Welcome to part 7!
Last week we talked about finding critique partners. So, this week, we are covering the art Criticism: how to give it and receive it, without falling victim to it.
To Read is to Judge
Well, you’ve done it. You’ve locked-in those coveted critique partners, and now you have traded sections of your manuscripts. You’re so excited to hear what they have to say about your book! You’re sure they’re going to tell you it’s a best-seller … But when you get their feedback, reading the comments makes you want to cry. And not shed a light a tear and keep going, NO. That would be okay. This is just mean …
What do you mean, ‘my characters are flat’? What do you mean, ‘you don’t understand the plot’?
We’ve all been there. At one point or another, all of us writers have had to face criticism that hurt our feelings, made us angry, or maybe even made us want to quit. It’s hard not to get the ‘feels,’ not to take it personally when you’ve poured your proverbial heart onto the page and then someone feels the need to crap all over it.
Try to think of criticism like a golden turd. It may stink, but it may be valuable, too. You see, the reason we need CP’s is because we can’t see the flaws in our own work. The story is in our head, and the goal is to push it out in the most fantastically adventurous, most un-put-downable way possible. And to do that we need extra, unbiased eyes to spot our flawed plot lines and flat characters.
The Nicest Way to Give’m Hell:
My favorite way of giving criticism is through asking questions. Questions are how I build my story, so it’s natural for me to ask them when I am critiquing. I think this is the most inoffensive way to point out a flaw.
But sometimes, you also have to say, “This is not working,” or, “Why is this happening?” Because most every portion of your story should be there for a reason. As writers, we know that every scene must have a purpose to, either, build a character or plot. But some times we just really love a particular piece or sentence that we’ve written and we shove it into the story even though it doesn’t belong. And we need our CP’s to be honest. We need them to help us keep our eyes on the prize.
Giving criticism is tough because you never know how the other person is going to take it. They may say, “Be honest.” Or, “Be brutal.” But they are not actually asking you to shred their feelings or say their writing is crap. And, I’m not the kind of person that would ever want to discourage someone from pursuing their dream, but I don’t want to lie, either, because the very best writing, IMHO, is the most honest writing. The very best fiction is peppered with truth.
Critiquing is a little like being blind or walking a tight rope. You have to say it–you have to feel it out– to find where the boundaries are. So be patient with your CP’s. Communicate. Be kind, but honest.
To be Read is to be Judged
You know the adage, “The truth hurts,”? Well, remember this when offering your critique. And remember it even more when you get critiqued. Don’t let that hurt turn into stubbornness. Don’t be one of those writer’s who refuses to change. Because change is natural. It means we are learning. When we learn, we get better, and we change.
The next section on taking criticism comes from a fellow blogger over at The Surly Muse, because his post is very well-done and witty to boot.
So let’s jump in and see if we can’t learn How-To Take Criticism without falling victim to it.
Credit: The Surly Muse
Writing Criticism: Taking It Gracefully
Criticism!
So you’ve finally done it. You’ve completed your writing project. Your baby. The Story You’ve Always Wanted to Tell. And now you’ve put your writing in the hands of your loving beta-readers or peer editors for perusal. Breathlessly, you await their criticism, craving the keen insight they will no doubt bring to your —
Hey, wait a minute? What do you mean my protagonist is flat? Where do you get off saying my writing style is weak? The plot’s muddy? Your mom’s muddy!
Criticism. As writers, we say we want it. We want it hard, fast, and honest. And in our heart of hearts, we’re sure we can take it. But taking criticism of our writing is not always as easy as it looks. Even when delivered thoughtfully and reasonably, criticism can rub the wrong way and inspire anger and acrimony.
There’s no magic bullet to avoid having your feelings hurt by even the most well-meaning reader. But there are ways to soften the blow.
1. Do you REALLY want it?
First of all, be honest with yourself about why you asked for criticism in the first place. By “criticism” did you mean “praise”? No, seriously. Think about that before you answer. Sometimes writers just aren’t good at taking criticism, even when they think they are. Sometimes they’re just not ready. Are you looking for encouragement, or are you looking for the tough love that’s going to make your fiction writing better than it is now? It’s okay if you’re just looking for a boost, but you’d better know that going in.
2. Have a goal in mind.
Now that you’ve established that you do, in fact, want your work to be criticized, ask yourself what you want to get out of it. Do you want weak story points identified? Proofreading? Notes on characterization, structure, prose style? You may end up being disappointed if you give your work to someone hoping for in-depth character notes and getting back a bunch of typo corrections instead. Know your goals, and most of all, communicate them.
3. Buck up.
Yes, taking criticism is hard. Having your work lambasted is less than fun. Everyone wants to hear that their work is revolutionary, heart-wrenching, pulse-pounding, a masterpiece. But it probably isn’t. Check your ego and learn to accept that you’re not going to bowl them over the first time, every time. Which brings me to my next point:
4. Hey, YOU ASKED.
Closely related to #1. Chances are, no one came in your house, printed off your manuscript, took a red pen, laid into your writing, and sent it back to you anonymously. Most likely, you asked for criticism, so don’t take it out on the critic when they, you know, do what you asked of them. If you’re just going to respond to criticism with the vow that you’re not changing one god-damn word, congratulations, you’ve just wasted your reader’s time and your own.
5. Ask questions.
You don’t have to take criticism at face value and accept it silently. If you don’t understand or agree with a particular point, ask for details rather than getting defensive about it. Ask your reader why they felt the way they did. Describe your intent and find out if you communicated it properly. Don’t tell your reader they’re wrong for interpreting your work a certain way — that’s not up to you. Instead, get to the heart of it so you can address whatever problems there might be. Taking criticism doesn’t have to be a one-way street. Make it a dialogue.
6. Realize it’s not personal.
Unless you have very poor taste in friends, chances are your critic isn’t out to destroy you psychologically. They’re not pointing out flaws in your work because they hate your guts and wish you would fall under a dump truck. They’re trying to make your work better. You don’t have to agree with them, but it pays to respect their time and their intent.
7. Know when to stand your ground.
Finally, you’re not obligated to change your work to suit your readers — especially since they’re likely to give you very conflicting advice. “Taking criticism” doesn’t mean accepting all criticism as gospel. If you do the requisite soul-searching and truly think a criticism doesn’t hold water, discard it and walk bravely down your chosen path. Just make sure you’ve thought about it carefully.
engaging. stories 
Great post about something we all have to learn.
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