Harriet, this particular post felt like it was aimed right at me- figuratively speaking of course- because I find it hard to be diplomatic about critiques. I just want to treat them like they were my own and be brutally frank. So for this week, I definately will step back a couple of paces and try to apply what you are say in this chapter. I already did an appraisal of this week's Mentor Critique sellection (in my usual fashion) but will go back and really try to "pull out" the positive. The trick for me has always been to stifle the urge to try to find (for the author) the better line when I know that isn't my function as a lyric evaluator.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein