?