I've spent a lot of time both reading others' papers and manuscripts, writing my own stuff and then reading what others think of what I've written.
In thinking about reading something you think is really, really wrong, there are a couple of things you might find it useful to keep in mind. Or not.
First of all, Anne Lamott's comments in Bird by Bird about first drafts. She says that with the exception of a few impossible people, writers produce awful first drafts. In fact, she's talking about fiction writers, and I don't write fiction, but I was really cheered up by that, because when I read my own first drafts, I typically think I should find another job. I mean, we are talking pretty awful. Lamott says to take comfort in the fact that you can hide them and NO ONE will see them. That's just fine, but surely she's let some first drafts out. Rushed, feeling you need to say something rather than nothing, you put down what seems pretty good, and hand it in, send it off, etc. And too often you live to regret it.
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