Reviewing your own writing – except the bad bits

“I like reading my own work, and often do it. I go gently over the bits I think are bad.”

—E. M. Forster

I’m a big fan of E.M. Forster’s work. The British novelist ( 1879 – 1970) of masterpieces such as A Room with a View, Where Angels Fear to Tread, Passage to India and Howard’s End is correct to enjoy reading his own work.

And I like his modesty in suggesting he skip over the bad bits.

As if there were any.

Forster is one of the greatest English novelists of the twentieth century, but in a 1959 interview he modestly said, “I am quite sure I am not a great novelist.”

Those of us who love his work vigorously disagree, but writers should still take heart.

Take a page from Forster’s book: enjoy reading and reviewing your writing – except for the bad bits.