All
right readers and writers, gather around. This isn’t going to be a whiny rant
about how people are mean to writers and how their criticism is the pits
(though at times it can be), but a bit of a quick analysis of the situation and
how everyone, readers and writers alike can deal with it.
Look,
constructive criticism is a good thing and writers should get over their ire at
having anything they create criticized by anybody. Hey, that’s life. And,
constructive criticism can point out flaws or maybe a bit of a slip in editing
that would, when corrected, make the book, short story or article much better.
Really.
Oh,
and readers who post criticism, think about how you couch it. You’re entitled
to your opinions and of course if there are glaring editing or grammatical
errors in a work you might want to point out that’s happening so other readers
will be aware, but it can be put in language that isn’t a personal attack. You
might feel the urge to be a ripsaw, but curb it. Remember that writer, whoever
it is, put a lot of thought and work into the project. Because it isn’t up to
certain standards now doesn’t mean the writer isn’t striving to improve and
will, indeed improve. Helpful criticism is one thing, an all-out attack is
another. Think about it. Does attack make you in some way feel good? What if
your work, whatever it is, was attacked with a vicious edge and you were left
feeling naked and abused? You might consider, even with a poorly written work,
turning your own thoughts around and saying something encouraging instead. Or
just plain shut up. If you have to point out a flaw, maybe you can point out a
good thing as well. Maybe the book needs a lot of typo fixing but the story
itself is interesting, just hard to see through all those errors. Pause and
reflect. Just sayin’.
Okay,
now writers, it’s your job to write well, to edit like a pro and cut mercilessly
so you don’t surround your readers with needless fluff. It’s also a fact of
life that no matter how good you get, no matter how well-known, you’re going to
get those personal attacks and not just criticism for the obvious typos or
grammar errors. Sadly, it comes with the territory.
BUT
you don’t have to let that get you down. Of course they’re going to find the
typos you miss no matter how hard you try and the grammar slip-ups and the
story twist that didn’t quite do the pirouette you planned on. Take it with
good grace when they’re pointed out and correct or you can decide their point
isn’t valid. Up to you as writer.
Of
course there’s going to be the ‘nasty’ out there who lives to do nothing more
than try to tear others down. You don’t have to buy into it. Let the moment
pass. You already know there’s no critic out there who can be harder on you
than you are on yourself. Forgive the nasties, you don’t know what they may be
dealing with that creates the inner demons who just want to attack and destroy.
And if you can’t forgive them, cultivate your own positive attitude and don’t
bother to respond.
Writers
keep writing. Keep moving forward. Readers enjoy and give an occasional thought
to the person behind the writing.
