Hello everyone. I hope life has been treating you kindly. I also hope you all had a great week. I am sorry I did not write last week I was spending time with my family for Easter Sunday.
This weeks topic is something that I and a lot of writers struggle with: constructive criticism. Like it or not criticism is something every writer has to experience. If you want anyone else to read your paper, story, essay etc, then it will be criticized. Some one else is going to read it and form their own opinion on it. It's inevitable, it's the way humanity is and always will be. Your job is to choose how you react.
Criticism comes in many different forms and from many different outlets. As writers we need to decide whose opinions matter. Why are they critiquing us? Is it to build us up or tear us down? Do they want us to succeed or do they just want to create controversy? What is their purpose? What is ours? These are all questions we need to ask ourselves to be able to keep ourselves strong in the face of criticism. To make our writing the best that it can be we can't do it alone. We need others' insights because they might be able to see what we can't.
My advice that I plan to follow myself would be to reach out to some one you trust. Reach out to the people who you trust to tell you the truth even if you really don't want to hear it. Contact the people that know what they are doing and have been where you are. Turn to some one you rely on to help you see the other side.
How believable are your characters? Is your story cohesive? Is it full of clichés? Are there any major plot holes that you might have missed? Are they able to understand the points you were trying to make. Are they laughing at a scene you meant to be very serious? Are there any spelling mistakes? Are the sentences cohesive and error free? Sure this is something your editor will do but it doesn't hurt to work on that now. Seeing your writing from another's point of view can bring new life to your writing. Don't forget, if you want to publish any part of your writing someone else is going to read it.
This weeks topic is something that I and a lot of writers struggle with: constructive criticism. Like it or not criticism is something every writer has to experience. If you want anyone else to read your paper, story, essay etc, then it will be criticized. Some one else is going to read it and form their own opinion on it. It's inevitable, it's the way humanity is and always will be. Your job is to choose how you react.
Criticism comes in many different forms and from many different outlets. As writers we need to decide whose opinions matter. Why are they critiquing us? Is it to build us up or tear us down? Do they want us to succeed or do they just want to create controversy? What is their purpose? What is ours? These are all questions we need to ask ourselves to be able to keep ourselves strong in the face of criticism. To make our writing the best that it can be we can't do it alone. We need others' insights because they might be able to see what we can't.
My advice that I plan to follow myself would be to reach out to some one you trust. Reach out to the people who you trust to tell you the truth even if you really don't want to hear it. Contact the people that know what they are doing and have been where you are. Turn to some one you rely on to help you see the other side.
How believable are your characters? Is your story cohesive? Is it full of clichés? Are there any major plot holes that you might have missed? Are they able to understand the points you were trying to make. Are they laughing at a scene you meant to be very serious? Are there any spelling mistakes? Are the sentences cohesive and error free? Sure this is something your editor will do but it doesn't hurt to work on that now. Seeing your writing from another's point of view can bring new life to your writing. Don't forget, if you want to publish any part of your writing someone else is going to read it.
When someone reads your writing and they don't like it that's okay because everyone is different. I say when because some will read something you write and they will not like it. Some one else will though. If some one gives you pointers and advice and you don't like it you don't have to use it. You can but its not a requirement. Right now you have all the power. You know yourself better than anyone else. You know what your writing is meant to say but don't be afraid to get that second opinion.
The first time I received negative feedback I almost stopped writing altogether. It was hard I felt horrible. I wondered why I was fooling myself into thinking I could ever become a writer. It didn't matter that I got positive feedback too. All I saw was the negative. I stopped writing for a little while and then went back to reread their critiques when I was less of an emotional mess. And you know what I realized? A lot of what they said was right. They never said I was a bad writer they just gave me areas to improve. They didn't do it out of malice or ill intent. They did it because I asked for an honest opinion and believe me I got it. Did I listen and follow everything they said? No but I did change things, and I realized how valuable there opinion was. Its scary but its worth it. It's how I feel every time I publish a blog post.
So how about you? How did you feel the first time some one read your work? Do you have any tips for staying strong and not giving up? Let me know in the comments.
Eventually I will be putting together a focus group for my book. I have a few people in mind but if anyone is interested please let me know. The only requirements I have is that you have to like to read, you can be honest, and you will not plagiarize.
Have a great week and a great Monday guys I will see you next weekend.
