When you put your work out in the public, you leave the door wide open for the good and the bad.
This is definitely true, but I don't think it's quite that simple when it comes to fiction and especially fanfic. None of us get paid to do this (at least, I don't think so; if someone out there's getting paid, how do I get that job?
). Every single story here is a labor of love. For me, at least, that tends to leave my skin a little thinner than a story or paper I write for a class or whatever. Telling me to get a thicker skin is easier said than done
.
Not that I expect people to like everything I write, or that I expect to show up on every recommendation list <g>. I just don't think we can dismiss possibly hurt feelings with, "Oh, toughen up."
