Santos 1

Lovella Santos

Instructor McCann

English 1301.127

21 September 2021

Writers on Writing; O.K., You’re Not Shakespeare. Now, Get Back to Work

In this paper, Goodman discusses resisting our inner critic and refusing to allow it in.

“What should you do when your inner critic comes to calls?” (Goodman). Well, the critic is

always there, even if it doesn't come to see you every time you write a paper. Goodman mentions

a few techniques for overcoming our inner critic. One technique that caught my attention was by

loving our work. Why would Goodman bring it up? Well Goodman wants us writers to love our

work even though it not perfect and so, critic will not interrupt our day, but if we do not love our

work, critic will be the first in line. Thanks to Goodman, now I can squash my inner critic. How?

By loving my work even though its not perfect.

Sometimes our inner critic can be helpful. Sometimes he helps us make a better paper.

But not all time he does that sometimes he wants us to doubt our selves by making us think that

our work us not correct that every little thing that’s in it is not perfect and that we need to erase it

all. A way to keep critic out of my head or in check is by making him think that my work is

splendid or just by listening to music and not listen to him at all an once I’m done and submit my

work I would say “TAKE THAT INNER CRITIC!.”

 Santos 2

Work Cited
Goodman, Allegra. “WRITERS on WRITING; O.K., You’re Not Shakespeare. Now Get back to
Work. (Published 2001).” The New York Times, 12 Mar. 2001,
www.nytimes.com/2001/03/12/arts/writers-on-writing-ok-you-re-not-shakespeare-now-get-back-
to-work.html .X