I am so grateful that my early mentors in work and life taught me certain things about expectations.
Those early years taught me to be as precise as possible because words have power. If I want to be an authority, I need to be careful about how I phrase something. I need to be clear.
As a writer, those early years taught me to treat editors with respect. I don’t expect every editor or reader or writer to love my work. I don’t care if a mid-level big name writer praises my work and things it’s the best thing since sliced bread, not every editor or reader will think the same way. Everyone has tastes and that’s just it. Taste.
One thing I wish I had had modeled for me was how to go in and tell people they’re acting like children. I don’t know how to do that with any tact and I think that such commentary is badly overdue in some places.