"To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing."
~ Elbert Hubbard
Yes! We can avoid criticism!
All we have to do is be nothing.
:o|
So... If we want to be SOMETHING, we have to accept that there will be criticism.
And the bigger something we want to be, the more criticism we'll have to accept.
That's kind of the name of this game we're in, right? We write because we want our words read! Bring on the low ratings! We want our words read by a lot of people! Bring it on even more! Heck, we want the WHOLE WORLD to read our words! And more criticism!!
Of course there's the good stuff that comes all along the way, too! Eases the sting. But there will always be those bits of criticism that sting more than even the good stuff can temper. Those are the ones we really have to talk ourselves into being okay accepting.
So have you? Have you convinced yourself that you're okay accepting whatever amount of criticism that's going to come with wherever it is that you have your sights set?
I guess that's just one of the steps on our journey we have to take. Er... KEEP taking.
Here-- have a cookie! It helps. ;0)
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| Photo credit and recipe link from Furey and the Feast |
Have a great Friday!
19 comments:
Those cookies look GOOOOD. And I couldn't agree more on your message in this post - just like they say the best way to fail is to give up trying, I guess the best way to fail is to successfully avoid all criticism ;)
You really have to develop a thick skin if you want to be a writer, because criticism is part and parcel for the job and something that makes us better writers.
This is one of the reasons why critique groups are both a good thing and a bad thing. My critique group for Brandon's class had some really great members in it, but Brandon counselled us time and time again to not let our critique groups ruin our books.
By the end of the semester, I had lost just about all faith in my writing and my story. Then I got my score back from Brandon and--hey! He told me my writing was not just good, it was one of the best submissions for the class! So...what about how I felt when my critique group went over my writing?
The sting of criticism hurt, and this whole experience was just another example of how important it is to have faith in yourself and your writing. Letting criticism slide is tough. You just gotta keep trying and clinging to the good stuff so you can keep writing. Writer's block is most often caused by indecision, and indecision is just lack of faith.
Sometimes its REALLY hard to get past tough criticism. Ugh.
Excellent!!! the worst thing anyone could say about my book is "Meh" or be completely indifferent to it. I guess even disliking it would be better because at least I evoked SOME emotion.
I think I'm pretty good at taking criticism. I can't learn if I don't get feedback.
I've already toughened up for any criticism heading my way. A critique partner I had toughened me up. Now, I'm not scared of anything!
I can't control how I'm criticized but I can control how I criticize others. I think criticism goes down so much better with a big dose of kindness. And the best thing about that is all the good karma you have coming back.
Girl, you and your cookie pictures! lol But there's criticism and there's criticism. Some is meant to help and the other to hurt. I just hope I manage to couch my helpful criticism so it doesn't hurt too much.
If my work is not worth talking about, good or bad, then it's not worth doing. (My new mantra.)
I think as we become more experienced, we learn to sift through criticisms. We scan for constructive comments, looking for ways to improve. We accept the rest as subjective and move on. Then we eat cookies. :)
The only criticism I've received so far is from my CPs, which I ask for, so I'm okay with that. The harsher the better. It only makes me a better writer.
But I can't say I'll feel the same way once those reviews start rolling in, though I do completely understand how subjective literature can be. My bet friend and I write and read in the same genre and I rarely like her recommendations. So I don't think criticism should be taken too seriously. Everyone has different tastes and will feel differently about the same work. Maybe I just won't read those reviews!
I think it's wise advice to expect criticism. It'll happen no matter what, and some of it we might even learn from.
Criticism and I have come to a mutually acceptible compromise!
Yum! Yum! Yummy Cookies! Criticism can go anywhere as long as I can have thise cookies!
Riya
I think I'm okay with criticism. Though I haven't really put my writing out there into the limelight yet, so I still have to see if that's true on a bigger scale.
The Eagle's Aerial Perspective
Bring it on! Now, I need to go get me some cookies.
Hi Peggy! Interesting post for the letter X. Can I have some milk with those cookies?
As a book blogger I am all too aware of how scary it is to put yourself out there. Especially with hard to please readers like myself. I think at the end of the day, you just have to keep remembering that people are diverse and there are so many differing opinions out there. Take on board the criticism that will help you grow as a writer and try and let the rest slide. At least that's what I keep telling myself!
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