Dealing With Criticism

[sapphire]

So I had a pretty huge setback today, confidence-wise. Of course, being stubborn about my writing, I refuse to let them stop me from finishing my novel and getting it published and proving them wrong, but I think it would be to the benefit of everyone here to discuss how we deal with negative critique. Not necessarily just the you-could-do-this-differently type critique, but also things like rejection letters and being told that something won't get published (which is basically what happened to me today).

Honestly, I tend to cry about it and then force myself to move on. Tell myself that I can prove them wrong, etc. Keep writing, no matter what they say. Of course, that's hard to do when they get into your head.
So: what are your techniques?

[Raphael]

I normally just laugh at the fools who don't appreciate my work and do what I want to with it and not let them control it.

[Genesis]

I tend to get pissed off. If I know them, we can talk it out. If not... well, typically the headphones go in and they understand the look on my face and back off.
Lots of loud music, Lots of iron on the bench press.

for me it's different though, seeing as i don't have much for aspirations, and i only share the aspirations i do have with my closest friends. A big reason I didn't want to take a creative writitng course is because i don't trust strangers with my dreams... typical American think that thier entitled to make a judgement on other people's dreams simply because they can. A great fault of our society if you ask me.

Hope things get better sapphire

[Raphael]

Your stuff really is great.
Just saying.

[Endovia]

Aww...

I cry, too.
I've gotten past the 'proving them wrong' stuff. Focusing on them drains too much energy for me. Personally, it's not about them anymore or what they say I can or can't do. It's about me and what I have to say. My stories. I write because I love it. Ink is my blood... I feel like it has to be about you. Not what they say. Words are powerful. Wield your weapon. Let their words bounce off your shield and into the moat of alligators. I know that's an 'easier said than done' kind of thing, but ranting helps me get it off my chest. Get paper and just pour down everything onto it. When I do this, I find myself tearing the paper apart I'm so angry. But it doesn't need to pretty. Forget about grammar and punctuation. Just write. Write it all. Then shred it. Throw it away. Burn it. Or better yet, use that mini-canon on it.


I agree with Genesis, that music (though not always rock), really loud, helps.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0EVEXX9kpk

[sapphire]

Thanks, guys.
In this case, it's not so much a case of them thinking my writing is bad as them thinking the whole premise of the story won't work because it happens to have vampires in it.

I guess what I meant by "proving them wrong" was more "not stop writing." Though in this case, proving them wrong would involve getting published. Eh.
I've just been refusing to think about it, honestly. Moving forward with my novel, focusing on the prose and the story logic and trying to get into my main character's stubborn head as she's increasingly traumatized by her surroundings... All that fun stuff.

I may have to give ranting on paper a try. I've been complaining plenty to my housemates, who are awesome, but they all have their own stresses.
Music does help. And that's a very cool song, Endovia.

My current favorites:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTgnDLWeeaM&list=PLAE67E79C1DB265AC&index=57

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7yCLn-O-Y0&list=PLAE67E79C1DB265AC&index=58

(Also, what's with youtube changing again?)

[Angelica]

Fortunately, I haven't dealt with that kind of criticism yet. Through I guess that's because I only let a few people read my stuff.

I'm not sure what I would do, through I hope I can take the criticism with grace, and not let it affect me.

[Endovia]

The sparkling vampires ruined it for everyone.

It's quite a process. Writing a book. I think moving forward with your book is the best action that you can take now. It just takes time. Muddling through characters' brains. Recording their words. Focusing their lens on the scene. I don't think people realize how exhausting it is.

We're here for you. I like ranting on paper because it's physical (not that you don't physically type, but you know, it's different) and I can rip up stuff. Pillow cutting can help, too. Just don't pick a pillow that you will regret destroying. Old pillows are great.
I thought it was appropriate.
Oh, I really like the second one.

(Bah, I don't know. Google. Speaking of things changing, does Google own Photobucket? Google's always updating and changing stuff. Though, I think all technology, really, is doing that.)


I think taking criticism and letting it run off of you may be one of the best ways to do it. Though, sometimes, people are downright mean. I guess you can smile and walk off, but I just want to stick my tongue out at them.

[sapphire]

Well, their main point about the vampires was that it's a trend right now, and you're not supposed to write to trends because they die out so quickly. By the time your book is published, the trend is over and no one will read it. Except I think they neglected to consider the fact that this vampire trend has been going on for over four years now. Somehow, I don't think it's going away. Whether or not that's a good thing, I don't know.
Anyway, I've decided that when I send a query letter to agents that I actually want representing my book - which these two really weren't (Did I mention that they're literary agents? They came in to talk to our class on Wednesday.) - I'll just leave the vampires/werewolves out of the query letter. Let them fall in love with the prose, so that by the time the vampires come into the text, they've already decided to represent it.

I've discovered that ranting to myself in the shower is rather effective. The whole, "What do they know? They're just stupid!" speech.

[Raphael]

For music i normally fall back on the Killers

[Endovia]

I think the best way to not be thrown in with popular waves is to stick to the roots of the mythologies, which is what you do. You're vampires don't sparkle √ they drink real blood √ they get burned by the sun √ and you're werewolves actually function in a pack √ have painful and legit transformations (they don't just pop out of clothes and poof! werewolf now) √ and you've got necromancers which are just awesome. I think the four year trend is a good point. Also, vampires and werewolves have been around much longer than this trend. (No, you didn't, but you did now. ) That's a good idea. People can be very judgmental of things upfront without giving them any consideration. I think (now, I haven't read your whole book, so you may have/been doing this) it would be good to focus heavily on the magic. I don't think magic ever gets old. There is so much that you can do with it. With the focus on mages and necromancers, the vampires and werewolves will be a kind of back drop to the world. And then just talk about the magic in the letters.

Yay! I like singing in the shower because no one can hear me (and I have a really bad voice ), ranting works too. There's something about the noise of running water. Maybe it's the fact that people can't see or hear you.

[sapphire]

It's sad that people think of Twilight anytime vampires or werewolves are mentioned. It really is.
But yeah, that's my plan. Focus on the magic, try to highlight it in my query letters, and by the time they get to the points that mention vampires, it's too late. They'll be hooked. Heh.

Showers really are amazing things.

[Endovia]

It is.
Muaha! Hooked and caught!

[MonkeyGirl18]

I've had people say that my stories are crap and yes, I did take them really personally, but what better excuse to keep writing do I have to show them that I can do even better. When I look back at that story, I do realize how stupid and dumb the plot was and the story was horrible. But if I had just stopped there, I wouldn't have gotten to where I am now.

[sapphire]

I hate it when all people have to say is negative. Criticism can be very helpful, but when they don't have anything constructive to say, why bother saying anything? It feels like a personal attack.
Criticism is tough, but when it's helpful, it's much easier to deal with. At least then you can focus on improving, instead of wondering where you went wrong.

Everyone's a terrible writer when they first begin. It's those that stick with it that end up good.