My thoughts on critics and critcism · 4:49pm May 10th, 2016
Well, this has been a long time coming. Now, before you say anything, yes I know there are a lot of users that have already discussed the 'issues' of criticism, but I think this is a topic that bares repeating, since it is one of the most important steps in growing as an author. Learning to accept critcism and learn from it can easily turn an awful author into an actual decent writer. However, many people can get really defensive about their work and tend not to listen to their critics which usually makes them become rather stagnant in their writing (not to mention that they will be doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again). So, in order to achieve some sort of mutual ground between these two, I will give out a few guidelines in this blog regarding both critics and those they critcize.
The do's and don't: Dealing with criticism.
1. Do not delete comments!
Whether you agree with the comment or not is pretty much up to you, but you should never delete comments left by critics. Deleting a comment is an act of insecurity, since it tells your readers that you cannot handle negative critcism in a mature way. When someone goes through the effort of pointing out your flaws and offering you a way to improve upon them, your first reaction shouldn't be to censor them immediately, but rather to listen to what they say. Most critics don't want to hurt you, but rather to make you aware of your mistakes. Which brings me to my next point:
2. Don't take the critiques personally!
When someone criticizes your work, they aren't doing that just to hurt you or because they dislike you specifically. Even if they were harsh, most critics aren't on some vindictive crusade against you specifically and want you to feel miserable about yourself. They are expressing their opinions about your story and if they write a negative review, it is most likely that they saw some glaring mistakes in your story and want you to fix them.
3. Don't overract!
If someone gives you a negative review, you shouldn't just throw your arms in the air and proclaim that you quit writing. Even if your story gets a ton of bad reviews you shouldn't quit, if you are truly passionate about it. Of course, you should reevaluate your approach and see what you did wrong, but don't quit after you hit a bump (no matter how large). Nobody likes a quitter, so dry up those tears and try even harder for your next story.
4. Do listen to legitimate critiques!
As I have state before, listening to a legitimate critique will improve your writing immensly. I know that my writing has improved immensly, thanks to people who have criticized my work. A critic is able to see your work objectively and tell you about your flaws much better.
5. Do respect your critic's opinion!
Don't dismiss your critics as 'jelaous' or 'close minded' just because they didn't like your story. Try to see their reasoning and understand where their criticism stems from. Even if its out of some preconcieved bias, you should still be respectful towards your critics. Remember: Everyone can be dignified when they are praised, but it takes a truly great person to take scorn with a head held high.
Well, those were some of my own advices on how to take criticism. Now lets move onto the second category: givnig out critcism. Here are a few guidlines I saw to be extremely helpful:
1. Practice the 'death of an author' trope!
The death of an author is, in my opinion, one of the greatest tools a reviewer can use. By taking the author's biography out of the work, you will be more inclined to judge the story on its own merit and less on who the author is. This can be especially helpful when dealing with stories from authors who have, well, lets just say they showed themselves in a 'less than favorable' light and even popular authors. We shouldn't praise or condemn a work just because of the author. We should try, to the best of our abilities, to see the work for what it is and judge it as such.
2.Stay away from ad hominems!
By using ad hominems and attacking the author, and not the work, there is almost a certainty that the author will not listen to what you have to say. Insulting the author of a bad fanfic personally will not get you anywhere and will show you in a worse light.
3. Don't be afraid to be harsh, but always know the limit.
Now, this one is a bit vague, and seemingly contradictory, so I'll try my best to explain it. Being harsh as a critic is actually a good thing, in my eyes at least, because it allows you to be direct and brutally honest. This can in turn make the author jolt awake and realize that they might have some big errors they need to fix. However, you have to know when to use your harshness. If the story has only minor mistakes (a few spelling errors here and there, some grammar errors, etc.) you shouldn't react to it as if it were the second reincarnationof 'Rise of Spike the dragon'. Rage is a powerful thing, so used it sparingly and only on stories that truly deserve it.
4. Try to be as thorough as possible!
When writing a reivew of a story you will have to point out why some scenes don't work and offer a way to improve upon them. This doesn't mean you should explictily look for mistakes in the work, but when you do find them, offer a way to improve them as well as point them out.
5. Avoid bandwaggons!
Bandwaggons, while sometimes warranted, have a horrible tendencies to go off the rail and spiral out of control. What once began as an honest and brutal critique can become easily reduced to a hate train attacking the author and spamming the writer's dislike bar (through no fault of the original reviewer). If you dislike the story, explain your reasons (or just leave a dislike), but don't just jump on the hate train simply because you want to get noticed. Provide your own opinion and read the story for yourself before you leave your critique.
And those were some of my own thoughts on criticism and how to deal with it. I really do think critics get a bad reputation on this site (as well in most other spheres) which I think is undeserved. A well meaning critic is like a good judge: tough, but fair. Let me know what yor thoughts are on this and as always:
ALL HAIL THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT!
I believe you bring up many good points about this topic
Don't delete comments, you say?
3.bp.blogspot.com/--kCC8gd1fBo/Uk9-8KGUW9I/AAAAAAAABh4/7o976B895FE/s1600/disregard_constabulary.jpg
I expected something bland and to have the I've-heard-it-all-before label on it. This was neat though. There is that taste of I've-heard-it-all-before, but it's hiding quiet swell.
3935332 As I said, this isn't a fairly new topic, but I tried to give my own opinions and my own perspective on things. Thank you for your wonderful comment
3935246 Thank you
3935281 img.memecdn.com/fuck-the-police-i-do-what-i-want_o_4309143.jpg
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3935723 I am so flattered
I agree with this completely. I'd like to toss in my own two sense by adding that you should try to point out a few positives as well. If there's one thing that annoys me, is when people only point out the negative. As I always say "Complaining is the laziest form of writing."
3953351 It is always nice to see a few positives tossed in with the critics
First off I would like to say, I agree with everything you say.
Spideremblembrony is hardly the first or only critic I have ever followed. I am sure many know of The Nostalgia Critic, and Markiplier just to name two I have followed.
Some know of Rainbow Bob from on this site. And long before Spideremblembrony did a review on one of mine, I had wanted Rainbow Bob to review one or two of mine. And that is with knowing what his reviews can be like. He is often busy though.
I don't follow a review for the shock of what they may have to say about something, thou many a shocking things can and has been said by many a Critic. I am mostly looking to see their opinion on something, and maybe learn a thing or two from them in the process.
Still I would be lying if I said I do not get a personal kick out of many of the ribbings a critic may give in a review.
I also see a lot of complaints given to and about the spelling and grammar police on many sites.
I support the spelling and grammar police myself. So long as they are not trying to be an total ass about it. I feel they provide much needed help to others. And many need it badly. Me for one.
OK' I broke one of your rules. I had deleted a comment. More than once. Though these people with their comments seemed to me to be just out to be cude, not helpful. Not defending my actions in deleting their comments, but with what they had to say to me, I just didn't care.
And both of them broke one of your rules as well. 2.Stay away from ad hominems!
The fist comment I deleted was from one simply stating after having a look at the fist chapter to a story of mine was "You are full of shit." Thou he was not referring to my story directly, he was referring to a part I placed in the description of the story. I had put in it "This story is entirely whimsical." for he asked "Where is the wimsy?" before saying I am full of shit for not fulfilling what he thinks of as a whimsical story. Or so I think that is what his problem was.
The guy trolls Plan 9 II. I know this, and I was in a bad mood that day I saw his comment. So I hit delete on his comment. Yes, I know, bad form by me.
Right away, this brought the attention of another that trolls Plan 9 II. He did tell me it will only attract some negative attention if you delete comments.
I did know him (sort of, but not really know him) as well from some time I spent looking over in Plan 9 ll. He had some harsh choice words for me there. And I had some of my own for him as well.
After I posted to him my displeasure of him trolling around my story comment section, let's say, we had some more choice words for each other. I can't say I was all to nice to him, but with some of his comments to me like "I bet you are just some lonely guy, who sits alone, petting a dog or cat, while wishing he has friends." and another asking why I even bother to come back to post anything. This went on for about two to three weeks. I deleted all of it, but his first comment to me after.
Most comments I have not deleted though, just from those two. But I didn't like either one of them to begin with, before I deleted those comments of theirs. So It was mostly a personal vendetta I had agents them, than it was me simply having an issue with others laving a comment or two I may not like.
Again, not trying to defend my actions on deleting those comments, but I did what I did for my own reasons, and without remorse for doing it.
Aside from that, I mostly welcome a helpful comment, if that's what it is.
I would think most of us are here to share stories we may like with each other of such stories each of us may like, and have a mass of stories to pick from. Not be here to bash writers for making something they didn't like, or would not like.
It is one thing as was pointed out so well by you Lunaexcelsior, to give an insightful review of a story. It is quite another to spend time here trying to see who's buttons you can push for the fun of it.
And I sadly feel many critics do get a bad rep from a lot of the hate being spread around by those that troll the site, and poke fun at everyone.
That is one thing I am not here for. I am mostly here for the stories, and to see what others happen to think of them, as I feel most of us are here for.
Chow.