When it comes to giving feedback on writing, I’ve been guilty of letting my thoughts spill out like an overfilled soda bottle—words flying everywhere and not a care for what might get soaked in the process. But oh boy, have I learned that critique can wield a power so profound, it can either spark a writer’s fire or snuff it out altogether! I vividly remember a moment when someone’s harsh words landed like a ton of bricks on my heart, leaving me questioning my very existence as a writer. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there, haven’t we? In this article, I’m diving into the delicate art of critiquing—because trust me, the words you choose to share can make or break a writer’s journey. So let’s explore how to sprinkle a bit of kindness while keeping it constructive. After all, we wouldn’t want to be the reason someone decides to stop writing forever! Ready to dive deeper? LEARN MORE.
Remember that your words could be the thing that makes someone stop writing altogether
When I first started trading critiques with other writers, I had an almost word-vomit approach to feedback. I’d say anything that came to mind. Now, my notes are much more filtered, and there’s a single reason why I made this switch over time.
I once received a critique back on my work and it was so negative, it wasn’t even helpful.
Had I been less stubborn, it might have been a dream-crushing critique. The kind of words about your work that make you never want to write another story in your life. The kind of words that make you wonder “Am I cut out for this?”
But after wallowing in the horror of those comments that dragged my story across the proverbial coals, I was able to take a step back. Thankfully. I was able to see the simple truth: it wasn’t me.
Don’t make it personal
Maybe the person who gave me the critique was having a bad day. Maybe they’d received a negative one themself and the only way they knew how to deal was to pay that negativity forward. Maybe it was just a bad story. But that’s the thing.
