Are Critiques Harmful or Beneficial to Your Writing?
There are two schools of thoughts about whether critiques of your writing can be useful.
One school of thought says that art is subjective. Therefore, a critique is nothing more than someone else’s opinion. This school of thought also argues that critiques might harm the artistic integrity of your work by injecting someone else’s ideas and visions into it.
The other school of thought says that art may be subjective, but other people’s opinions matter and can actually be helpful. This school believes that writers may be too close to their own work to view it objectively, so a second opinion would be beneficial.
I fall somewhere in the middle, but essentially, I think that critiques do far more good for your writing than harm. In fact, a critique can only harm your work if you let it. And let’s face it, ultimately, you’re the one who’s responsible for what you write.
Critiques with Care
It’s true that a critique is mostly someone else’s opinion about your work. But critiques also include ideas to improve your work – ideas that may not have occurred to you. Additionally, a good critic will point out mechanical errors – grammar and spelling mistakes that may have slipped past you.
If you’re going to submit or publish your work, chances are likely you’ll get some feedback anyway. There are always critics and readers who are happy to tell you what they really think of your writing. So you might as well get an advance look at how your writing comes across to someone else.
But proceed with caution. It’s not wise to get a critique from just anyone. And once you get your critique, you should take your time about implementing the suggestions and ideas that it offers.
Tips for Getting Beneficial or Professional Critiques
If you approach the whole thing with the goal of truly improving your writing, then these tips will provide some guidelines that you can use when you put your work up for review.
- Find a smart critic. It doesn’t have to be another writer but it can be. It should, however, be someone who is well-read in your genre.
- Find someone who is objective and diplomatic. it won’t do you any good if you give your writing to your mother and she gushes over it. Look for someone who will tell you the good and the bad.
- After receiving a critique, step away and take a breather. Give yourself some space to absorb the feedback and decide what you want to do with it.
- Weigh all critiques carefully. It’s your writing, so make your decisions with the understanding that much of a critique is simply well-informed opinion. Your job now is to pick and choose the suggestions that will truly make your work better.
- Don’t take yourself too seriously. Never let a critique hurt your feelings or drive you away from your passion. Strive to grow as a writer, take the suggestions that seem right on, and discard the rest.
- If you don’t know anyone who is well suited to critique your work, look into professional critiques and hire someone with experience.
Whether a critique will be beneficial or harmful depends entirely on you. Obviously, nobody can make you change what you’ve written, and it’s up to you to pick and choose what you revise. It’s true that young and novice writers may be confused by critiques and frustrated with the decision-making process. So get a few more opinions. Take it in stride. Spend some time away from the piece and come back to it in a few days or weeks with a fresh perspective and see if the critiques have new meaning for you. Don’t be afraid to ignore any suggestions that you just don’t feel right about.
You should also be gracious with your critic. Giving someone feedback on their writing is not an easy job and there are risks involved. Never get defensive of your work and don’t take personal offense when someone is trying to help you. If you don’t agree with their suggestions, then simply don’t use them. Say thank you and get back to work.
And keep on writing.
Are you looking for someone who can provide critiques on your writing? Do you want honest, objective feedback from an experienced writer and editor? Writing Forward offers professional critiques. Visit the professional critiques page to learn more.
I have found that the attitude of the person doing the critique has much to do with whether it helps or hurts. Of course the best critique of a section I really have strong attachment to is also hard to take but given well I usually come around. Uppity know-it-all criticism just turns on my stubborn gene.
Deb´s last blog ..The Census and Life in Transition
I guess I’ve been lucky because I’ve had very few run-ins with critics who had bad attitudes. The only exception would be uninvited critiques — you know when people just randomly volunteer their opinions about your work. A few of those have been what I would call rude and uninformed and I’ve had the feeling they scanned a piece of writing and then spouted some half-baked opinion forgetting the golden rule that positive feedback should always precede the negative. Anyway, like I said, I’ve been lucky and most of the critiques I’ve had were extremely helpful and respectful. However, that’s why it’s important for writers to choose their critics carefully, at least prior to publication. Of course, once you’re published, anyone can critique your work.
It’s a little daunting to think about critiques of my work… I’m about 2000 or so words from finishing my very first draft of my very first attempt at a novel! A friend’s mum, who is an editor, has offered to go through it for me when I’m done. I’ve also asked a good friend of mine (one of my biggest fans – so it’s more to stroke my ego than a critique) I’m sure they’ll be constructive and encouraging, but I’m breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about someone else’s eyes on my intimate bits!
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I think that it’s natural for writers to be apprehensive about receiving critiques. There is much concern that the readers won’t like the work. Instead of worrying that the critic won’t like it or will tear it apart, I tend to look forward to feedback that will help me make the work better. For some reason, I’ve never had my ego attached to my writing, and I’m very grateful for that. The only time I’ve found a critique offensive is when I felt the critic wasn’t being genuine or was criticizing based on personal opinion rather than objectively reviewing the quality of the work. If you first accept that the work is never perfect, then try to separate it from your emotions (you are not your writing), and finally, adjust your perspective and attitude so that a critique is nothing more than a step toward improvement, it’s not that scary or harsh. In fact, you’ll start embracing feedback.
little thing as a way of an experiment to get people writing.
http://thejigsawbook.blogspot.com
it’s more for peole who want an easy way in to writing.
Thanks Gary.
Nice post. I think you make some great posts–I also think it’s important for new critiquers, writers who are just getting started together with a group, to give themselves time to learn the process and develop strong critique skills. With patience and care, a new group can grow together to provide great support and feedback.
In the five years I’ve been heavily critiqued, there’s very little feedback I’ve received (however painful) that hasn’t had some value.
I feel the same way Ellen. The only critiques I haven’t felt were helpful were the ones that said something like “Great work!” I personally love receiving critiques because they are one of the few ways I can improve my own writing.
Group experience is so beneficial to young and new writers; I completely agree. It’s the perfect way to get a wide range of feedback in a short amount of time, and to find out what other writers are doing. Thanks, Becky
I’ve been fortunate to be in a great critique group. My friend, however, has not had a good experience. He lives in a different part of the country so he’s unable to attend my critque group. He felt that the other writers offered only fluff and only wanted to be patted on the back. Online critique groups make him nervous.
If you odn’t click with your group, you should try to find another one. Not everyone has the same tastes or styles but a sincere critique group will give you good feedback to better your work and not just pat you on the back.
LS Murphy´s last blog ..The Day the Easter Bunny Got Lost
I am going to agree with your friend in that most online critique groups are pretty useless. I’ve checked out a lot of them, and found only a small handful to be populated with serious writers who wanted honest, objective feedback and who were willing to give. Unfortunately, many of the best online critique groups peter out as writers move on to other projects. However, I have come across some truly excellent critique groups on the web. You just have to look for them and be sure to assess the critique group before you join. Some may even require payment, which I think is reasonable as long as it’s not outrageous. I really think the pat-on-the back groups are amateur and built more around egotism than developing stronger writing skills. In fact, those groups sort of annoy me. But tell your friend to keep looking because the quality groups are out there. And to everyone else — there’s definitely a demand and market for this type of forum on the web.