Handling criticism is crucial to success in everything we do. I hate to admit that. Opinions are a fact of life and everyone (unfortunately) has them – and enjoys sharing them.
How we handle criticism is the difference between a solitary career of writing missives no one wants to read or enjoys reading and a successful life as an author.
Giving Criticism
The Write Life had an amazing article on this subject recently. I’ll try not to overlap it too heavily but all stems from the same place:
Being constructive and not overbearing.
There are two ways to look at giving feedback: Your way. And the author’s way.
Not everything you see is the way the world works. Especially when it is the author’s world and we are simply guests to their narrative.
My uncle once made a comment to me about a book he was reading. He believed the author was incorrect with his conclusion because my uncle would never have followed the chain of events as described. But my uncle was not the main characters, and while some acts defy belief and SHOULD be questioned, most follow the rules set up either through character or plot.
Questioning the underlying reason for those rules is where constructive criticism comes to play.
I recently attended a writers retreat where this was put to the test. I constantly worry that my comments won’t help another author strengthen their work – as I’m sure most people do when they are asked for feedback. But in one particular case I believe I did as the right question.
It had to do with a character’s motivation. For twenty pages we followed this man as he condemned the world around him, choosing to live an isolated life. Then suddenly, when confronted with a woman being assaulted in an alley this same character comes to her aid.
By questioning that I was able to offer the author insight into not necessarily a flaw in the storytelling but an omission needed to explain the actions of the main character.
That was helpful. That was constructive.
Offering solutions
The question is a good first step but taking it further with options to strengthen the work is always welcome. Opening up possibilities gives an author avenues of exploration.
Will they be accepted and adopted? Maybe. But that isn’t the point. Don’t be upset when a change you suggested seems ignored. You don’t see the whole picture as the author would, but offering them that choice, showing them a different path to the same point might spark a third idea that is stronger than anything discussed.
It isn’t about stroking your ego. It’s about making the work the best it can be.
Handling criticism
The other end of the equation is handling criticism offered. May it be other authors, your readers, or your dear old mother, learning how to listen to the questions being asked about your pride and joy manuscript is key to its final success.
Arguments are bound to happen. But understanding the question is the first step to seeing potential pitfalls of your narrative. Beyond grammar, beyond your love of the semi-colon, it is about story logic, character motivation or their overall arc.
Everything is fair game when asking for reader feedback.
At the retreat I shared a piece I am hoping to draft next year. In the opening scene a female officer is arrested under suspicion of murder. The cops who arrest her are incredibly harsh at their handling of the situation, something that struck my fellow authors as odd.
And they were right.
I might have known where the story was heading and why it made sense to me, but as a new reader this pulled them right out of the scene. By asking that question I know I need to return to that exchange and rework the dialogue or the situation as a whole.
To make the work better.
What we all want with our work.
Criticism is necessary and should always be looked at as a benefit not the slap in the face it might feel like at the time. I write this as much for myself as for you, as I find it to be one of the most difficult aspects of the writing process.
And absolutely one of the most important.
Thanks for reading.
