Constructive Criticism:
A Writer’s Best Friend
by A.E. Albert
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”
-Aristotle
How well do you take constructive criticism? We've all heard this question at job interviews, professional reviews...first dates?
OK, maybe that's extreme, but we all know that this is a desirable quality in others.
Of course, we all say, 'Why, yes, I can!" I was one of these people who were quite proud of themselves, believing that they truly possessed the self confidence to accept critical feedback.
I had no idea what I was talking about.
Ya Right!
I only learned this truth when I wrote my book. Everything changed when something that I created, forged with my blood, sweat and tears was placed on a sacrificial altar.
I had never felt so vulnerable, so exposed, as when giving my creation to someone to critic.
I was terrified.
A Light at the End of the Tunnel
Yet, two things happened. First, I learned that I had no real idea what constructive criticism was.
Two, instead of wanting to kill my critic for giving me negative feedback about my precious baby, I had never felt so grateful. My book would never have been complete without it.
Yes, its nice to hear that you're on the right track, but what we want to know is where we need to improve, add and maybe even delete.
How to Handle Criticism:
- Stop and think before you react.
- Determine where the criticism is coming from.
- Ask yourself what you can learn from the criticism.
- Don’t take it personally.
- Ignore false criticism.
- Don't respond immediately
- Listen objectively
- Get a second opinion and do your own research
- Take corrective action
- Learn from it
- Say thank you
Read: How to Give and Receive Constructive Criticism
Every writer needs to grow a thick skin. But save it for when you publish your work. During the writing journey, embrace the criticisms of others.
Of course, choose people who are honest for the sake of your book and not the sake of honesty.
Your work will surpass your expectations. We all need to be pushed to our limit. Of course, the limit is constantly being redefined as we journey down these unexplored paths.
How do you deal with criticism? Leave a comment.
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A Positive Attitude: A Writer's Armour
Because of ego, taking criticism is a challenge, but there's more to it than just that..
ReplyDeleteThere's the mind's story! Perhaps, the mind knows that a state of imagination it once had over a fiction has diminished (or a facet of it), hence, its not wanting to further proceed with it.
Elsewhere, thinking it natural, and non-demanding, others can ask for further revisions (yes, it "can" be natural, and yes, it "can" be non-demanding); however, in the time that's ensued since the completion of the first or the second draft, the mind may have become "irreparably corrupted".
With The Representative, I experienced this (making it ever impossible for me to want to go back to it).. The human mind is very efficient, at creating stigmas and "prompted misbehaviour": you prepare to think of something (some facet of your story), and your mind immediately misbehaves, conjuring an unwanted image, or notion.
The mind can be trained, to behave (the fifteen-step self help list that I put together last month for dealing with mental dysfunctionality covers a lot of ground), but there's no denying that it's a profound struggle.
And hence a legitimate issue, when it comes to taking criticism. (You may want to take it.. but it might also be that you psychologically "can't" take it.)
I always remind myself that everyone is given criticism. And in a world of individuals, not everyone can like our work. It's the law of probability.
ReplyDeleteI do feel like the exception, to the rule though.. After querying fifty agents - and I admit, many of these letters will have been bad, but, just as many of them will have been good - what are the odds, nonetheless: not one, just asking to look at The Representative?
ReplyDeleteI still query, to this day. (Even if "TR" stands not a chance, there's still me getting to announce and demonstrate myself to the world.)
Gone with the wind got rejected, I believe, 132 times. It won a pulitzer.
ReplyDelete