by Skylar Edwards
Oftentimes, receiving critique can be the hardest part of the writing process. One correction can create a volley of overwhelming feelings within you. You may feel inadequate, hurt, or even angry. Those feelings can create tension and interfere with your mental health. Critique is not something to lose sleep over. Altering your view on critique will enable you to understand its place as a tool to improve your writing. This will help you to learn, and become more open-minded.
The first change needed is to adjust your outlook on the process. Any written work has a piece of you in it, so as authors we tend to internalize the feedback received. Even if the only correction is grammar, we may feel hurt. It becomes personal. We must learn to view our works through a professional lens. Instead of shutting down and letting our minds overwhelm us, counteract and ask questions regarding feedback. Sometimes the influx of feelings misconstrue critique making it seem worse than what it is. Asking for clarification can give you more information which you can use to ponder what is being said. This allows you to draw your own conclusions and understand how to best move forward.
Critiques seem like harsh digs and can leave us feeling inadequate. You may begin questioning your skills as a writer, which could eventually hinder your creative outflow. Confidence in your skills, whether they are developed or not, allows you to be more receptive towards feedback. The great weight that comes along with critique will subside as you know what you are capable of. For example, you may attempt to write romance even though you know that you aren’t very experienced in it. As a confident person, you recognize this, and you understand that it’s expected to have some mistakes. When you receive feedback, it won’t bother you. To build this type of confidence, you must review how you see yourself. Treating yourself how you would treat others would benefit your self-esteem. You don’t want to think you’re a bad writer that always makes mistakes, instead you want to think you’re a good writer who’s learning. Confidence also begins when you celebrate yourself and the little things; be happy that you thought of an idea for a story.
What may hinder us from building confidence can be the impossible standard we hold ourselves to. We may not want to admit our shortcomings. We would love for all our works to be perfect, to receive validation. Additionally, this may culminate with a fear of rejection. You may ask yourself questions: Will you get published? Will your audience relate to this? Yet, trying to achieve perfection only will frustrate you more. Writing will never be perfect. Your audience doesn’t consist of one person; everyone will receive it differently. Keep in mind that your writing is subjective. This also applies to feedback. You will receive feedback from critics who don’t understand what you are trying to accomplish with your writing. Naturally, we may feel offended, but we must stay calm. Remember that your writing is subjective and understand that it could be possible that your writing wasn’t clear. Additionally, some critics just won’t get it. When you build confidence, that’s for you to decide. The most important action you can take to reduce these feelings surrounding critique is to repeatedly expose yourself to it. This doesn’t mean taking a leap and repeatedly submitting to any open subs. Exposure can start small. You can start with a low-stakes critique. Ask a friend or a peer to read and give their thoughts. This is someone you know, so their feedback won’t be so hard to take. Conversation surrounding the writing should be an easy discussion. The next step can involve someone more qualified that you’re comfortable with. This could be a peer who specializes in writing or a valued teacher. Allowing them to critique your work will offer valuable feedback from a professional standpoint. Another way to receive constructive criticism is through workshopping with other writers. As you become more experienced, you slowly build resilience to critique.
Navigating critique can be challenging, but it’s an important step if you want to get rid of negative feelings surrounding it. It’s worth examining what bothers you about receiving critique and solving the problem from there. Knowing if it’s how you view the process, a confidence issue, or just trying to be perfect allows you to fully understand what hinders you. Once you get past your feelings, the world will be your oyster. Being open towards feedback will help you understand how people receive your work and shape you into a better writer. As you become familiar with critique, you will be able to understand what feedback is genuine and actually needed. Embracing critique allows you to become resilient in all aspects of your life.
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