A mentor who’s honest about your work is worth more than a hundred strangers who double-tap it.

A tap costs nothing and says nothing. Somebody who knows the craft, has seen your last five attempts and is willing to tell you where this one goes wrong is handing you something that cannot be bought in volume. One accurate observation moves you, even when it is uncomfortable to hear.

Find one person whose judgement you would actually accept and ask them to look at a specific thing. Make it easy for them by asking a narrow question rather than for general thoughts. Then do something with what they say, because that is what makes them willing to look again.