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No one likes it when they have to hear criticism about their work. As a writer, I have always found myself a little too conscious about feedback. It keeps me from sharing my work and honestly; it is debilitating. Every author needs to make the most of their strengths and work on their weaknesses and you cannot do it without feedback.
- Pick out the most honest people and hold on to them with dear life. These may be your closest friends, a supportive parent, a blunt and no-nonsense colleague or your partner. People who want you to be the best will not mollycoddle you into believing that whatever you produce is the making of the next Hemingway or Jorge Luis Borges. They will gently steer you towards accepting constructive criticism and not feel bad. Even if they point out parts that need improvement, don’t be disheartened because this means that they care enough to pay attention.
- Toxic feedback is NOT feedback. You need not pay attention to everyone’s opinions about your writing. Some people just want to watch the world burn, in this case, the world is your work. They will relentlessly troll you with no goal of criticising your work. Here, it is important to distinguish between…
