How to Handle Constructive Criticism

A key part of every writer’s journey is receiving feedback so that you know what aspects of your writing are strongest, and which you need to spend time developing. When you pour your heart and soul into your work, it can be difficult to hear negative things said about it. If you want to be a writer, you have to be prepared to make yourself vulnerable. Perhaps you’re secretly hoping your work comes back with little to no criticism – after all, more feedback means more editing! Here are some tips to help you with receiving feedback.

Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Embracing a growth mindset means viewing feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow as a writer, and to be open to seeing your writing the way others do.

Ask the Right People

It’s unlikely that someone you know who never reads will be able to offer you valuable constructive feedback. It will also be much harder for someone who rarely reads books in the genre you have written, or for a short story writer to offer feedback on a poetry collection. Their feedback may frustrate you, confuse you, or be completely irrelevant – if they can even offer it. Look to writing groups whose area of interest is like your own, and if you’re unable to find one, then perhaps you could start one.

Listen Carefully

The first step to receiving constructive criticism is to listen carefully to what your critic is saying. Be careful not to jump to conclusions or to make assumptions. Instead, treat the feedback as an opportunity to learn and ask questions to encourage the critic to expand on what they’re saying so that you are sure you understand their perspective.

Don’t take it personally

The person giving you feedback is doing so on your writing and your story, not yourself. Remember that comments are being made to help you to improve your work. Keeping this in mind will help you to be open-minded and accept the feedback more positively.

Ask how you can improve your work

Good criticism will always come with constructive feedback. If this isn’t initially offered, and it isn’t obvious to you what is being suggested, you can politely ask what they recommend you do to improve your work.

Only Make the Changes you Believe will Strengthen Your Work

This story is yours, and came from your imagination; your vision of how it will be at the end is unique. Everyone is allowed their thoughts and feelings toward your work, and most feedback is subjective to the person giving it. If you disagree with the feedback offered to you, you don’t have to do anything with it.

Stay Positive

Don’t let criticism get you down! As we’ve already mentioned, being able to write well is a continuous learning journey. With every poem, short story or novel you write, your writing will get better, and you’ll see this every year as you look back on your older work.