Dealing
with criticism is one of the most difficult things about being a writer,
especially since there are a zillion ways people can zing you these days. Reviews
can range from honest attempts to evaluate your work with insightful, albeit
negative, feedback, while others just plain attack you. So how do authors muster the strength to keep writing? Here are some helpful
tips to keep in mind so you don't lose sight of the big picture:
1) Seek Out Reviews: No writer is 100% perfect. Every writer - no matter how long they've been writing or how famous they are - is always improving. Good
or bad, reviews are a free way to gain
valuable feedback so you can improve your writing. If the same issues are
repeatedly brought to your attention (e.g., structure, pacing, etc.), you might
need to change some things in your next book, which could result in an even
better book. Is that so terrible? The important thing to remember is to let as
many diverse people as possible read your book because everyone’s opinion
differs. Here’s what the lovely Joanne Harris, author of Chocolat, says about criticism:
“No one should be so precious as to refuse criticism of their
work. But to respect an opinion, we have to know that it was given honestly and
with proper thought. Reviewers who haven't read the book (one of my novels was
once described in a national newspaper as "another of Harris's sweeping
historical romances" – it was actually a crime novel set in the 20th
century) run the risk, first, of making themselves look ridiculous, and,
second, of alienating still further the very readers who keep them – and all
writers – in business. Similarly, those who deliberately give away key moments
in books or films (as just happened to me), thereby spoiling the experience for
anyone who reads the piece, are guilty of the worst kind of arrogance, abusing
their position to score one over a colleague at the expense of the general
public.” (from Criticism is Fine, But Do You Have To Spoil
The Plot?, via Independent)
2) As Much As It Sucks, You Can't Take It Personally: It’s
hard not to take negative feedback personally because your work is,
well, personal. It can totally shatter your confidence. Ice cream and bonbons
anyone? The truth is that the more you get used to hearing feedback, including
negative feedback, the easier it gets. It’s important to mention that not
everyone is going to like your work. For example, if a critic loves cozy mysteries and gave
your epic alien sci-fi novel a thumbs down, it’s probably because your book
never had a shot to begin with. Personally, I dislike a lot of mainstream
authors, not necessarily because I think they suck, but because I just don’t
like the genre or their writing style in general. It’s nothing against them
personally, and it’s nothing against you.
3) Ask
Away: If you just can’t fathom why you received a negative
review, don't be afraid to ask questions. Not only will asking questions help you fully understand why the critic said what they said, it will also make
the critic feel validated. If you feel that the critic’s suggestions are valid,
incorporate them accordingly and possibly resubmit later. They might actually love the
next thing you write. If they don't respond at all, then oh well. Maybe steer clear of them in the future.
4) Don’t
Accept Every Criticism: Sometimes
critics are just plain wrong. It’s up to you to assess whether or
not the criticism you receive is founded. This brilliant quote from Neil
Gaiman puts it perfectly:
“When people tell you something’s wrong or
doesn’t work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly
what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong.”
5) Focus
on the Positive: Did your family and friends love you book? Why? What did they specifically say? Do you
have a five-star review on Amazon or Goodreads? What did the reader(s) say? Even if it's just one person, you touched their life in a meaningful way because they cared enough about your
work to say something awesome about it.
6) Bad Reviews Increase
Sales: Say what? It’s true! Studies by Stanford and Wharton Business
Schools show that books written by relatively unknown authors saw a 45% increase in book sales after their books were hit hard by critics. Why? Harsh criticism makes
readers aware of a book, so haters are actually doing you a favor.
7) Re-Evaluate
Why You Became a Writer: Did you start
writing to become world-famous, make a million dollars, and have everyone adore you, or did you become a writer because you had a story you wanted to
share with the world, and if the other stuff happened, all the better? If you're in this for the latter, then don't lose sight of why you became a writer in the first place.
8) Look to Your Heroes: How do your favorite authors deal with criticism? A simple Google search, or visit to an author's website can change your whole perspective. And, because it's coming from someone you adore, you're probably more likely to listen.
9) Build A Community: A supportive community helps you build resilience. Don't do it alone! Join people who are going through the same thing. You might be surprised how incredibly supportive other writers are. When I was first starting out writing, I was still trying to find my voice and genre, and for a brief period was a member of Sisters in Crime. Each year, they hold a "Queen of Rejection" contest for members to submit how many times they've been rejected by agents for a single title. Yours truly won! It was a fun, interesting way to embrace rejection. Didn't hurt that I won an Amazon gift card either. :P
10) Ignore
It: Still feeling down in the dumps? Ignore it. As an
author, it is impossible to control
the opinions of readers. It’s just one of those things you have to learn to
live with. If you spend all day poring over what other people said about your work, you're simply wasting time. Get back to what's important - writing!
Agree?
Disagree? How do you handle critic smack-downs? Share below.
A.I. Winters is an award-winning horror and fantasy author. Her titles include Summoner of Sleep, Strange Luck, The Nightmare Birds, and A Darling Secret.
Born in Northern California, Winters has since lived in every region of the country, but now resides in Colorado with her husband. She has published numerous articles on writing and publishing, and has worked as a grant writer and copy editor for non-profits, municipalities, and major corporations.
When not writing books, she enjoys breaking a sweat in Jiu-Jitsu class, baking desserts, and traveling.
Learn more at: www.aiwinters.com
