How to Take Writing Criticism Gracefully

Criticism on your writing is one of the hardest things in the world to sit through. Inevitably, parts you love will be hated, someone will miss "the point," and something you cherish deeply will turn out to be, at least slightly, flawed. The good news is that this will make you a better writer, as long as you know how to take criticism gracefully.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Handling Negative Criticism of Your Work

1
Remember that writing is meant to be shared. Writing is a form of communication, and all communication is between more than one person. Aside from a journal or diary, writing is meant to be shared with other people, and, most importantly, the reader's response to your writing matters. This is why criticism is so important-- you get to see exactly how your work affects an audience, which will help you hone it into the best work it can be.
- Your professors, workshop, friends, and bosses are only trying to make you a better writer, not belittle you. Taking their criticism gracefully is about remembering this end goal.
2
Don't defend or explain your work. You will not be in the room with a publisher, investor, professor, or reader to preface sections or provide explanations. What you write is what they get, and you should treat your critique the same way. Imagine that you are just a fly on the wall during a book-club meeting over your writing. Do they react well to chapters you like? Where do they get hung up or confused? Is all the information needed to understand the writing in the writing, or do you have to explain it yourself?
- Ask questions about criticisms you don't understand -- "can you elaborate on why the thesis wasn't clear?" "where did the plot get confusing?" -- instead of trying to fight the criticism.^{[1]XResearch source}
- When asked a direct question you should politely answer, but be brief.
It bears repeating, but writing is communication. If multiple people "don't get it," the fault lies in how you wrote it, not how they read it. It is easy for something to seem clear to you, it's your idea, after all, but that doesn't mean people encountering your idea for the first time will pick it up instantly. Your job as a writer is to make the idea as clear on the page as it is in your head, without explaining.^{[2]XResearch source}
4
Recognize that people naturally focus on the negatives, and that's a good thing. It may seem like people briefly mention the parts they love and then move on to 30 minutes of hate, but that makes a lot of sense when you think about it. You need to work on the parts that aren't good, not the ones you've already got down. A critique isn't useful if people simply go on and on about stuff you've already done well-- you need to learn how to fix the things that need work.
- That said, good critiques will always find a way to mention the positives, at least briefly.
At the end of the day, you asked this person (by handing them the work or signing up for the class) to give a critique on your writing. They are not out to destroy you, hurt your feelings, or break your will to write, even if they feel harsh at the time. They are doing their best to make your work better. At the end of the day, their opinion is just that: an opinion. You may agree or disagree, but it is not a personal attack. It is just a critique of your writing.^{[3]XResearch source}
You have to stay true to your own vision, even as you find ways to share your vision with others. Do not let a negative critique force you to abandon your own style and ideas. People will naturally give suggestions that fit their own personal style, but that doesn't mean you should adopt their style in return.^{[4]XResearch source}
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Finding Good Critiques

1
Think about what you want out of criticism. Why are you sharing this work and opening it up to a discussion? There are many potential reasons to accept criticism on your writing, but knowing them ahead of time is essential to get the most out of your work.
- Do you need an outside perspective to solve a problem or fix a chapter? If so, then you should be able to keep an open mind and accept criticism as the help that it is.
- Do you need to be criticized for class or your job? If so, remember that you are here to learn and that the best way to learn is from your own mistakes.
- Do you want to be criticized to hear your work praised? If so, you're not really looking for criticism -- you're looking for validation. Remember, however, that you will not become a better writer until you face your weakness as and find ways to fix them.^{[5]XResearch source}
2
Consider who you ask to give a critique. There are some people who, no matter how you ask, will not give you any negative feedback or risk hurting your feelings. There are other people who will hate everything you put in front of them, nitpicking each sentence. But the majority of people will fall somewhere in the middle, giving your some problems they had as well as parts they enjoy. Generally, good critiquing partners are:^{[6]XResearch source}
- Honest -- you know they will not sugarcoat the problems or lie about the parts they like.
- Thoughtful -- a good critique doesn't just talk about issues, it suggests solutions.
- Knowledgeable -- this doesn't mean they are an expert of literature, but they should have a basic knowledge of the work and its background. While it is helpful to ask someone if they liked your poems, you will not get a lot of usable feedback if they rarely read verse.^{[7]XResearch source}
3
Communicate your goals to the person or group in advance. It's difficult to listen to 30 minutes of critiques on grammar and spelling when you really need character development work. Keep your preface brief, but state your hopes for the critique so that the group/person knows how best to help you.
- Consider giving these goals in advance, saying "I'm having trouble with the rhyme in these poems, would you mind giving me some feedback." This allows people to approach your work with a specific eye towards what you want criticism on.
4
Give good, thoughtful criticism to get good, thoughtful criticism. You cannot sit silently while the group is workshopped and expect people to leap out of their seats to critique you on your turn. Showing your engagement, taking your time to note something you like as well as the things you don't, and giving good notes will ensure that most people do the same to you.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Attempt to make at least 3 points with each piece of writing at a minimum: one thing you like, and two suggested places for improvement.
5
Make sure your work is ready to be critiqued. Why should someone spend an hour of their time giving you nice notes and critiques when you haven't even taken the time to run spell-check? Dismissing a problem someone raises because "you already know it's a problem" but haven't fixed it tells them that you aren't there for a serious critique. Putting out the best work you can ensures that you are given the best critique you can get.
- Never turn in work, especially to an employer or professor, until you're sure it is the best you can possibly make it.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Criticism to Improve Your Work

Print out your own copy of the writing and make notes in the margins about problems, possible solutions, and even parts people like. This will help tremendously when you sit down for revisions. It also shows other people that you are listening and taking their critiques sincerely and graciously.
Are there certain comments that most people are making or agreeing on? Is there one spot where almost everyone gets confused or caught up? Chances are good that you are not some solitary genius who understands what no one else does, you simply have a spot that needs improvement.
Once you feel confident that something needs fixing, you may consider opening the floor to suggestions. A good way to do this is to make your own suggestions and ask what people think -- "would this paper benefit from more historical research?" or "would the story work better in the 3rd person instead of the 1st?" This can help you find a direction for revisions. Even if you don't go with any ideas, this gets the ball rolling and helps you start thinking about criticism in a productive manner.^{[9]XResearch source}
Let any negative feelings of anger or worry dissipate for a few days while you mull over your criticism. You'll be surprised what things you eventually agree with, or what criticisms you think are ill-founded. When you return to the work, it will be with a fresh set of critical eyes, and you can try and tackle the problems you've deemed need work.^{[10]XResearch source}
5
Make your revisions, and don't give up on the writing. Criticism means nothing if you don't do anything with it. After a little time to clear your head, highlight the sections that need work and tackle them head on. You may realize that the criticism is spot on, and you need to overhaul the writing. You may also realize that it is better than you thought, or that one quick sentence or clarification is all you needed. But you will never realize these things unless you take the time to rewrite.
- All writers rewrite. Even Ernest Hemingway is noted for saying that "The first draft of anything is s--t!"^{[11]XResearch source}
Reading a review/comment of an essay, story, or poem you've already published will do you little good. While you may get some tips for future projects, ultimately you can't do anything to correct the "mistakes" of an already published work. Even if you aren't published, sometimes the best thing to do with a piece of work is to leave it alone and write something new. If you feel attached to the current version and rewrites feel unbearable, then let it be. Ultimately, the most gracious way to take criticism is to just keep writing.^{[12]XResearch source}
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Tips

Almost every successful author has undergone this process many times. You're in good company!
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Remember that the greatest authors continually revise.
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If one comment is particularly good, try applying it to your other work; perhaps it will improve as well.
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