Do not fear feedback
On why we need constructive criticism to grow as artists
I remember the first time I got feedback for something I’d written. I was either twenty or twenty-one years old, and I was part of a Harry Potter group where we all shared our writing among other things. Scared as I was of, well, everything, I worked up the courage to send what I had been working on to my fellow group members.
It was the first time I’d had anyone look at something that had come from the most feeling depths of my mind, and it was terrifying. However, even through that terror, a fire churned with anticipation. Someone would see what I’d written. Someone would know the words I think. Someone was going to weigh me and my creation. Someone would see me.
When I got my piece back from one of my fellow group members, someone whose writing I respected, they’d made notes such as (and I remember them clearly to this day): “Why is the full moon shining so brightly while it’s pouring rain? Wouldn’t there be dense cloud coverage in that case?”
They also said, “Sometimes you have funny phrased sentences. I’d look out for those.” They pointed this out in a sentence where I’d said, “Despite of…”
At that moment, I despised that person. How dare they take something I’d worked so hard on, something I’d poured so much energy and time over, and hand it back over to me full of red lines, pointing out its imperfections — my imperfections?
However, a funny thing happened since that time when I got my work back full of criticism. For one, I never again said or wrote “Despite of…” And I became more attentive to my phrasing. So much more attentive that I fine-tuned a skill to spot discrepancies, inconsistencies, and plot holes in stories. Many years later, this skill was so honed that I became a fiction editor.
I should add, for the record, that this person actually did add some praise. She liked my writing overall. She liked my story. She told me that I had a talent for describing emotions. She was much older than me and much more experienced in the world of writing, so those comments were like syrup to an anthill.
I got to thinking about this topic of receiving criticism because, to be completely forthcoming (kind of), there’s a current artist who is constantly lauded by their fans to a godly level. Recently, the new work this artist recently put out is, bluntly put, lazy in comparison to the kind of work they’ve put out before. It’s the equivalent of those filler episodes TV shows in the 90s would air, whereby, for whatever reason, a character would proceed to have flashbacks to past episodes, cueing reels and reels of scenes we’d already seen which had nothing new to offer.
I find it incredibly peculiar because discussions about this artist’s recent work, especially when a critic is trying to point out where the work is lacking, usually end in literal death threats aimed at them. To the point that said writers/critics often have to write under an anonymous byline. It’s come to the point where the artist is using this as a shield of protection from criticism. They’ve reached such a pinnacle of adoration that not only are the fans resorting to nasty behavior, but they’re also willingly paying for work that clearly needed a few more rounds of editing.
I don’t doubt that when you become very powerful the more people are afraid of pointing out where you could attempt some improvement in your craft. You likely become surrounded by a plethora of “Yes Men” who want to keep their jobs and stay in your good graces.
Just because you’ve reached the pinnacle of fame and power doesn’t mean you’ve become a master of your craft. It doesn’t mean that the editors need to be put away. The music producers told to go home. Art is not a journey with a destination. Art is a journey of evolution and evolution is neverending. Anyone who thinks otherwise perhaps hasn’t quite understood why humans make art.
Yes, there are people out there who criticize intending to destroy your spirit. But those who try to provide constructive criticism are only in it with the hope that they can offer a new perspective or be a small part of your journey.
That person who critiqued my fanfic so many years ago did me a favor. It made me aware of writing pitfalls that were lingering in my blindspots. I became a better writer thanks to her. I may have done it begrudgingly at first, but deep down, I must’ve known there was some truth to what she said. Deep down, I knew it was unlikely the full moon could be seen on a night when it was pouring heavily. Deep down, I knew that “Despite of…” is not the common usage of the phrase. Deep down, I knew I still had so much to learn.
Nearly twenty years later, I’ve polished my craft. But like a dear piece of silverware, craft is a thing that needs constant polishing. And seeking feedback and accepting constructive criticism is part of how polishing works for us artists.
To be clear, this isn’t about seeking validation. This isn’t about hoping the people you seek feedback from or your future audience adore your work. Seeking feedback is about sharpening the way we use our senses to clearly convey our inner world to others. Is the window into my world as clear as it can be or is it still foggy?
And by all means, there are people out there whose feedback won’t vibe with you, even when they do have their best intentions. This is why it’s so important to tap into our intuition. To be able to know, the way I knew, even though I was fuming and embarrassed, so many years ago, that deep down the notes that person made on my fanfic were true. They resonated with me. And more than that, I wanted to improve.
I still want to improve. I still read every new book that comes across my hands partly with that child-like enthusiasm, and with the curiosity of that young writer I once was, who knows she’s never finished learning.
I hope you won’t fear a bit of constructive criticism. I hope that you choose to listen. I hope that you weigh it according to what feels true to you. I hope that in that moment you have the discernment to know what to take and what to leave behind. That you hold to your convictions but with an open mind. I hope that you appreciate a little resistance when it comes to your art. We can’t flex our artistic muscles without it.
Editing news & blog posts
You heard it here first!
As of August 1st, 2024, my pricing for copyediting will be going up from $0.017 to $0.019. All other prices for all other services will remain the same for the foreseeable future. To learn more about pricing for my services please visit the Services page on my site.
This month on the blog:
How Can a Manuscript Critique or Developmental Edit Help You With Your Romance Novel
If you’re working on a romance novel and have wondered what type of editing you need or what editing can do for you, this post is for you! Read along to see the common pitfalls that authors encounter while writing a romance novel and how an editor can assist you with improving your novel!
What is Deux Ex Machina and Why We Should Try to Avoid it in Our Writing
Many writers are using this literary device in their stories without knowing it. Often, they get poor reviews, and they don’t understand why their climax and ending isn’t making the landing, leaving readers disappointed. Read on to find out what Deux Ex Machina is and what you can do to avoid writing one!
What is Proofreading and How is it Different from Copyediting
There may be some confusion about what these two different editing services entail. Some writers may be under the impression that the terms are interchangeable, but this simply isn’t true. Click on the link to find out what the difference is between these two important phases of editing!
How Writers Can Use Positive Affirmations to Help Them Find the Motivation They Need
Writers need all the motivation we can get! Especially on those days when writing feels like squeezing water out of a rock. Check this post out for some tips on how to use the power of affirmations, and take advantage of some of the affirmation graphics I’ve designed to help get you started!
Book club announcement!
My dear friend
from Untitled Thoughts has asked me to lead a book club with her! So if you’d like to join us for a fun, very chill, book discussion here’s how you can do that:Book: The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister
Date: September 21st, 2024
Time: 9 AM EST
Place: Instagram Live
Hosts: Brittani (IG: @untitledthoughts & @authorbafranc) and Maria (IG: @theintuitivedesk)
Follow us on Instagram and hop on the live discussion!
My Etsy shop is live!
I’m delighted to announce that my Etsy shop PopNonsenseCreations is now live! If you’re a bookworm who simply cannot get enough of telling the world about your love for books, then this is the place for you! Or if your love language is sending memes and you feel like you can’t get enough of what’s trending, then come check it out!
What I’ve been into this month
Melodramatic Vampires!
I’m several decades late, but I’ve just experienced the vampire universe of Anne Rice and I’m hooked! I stumbled upon the TV show Interview with the Vampire, and I couldn’t turn away even when the gory parts were happening. I loved it so much. The dramatics, the passion, the excellent, excellent acting, ughhhh! For ages, I’ve heard people talk about Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, the book series, and even the movies, but it never quite piqued my interest. The CW’s The Vampire Diaries is as far as I’ve delved into this fantasy world, and while I enjoyed it, it wasn’t strong enough to tempt me to get into vampires. But now I’m on a hunt for Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles Collection, and I plan to make my way through them slowly but surely.
I’m currently also reading two books: Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward which is a book I’ve been meaning to read for ages. I’ve fallen in love with the style of her prose and I think I may have found my new favorite writer!
I’m also buddy reading When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn (#6 in the Bridgerton series) with my sister, and just like the last time I read a novel by Quinn, I’m thoroughly enjoying it. Romance is such a difficult genre to write, but Quinn pulls it off effortlessly.
Until next time,
Hi there, I’m Maria! I’m a freelance fiction editor assisting women writers in amplifying their voices through their writing. You can find me on Instagram @theintuitivedesk and on Pinterest. Or visit my site www. theintuitivedesk.com to find out more about editing services.