How to Deal with Criticism as a Writer

 

 

Blog post updated 29/08/2019.

Writing is a process that is both intimate and solitary, and receiving any kind of feedback can be extremely stressful.  It doesn't matter the size of the project you've written, receiving any negative comments can feel painful, and cut right through to your core.

In the long term both good and bad comments are a process all writer's need to go through in order to become better writers.  Dealing with that criticism is what I want to touch on today.

Here are 4 steps to help you deal with criticism as a writer:

1. Change Your Mindset

Don't look at negative reactions as a reflection on you, see it as an opportunity to make your writing not just good but great. It's not easy articulating your thoughts and writing them down in such a way that it will help other writers.

Any kind of criticism hurts, but its up to you to decide whether or not its relevant to the work you're doing.
2. Words Can Hurt, Stay Strong

All natural responses are okay, this includes anger, frustration and guilt.  Don't let any of those emotions guide your response. Instead take a deep breath, collect your thoughts.  Have a walk, call family or friends, anything that can distract you in that moment.  This will help you give a measured response.

3. Analyse Your Source

Don't take your feedback to heart because people are people at the end of the day, and everyone makes mistakes. The more time you spend writing, the better you'll become.  You'll slowly realise that your editing, proofreading and writing skills are improving as you go on.

4. Analyse the Points You've Been Told

After you've cooled down, go through the points that have been made against your writing.

Ask yourself, are you being to clumsy with your topic? Is there a problem with your story, prose or characters? Is your writing haphazard?

At first glance it may look like everything is okay, but when you start to digging the problem's may slowly begin to show, and require changes to be made.

5. Remove Yourself from Your Writing

Your writing isn't an extension of you, so when criticism is thrown in your direction it should never be taken personally.

Give yourself and your work some distance, in order to assess any criticism that comes your way.

6. Have More than One Writing Job on the Go

If you invest all of your time and energy into one blog post/article at a time, and don't like the result, you always have another one to work on even when one is a nonstarter.

In other words, don't put your eggs in one basket.

7. Have Confidence in Your Writing

If you want to be a great writer, you need to have confidence to put your thoughts into action.

8. Seek Clarification

Once you understand the feedback, reply to the comments that have been made.  Send an email if its freelancing work you may have done, or talk it over on the phone.

 

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Read more:

 

How to Recognize Your Writing Style

What Sort of Writer Are You?

15 Ideas to Make Your Writing More Clear

14 Ideas to Stay Focused When You Write

How to Improve Your Skills as a Non-Fiction Writer