Comments on: Feedback vs. Criticism http://www.chroniclesofawriter.com/archives/589 Writings from a writer who wants to write Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:55:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Casey http://www.chroniclesofawriter.com/archives/589/comment-page-1#comment-2660 Casey Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:53:56 +0000 http://www.chroniclesofawriter.com/?p=589#comment-2660 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. 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.

]]> By: Robert Kuang http://www.chroniclesofawriter.com/archives/589/comment-page-1#comment-390 Robert Kuang Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:30:13 +0000 http://www.chroniclesofawriter.com/?p=589#comment-390 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. 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.

]]> By: Professor Beej http://www.chroniclesofawriter.com/archives/589/comment-page-1#comment-389 Professor Beej Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:47:04 +0000 http://www.chroniclesofawriter.com/?p=589#comment-389 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. 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.

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