When You Get Feedback...

aka: How one (slightly) negative comment is all I can think about

I recently found out that a short story I wrote will be published in an anthology.
I am beyond thrilled because, as you might remember, one of my Resolutions was to write more often and submit it...

My writing is not contest winning. This I know. I don't write to be dark or overly insightful. I don't swear. I don't include sex. Nobody dies or tries to die or wants to die. Pretty much everything that is in contest winning writing is missing from mine.
I do write to entertain, however. I write about people I know, people I've seen, stories I've concocted while eavesdropping on strangers. I am never overly serious. I like fast-paced wit, with a touch of sarcasm and a smidge of seriousness.

So when I learned that the second story I have ever submitted for publication was, indeed, to be published, I was over the moon. When I learned that three real authors/editors had chosen my piece from hundreds of submissions, I was thrilled. When I read the bottom of the notification email and saw this praise from one of the judges:

The ‘voice’ grabs the reader first line to last. Fast paced, cleverly constructed,  sparkling prose. I actually shrieked out loud. When I read a little bit further and saw this criticism: Missed great opportunity in ending.  I lost focus on everything else and it was all I could think about. Interesting how every positive comment can be drowned out by one criticism.