Criticism Can Sting

Every art form, from oil painting to writing, photography or doll-making, is subject to the whims and ideas of the person viewing it. Personal preferences, expectations, and prejudices all come into play when any art work is reviewed or evaluated. As writers, we suffer these moments in all phases of our work.

Let’s look at the critique. This can come from writer group members or professional evaluators, or reject letters from agents or editors; these critiques should be the most painless since you are at a stage where you can make changes and corrections. But wow, criticism can sting! It is a real downer to think your idea was unique, only to be told it seemed jaded. Or you’ve created a vibrant scene, and yet comments from others only pertain to poor grammar.

This is when you have to step back a bit and remember these people are offering advice and comments to help you improve your work.

An advantage in a writers group or with an evaluator is the ability to have a dialogue. If they seem to have overlooked your brilliant prose, ask if it worked. Professional evaluators usually balance their critical comments with praise for the good points and encouragement. Conscientious members of writers groups also do this.

Book reviews often reflect a wide range of responses. And since they come after the book has been published, it’s easy to feel affronted when a bad review comes along. Authors must learn to distance themselves from reviews.

Here are parts of several reviews of a young adult book published a few years ago. The setting was 1970s Michigan, and the story dealt with adoption problems among American Indians (so there were plenty of issues to bring reviewers' personal feelings to the fore).
"The story is compelling and the characters are three dimensional People are painted realistically...", responded a reviewer for youth publications. Yet a library science major decided, "The characters lack depth and interest, and the plight they are in is never made real enough to engage one's sympathy."

From another librarian: "...the book rings believably true... Magnetic reading!"; but then came this: "The story seems a bit contrived and trite..."

Remember, book reviewers are expected to give their personal feelings about a book. You liked your story, an editor liked your story enough to publish it, so don't take reviews personally.