When you were a kid, did you have to pretend to be someone's friend because your parents made you? Or because your best friend was their friend, then that made you have to be their friend too. I may be new to HubPages but I wasn't born yesterday. Don't be my fan because you have to. I want some real criticism here peeps.

I have made exactly 7 cents over the last two weeks. Hey, but that's not why we writer's write is it. We are expressing ourselves through our writing, right? I am already a Registered Nurse. I am a professional. But that's all technical stuff. Except maybe thinking of a comeback for a remark by a smart aleck doctor. No imagination required. Wiping someones butt and changing adult diapers is not really the stuff of creativity is it? I truly love to write. Maybe it hasn't shown through in my hubs yet. Sure I can churn one out in an hour. But who wants to read it. Apparently not too many people (see above).

Okay so I accept Hub challenge. I am kicking 40 years old. Don't take this the wrong way but, I read all these comments saying "I have writer's block, help". Oh my goodness! How is this contracted? Is this a contagious disease? What are the symptoms? COME ON, there a gozillion (Forest Gump) things in the world to write about.

 Give me some good solid criticism. I can take it. Trust me I have been through more crap being a Nurse than someone giving me a little constructive criticism. Thick skin is a requirement for being a nurse, I have seen people take their last breath so come on people. I want to be a better writer.

Okay, okay. Constructive criticism, you don't need to tear people apart for them to understand how to improve. No one likes to be ripped a new one. In case any of you don't know what constructive criticism is (and I know there are plenty of people who don't). Here is the definition:

• A compassionate attitude towards the person qualified for criticism. Having higher experience gift, respect, knowledge in specific field and being able to verbally convince at the same time, this person materially, morally, emotionally or spiritually. For high probability in succeeding compassionate criticism, the critic has to be in some kind of healthy personal relationship with the other one, which is normally a parent to child, friend to friend, teacher to student. spouse to spouse or any kind of recognized authority in specific field. Hence the word constructive is used so that something is created or visible outcome is generated rather than the opposite.

Don't get me wrong. When I first started on HubPages I was thrilled that I got a fan almost immediately after I published my first hub Retail Therapy. I still am thrilled every time I see someone new there. I thought; wow maybe I am good at this. Before it was just friends and family who read my stuff. My husband has always been my biggest fan.

I know I haven't given it enough time. Who am I to think I would become an expert in two weeks. I laugh out loud at the thought. Not too many people become successful over night in writing. I know it happens but those aren't the rule, they are the exception.

As a writing community I know that there are well educated people here. From experience I know people who are well educated in the English language understand a personal rant. Maybe I am guilty for dumbing down my articles. I think that may be a hold over from my real job. Mississippi has a large population of poor, uneducated people so dumbing it down is a requirement. No offense to my wonderful Mississippians, but if you haven't got a formal education in healthcare you can't understand the jargon, period.

I am probably my own worst critic anyhow. See how I just did that in my last paragraph. Trying to figure out why I suck. I am laughing out loud again. Obviously from the number of hits I get on my hubs I do.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the nice people I have already met here. I really appreciate the encouragement. For those who haven't read my work or have and haven't said anything. Grow you some and let me have something to grow on. Come on I know you have it in you. I dare you