“Writing errors.”
The email subject line glared from my laptop screen. My hands shook slightly as I read it. The bottom fell out of my stomach. My chest burned — that familiar feeling that accompanies bad news about work.
Fear. Not only of losing income, but of confronting the same doubt I’ve carried for years: that I’m inadequate. Untalented.
As a freelance writer, criticism is part of the job. Still, this email landed differently. I knew it would hurt more later than it did in the moment — the kind of message that trails you into sleepless nights, long walks, and compulsive email checks, waiting for the next blow.
The editor wrote that my work was subpar. It contained too many “writing errors,” and I was on the verge of termination.
I would prefer to keep you, she added, but if the work does not improve, I will terminate your contract.
Somehow, that made it worse.
For two days, I mulled my response.
Apologize?
I wanted to apologize immediately. That has always been my instinct. The anger fol…
