As a writer, or any creative artist, we acknowledge the power of feedback. It is how we monitor our progress and continue our work in a way that could benefit the public. Still, the line between feedback and criticism is very thin, and the latter is much harder to swallow. How do we distinguish what is potentially helpful (feedback) and what is simply negativity (criticism)?
The Internal Compass
Developing our inner voice is a constant work-in-progress. Our instincts and interpretations are ultimately our judge in getting feedback or criticism. Let’s face it, we all want our work to be well-received, but as much as we like to put the weight on others, it is the receiver that determines the outcome.
And that is the challenge with our line of work. The ultimate reward for our work is to present it to the public, but we have to live with the tenant that no matter how much we try, we cannot please everyone. So, feedback becomes a touchy territory where we can thrive or be thrown away. Still, our internal compass is what tells us the next step, so no matter what others say, listening to yourself is first.
The Self-Improvement Section
Feedback gives us an idea of where we are in our craft, but the advise we take away always means change (a.k.a. improvement). It’s a tough pill to swallow, and until it makes a clear entrance in the end product, feedback remains unaccommodating and stale.
So, with our inner compass, we start to dissect the billion-and-one opinions and solidify them into possible suggestions. With all the advise being thrown at you, it’s hard to remember that your are not a hunk of clay, but the molder. Shaping yourself can be greatly influenced by others, but that is the start of the transformation and only we can follow and monitor our progress to the very end.
Criticism
Whoever invented the term constructive criticism wanted to have some leniency, but criticism remains the act of passing judgment on the merit of what we do. Truly, do we really need to be reminded of the fact that we are not perfect?
But here’s what I’ve learned from criticism: humility. It may not directly affect our craft, but it can begin to soften our pass/fail worldview into something that is–indeed–constructive. Criticism mostly serves to bolster the accuser’s ego, but the aftermath is something artists need to experience. It teaches us to reboot and begin again, and every time we feel like giving up, what we eventually come back to feels more meaningful.
The Test
In the end, feedback and criticism is more a test of our will then our craft. By confronting our fear of criticism, we receive a better understanding of ourselves and our motivation. Ultimately, our hope is to receive feedback that aligns with our own sense of self, and only through experiencing the ups and downs of criticism can we get there.
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Criticism is also a way of looking analytically. To critically think about it. And that’s what I think is the most important. Even the most droll subjects are packed with ideas that need to be unraveled, and criticism (rather than feedback) is the only way to fully understand the work.
Asking for them, however, muddies the waters a bit. Being able to react professionally to either is a talent we don’t all possess, but have to refine if we want to make it as writers. You hit it directly on the head when you said that it’s more of a test of will than our actual craft.
Yes, criticism is tricky because it evaluates our tact, will, motivation etc. As a writer, you can get 10 different opinions that conflict with the other 9, so I definitely believe that it polishes our own voice. It’s not always so painful, but it’s goes hand-in-hand with being a good typer.
Throughout my time as a writer, I have found that more often than not, people give criticism because they feel that they must say something. Good, bad, indifferent, they have to have an opinion or the look less intelligent than the others. It may be absolutely meaningless to the writer and very often to the person saying it also. People just want to be heard. The good thing about criticism is that the writer is so stuck in their own viewpoint that when someone offers a differing view it can be mind blowing. Every person on the planet has a different set of experiences and a different way of reacting to said experiences. Even when the criticism is awful, it’s very telling of the person who said it. Why do they think that? Is it really bad or does it hit the nerve of a painful past experience? Is my dialogue actually trite or is the person just trying to exert some force.
I revel in comments and criticism, regardless of the fact that I rarely make changes based on them.
My advise about taking bad advise is, More often than not the giver just wants to be heard.
Good criticisms on the other hand offer little chance for improvement, thus rendering them little more than a ego stroking.