Let's Talk About Criticism

How do you handle criticism?
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One of the most difficult parts of being a writer is putting your heart and soul into your story and then tossing it out into the world. This world can be harsh, and people can be cruel.

But we all have to face negative feedback and rude reviews. Here are a couple quick tips for how I handle criticism in my writing.

Tip #1: decide if the person criticizing you qualified to do so. Is your reviewer an editor or literary agent? Or are you the victim of some angry person on the internet who feels better when they tear someone else down? If someone with experience and training in writing is pointing out major flaws in your project, you may need to reevaluate your work. If it’s an angry jerk, ignoring the criticism and moving on is probably your best course of action.

Tip #2: understand the reviewer's motives. Not everyone reading your work will have your or your book’s best interests in mind. Ask yourself if your criticizer is really trying to make your book better. Or are they a competitor looking to slow you down? Or, again, is the reviewer just a jerk who finds faults in everything?

Tip #3: use what you can and throw out the rest. Even awful reviews can have a useful nugget you can use to improve your work. When you get a bad review, let it sit for a few days until you can approach it objectively. Then, dig through the trash of it and pull out anything constructive. Did the awful reviewer mention pacing, character building, or plot continuity? Even jerks can occasionally be useful. Use their hate to make your work stronger.

Tip #4: be kind to yourself and your work. It’s easy to let bad reviews rattle you. What if they’re right? What if your work is garbage? Do. Not. Listen. To. That. Voice. No one can write your story better than you. All the negativity in the world can’t change that.