Tuesday, October 20, 2009

learning to take it

Over at Sterling Editing, Kelley is talking about how it is to learn, as a writer, to take criticism. She is also asking interesting questions about being edited.

Accepting feedback is a skill all people have to learn; artists have to learn early. We get a lot. We need a lot. It also can be quite damaging if we don't know what to do with it.

So if you have opinions, techniques, or hard-won lessons you want to share--ways you've found to handle gracefully critiques of your art, your work, your parenting skills--why not drop by and do so?

Print

4 comments:

  1. Nicola -- I think you hit the nail on the head: I have no problem listening to, or accepting feedback; but often have no idea what to do with it. Interesting...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hope you don't mind the link, but I just wrote on this subject this morning:

    http://peevishpenman.blogspot.com/2009/10/dont-fear-reader-by-cebailey.html

    I think for me, I have to value the feedback enough to pursue it, because I want to be a better writer. I try only to entertain negative feedback when it is both specific and comes from two unassociated sources. That helps put it in perspective.

    I can't improve from praise :).

    ReplyDelete
  3. DianneorDi, let me know what you figure out, and how we can help.

    C. E. Bailey, link away. And I hear you on specificity--though am not sure I agree on the need for 2 sources.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm asking for a brain transplant for Christmas... ;D

    ReplyDelete