@sargoth When I eventually got a full-time job at a magazine, the outgoing editor there had me write a 450 word piece, and then sat with me and went through what must have been at least 40 things wrong with it.
He was definitely trying to help. And in fact did help, but dear gods was that soul destroying. (Thanks, Paul! You made me a better writer! But I totally cried in the office toilets after!)