You know how it is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve laboured over a piece a writing\u2014a poem or a story. Every word is perfect, as far as you can see. \u201cWait until they get a load of this gem of perfection,\u201d you say to yourself as you submit it to a writing circle, or a beta
reader, or an editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then the feedback comes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ouch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes it\u2019s hard to take. But it\u2019s important to learn how to process critique. It\u2019s the only way to hone your writing skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we respond to criticism, we go through stages, much like the five stages of grief as proposed by Elisabeth Kubler Ross and David Kessler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denial: <\/strong>What does that person know anyway? They just don\u2019t get what I\u2019m trying to do. It\u2019s perfect exactly as is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Funk:<\/strong> I am the worst writer ever. I will never learn how to do this. I should stop right now. If I didn\u2019t write, my house would be clean, my spouse would Re-evaluation:<\/strong> Maybe I should play with their suggestions a little. Give them a try and see how they all work. They might be onto something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acceptance:<\/strong> Their suggestions weren\u2019t half-bad after all. I left some things the same, but the changes make everything better. I\u2019m pleased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Satisfaction: <\/strong>Writing is a challenge, but I feel good having written. Now, I can submit this work of pure genius to someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back to Stage One.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a roller coaster, but a fun one. Your writing will get better and better if you learn to recognize these stages and accept which one you\u2019re in at any given moment. Then you can know that the next stage is coming soon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You know how it is: You\u2019ve laboured over a piece a writing\u2014a poem or a story. Every word is perfect, as far as you can see. \u201cWait until they get a load of this gem of perfection,\u201d you say to yourself as you submit it to a writing circle, or…<\/p>\n
be happier, and I could watch an entire series on Netflix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n