I want to be all things to all people. I also want my novels to write themselves while I sleep, to be picked up by devoted agents, contracted by generous publishers, and read by every human being (and sentient computer) on the planet. Twice. While we’re at it, lets end world hunger and have Universal peace with the aliens.
If you can find the one thing in the list above that is doable, you’ve got a better imagination that I do.
The fact is writers draw criticism. It doesn’t matter how good you are.
It is one of the rules of life which include there is always someone who can draw and fire faster than you can. Always. There are always those people out there who, through their immense knowledge, wide experience, or petty jealousy will put down your work as pedestrian, childish, or unfinished. Get used to it.
I like the way Stephen King says he deals with it. (Pardon the paraphrase from “On Writing”):
If person A says your main character is unrealistic, stupid, or uninteresting, but person B loves the character, A’s vote and B’s vote balance out. The writer wins.
If both person A and person B says the same thing, take another look.
This holds true for your poetry, short stories, essays, novels and (cough, cough) blog entries.
If we could be all things to all people, the world would run very smoothly indeed. But then, without conflict, where would writers be?
Filed under: Sage Advice, Support for Writers, Writing Philosophy, Writing Tips | Tagged: Aliens, Balance, Criticism, Editing, Space, Stephen King, Universal Peace, World Hunger
I’ll be Person B.
Person B says that your blogs are smoothly written and interesting to ponder.
Keep it up!
[...] Balancing Criticism It is so easy to be caught up in what people say. [...]