I am no stranger to criticism. We are all subject to this trend this day and age. The best way to handle criticism is by stepping back and appreciating the good kind while treading carefully around the bad.
One thing that writers face on a regular basis is criticism for their works.
Some of us need it and some need it a lot more. This goes for both good and bad criticism. Good writing needs criticism to keep it up to par. Every comment and feedback is always appreciated, even though some writers don’t always say so. Since we are our own worst critics, when someone says that the chapter we wrote doesn’t work, it isn’t much of a surprise. We know it doesn’t work (or we suspect it).
Telling us is just confirmation, allowing us to go back and fix what we missed.
For those of you writing a comment or critique, don’t take issue if the author doesn’t appreciate the feedback. Like all other professions, some writers are thin-skinned and often want to write well but don’t yet have the discipline to find value in criticism.
Constructive criticism gives us a path towards improvement and it is valued above all others. Destructive criticism, on the other hand, is useless. Often, it has nothing to do with writing and more to do with the critic trying to discourage the writer. I know firsthand how destructive such criticism affects the mindset of a creative.
From a young age, I was criticized for wanting to be a writer and an artist.
By the time I was in college I could endure no more and gave up on my passion. I avoided putting pen to paper for years (More than a decade) and if not for a challenge I discovered when nearing my fortieth birthday, I likely would have continued to steer clear of writing. Thankfully, I took the dive and my passion was rekindled.
I now weather the storm of daily life with a creative mindset, a song in my heart and a world full of dreams.
When receiving a critique, I appreciate all comments, good and bad. The good will always be appreciated as it tells me the story has provided enjoyment to those who read it. The bad is also worth having in its own way. If a typo sneaks in, I might have stared at it for a hundred pass-overs and missed it because it was so obvious. I am thankful every time someone sees this and helps me to be a better writer. When someone points out what they didn’t like about my story, I hope that it isn’t just a general dislike.
If you don’t like the stories you are reading, then criticizing them makes no sense. Find what you like and help the writers you read get better. Don’t waste time disliking a genre, book or author just because they don’t write what you prefer. Move along and add to your likes, rather than searching for what you hate.
The best critics make it clear that the reader wanted to like the story. If there was some element missing then I, for one, want to know what it was. By the time I publish, I’ve gone through my story hundreds of times and re-edited so many times, I don’t see the words anymore. After the fiftieth pass over, I begin a paragraph and my mind is pulled into the story. I see what I want others to see, but not what is there.
That’s why the comments and constructive criticism I get feels like readers tossing me nuggets of gold. Yes, they sometimes hurt, but I need them. They help me craft a better tale and help provide you, my readers, with stories to share.
In the end, that’s what every creative outlet is for: To share our dreams with the world, making it a little more enjoyable for us all.
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