To some, I'm a special-kind-of-genius when it comes to writing-- rhyming or embellished prose especially... but to others, reading me is a nightmare. For me a critique is just an opinion of a select perspective. Sometimes they're educated, sometimes they're experienced and sometimes both. At the end of the day, I think anyone who's brave enough to tell someone how they think something could be better, is doing it with good intentions.

Sometimes it's daunting to the creative process, but every published writer I've ever talked to or read interviews from, they all say the same thing-- editing is SUPPOSED to come AFTER the creative process. So if you can apply critiques while you write- do it, if not, do what I do, wait to finish the thought, then go back and fix what you can remember/see to fix.

Furthermore, for me, just because someone makes a suggestion or critique, doesn't mean I have to use it or abide it. Maybe there was a miscommunication in my writing-- I wont know until someone tells me, and maybe their suggestion doesn't fit my style, but it'll give me a path to take when I try again.

Bottom-line, I personally would rather someone tell me their perspective, than just like it and let me think it's flawless. :-p

|| another-proser ||

I think, as a writer, opening up and allowing others to read your work is the bravest and hardest thing you can do.

I used to be so afraid to let people read my work because, to me, it was personal. Not the context, but the actual ideas.

And then, I did. And it was glorious. I remember the first time someone gave me a less than stellar critique...it resonated for days after; a continuous thought on loop. I kept asking, "what have I done wrong?" and "why were they so harsh?"

Then, it was hard because it was my first. Now, I've learned to take what is being said and incorporate it; find a positive and work with it. I realized that critique will come and you can't please everyone. The only thing you can do is learn and better your craft.

So, that's how I deal with it and I believe it makes me a better writer.

Be brave. Let yourself be critiqued in all things, especially writing. Cherish the affirming reviews of your writs and your life, for those are precious things indeed.

However, be brave. Take the critical reviews with thick skin and a smile. For they can show your deep blind spots you have or show you the character of the reviewer. If nothing else, the harsh review is usually dripping with more honesty than a polite one that is filled with white lies that just act as white noise.

Be brave. The constructive criticism is the richest reward of all, but the hardest to gauge as well.

Answer this question. Are you trying to be the best in your writing or at least always improving at it? If so, never wince from the constructive or harsh critique. Embrace it instead like a lover you are vulnerable to. Look at your work with the critic's eye. Their viewpoint, by its very nature is not your own, so there is wisdom in it. Even if the wisdom gleamed, is that their opinion doesn't strengthen the piece.

You will never please everyone with what you write, so keep that in mind. It is freeing once you know that.

Let the harsh critiques be like sandpaper. Helped to smooth out rough edges that you may over looked.

Let the constructive critiques be like glue. To help complete or bind the partially formed ideas to become something a bit better.

Let the praising reviews be the stain. To brighten up the piece but to also make you question if there isn't something more that can be done.

By gods, do not take any of it personally; or, if you must, be stubborn enough to still improve the piece just to prove them wrong.

I have found in my journey of life, some of my best writing gets some of the deepest positive and negative feedback. For it has made the reader think, and feel, and emote in ways they may not have been comfortable doing.

In the end, what is the point of writing, if we are not writing well and growing along the way. Criticism gives you the guidance to accomplish just that.

So be brave and embrace it all!

I don't, nor have I ever, written professionally,

and still, I know the value of a good critique.

For example, I like to experiment,

with structure and syllable counts,

layers, and shades of meaning,

aaaaand forget I'm also communicating.

I enjoy exploring possibilities,

toying with perspective realities,

make things tangible from imagining,

in short stories and lots of poetry;

but why bother in sharing,

if only I'm understanding,

what it is I'm describing?

A good critique will often ask questions,

probe the gap between writer and audience,

between narrator and reader experience,

in word choices and structure of sentences,

and the meanings the writer intended,

with their own reader's perspective;

which, we should note, is entirely elective.

We create these experiences in moments,

and good critiques complete the circuit.

- M.E.

201506180708