Writers write to be heard, which means writers must brace themselves for input, whether it ends up being destructive criticism or health critique. J.C. Schaap describes this kind of input among students in his blog post “Witless Fear and Hug Lines.”
In it, he tells how scary it is for a student to lay out something he or she has written in front of her peers and “let them go at it.” I remember classes like that. They were painful.
We turned in a poem or story to the teacher, who made copies to pass out in class. He would hand us a packet with a submission from every student. One by one we critiqued each piece, pointing out what worked (and what didn’t), trying to explain why it worked (or didn’t). For the young and/or insecure writer, this process can be discouraging and at worst, destructive, demeaning the person for taking creative risks and trying something new. If handled well by the instructor, however, the input can be invaluable, making us (and our work) stronger, pointing out weak spots that need editing.
Some of Schaap’s students sent e-mails telling him that they were scared, witless. So he gave them a trial run with an anonymous piece he found in his files. At first, they were reluctant to say anything negative. But someone spotted a scene in the story that seemed unrealistic and hesitantly pointed it out. That first comment opened up the rest of the class, and Schaap reported that “condemnation starting rolling down like justice is supposed to. Right before my eyes, a bandwagon appeared.” He continued:
There was a hangin’ coming, I knew, so I told the madding crowd that next week—when their own workshopping begins—the same darn thing is likely to happen, only they’ll be looking at the actual writer, not thinking of her in the abstract, because next week the writers R US or whatever.
That quieted the mob into stony silence.
Teaching can be fun. If it wasn’t, I’d quit in a minute.
“So,” one of them says, meekly, “when we’re done, can we have a hug line?”
If we know we’re helping people become stronger writers, our critique can be constructive; especially when followed up by specific encouragement … and a hug.
This weekend I received a comment at an abandoned blog associated with a long-ignored website I created in 2001. On that website, I published some poetry. Someone apparently visited the poetry page.
This person saw that there was no convenient way to leave a comment (that website is static, without a familiar blog-platform), yet he or she was motivated enough to find the old blog (which would have required a click or two) and leave an anonymous comment. Anonymous went to all that trouble to tell me this:
“Your poetry—it sucks. I mean, it really sucks. Really.”
Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.
But if someone studied my poetry closely enough to form that strong opinion, I wouldn’t mind finding out what he or she thought made the poems “suck” so badly.
In her opinion, how could I improve these poems? What should I practice? Is there something this person would recommend that I could try in the future? This one comment has reminded me that when I review and critique someone’s work—especially something as personal as poetry—I need to be constructive.
For those who may be involved in a writing group or workshop, check out “The Difference between Critique and Criticism,” from Scribe’s Alley:
- Criticism finds fault/Critique looks at structure
- Criticism looks for what’s lacking/Critique finds what’s working
- Criticism condemns what it doesn’t understand/Critique asks for clarification
- Criticism is spoken with a cruel wit and sarcastic tongue/Critique’s voice is kind, honest, and objective
- Criticism is negative/Critique is positive (even about what isn’t working)
- Criticism is vague and general/Critique is concrete and specific
- Criticism has no sense of humor/Critique insists on laughter, too
- Criticism looks for flaws in the writer as well as the writing/Critique addresses only what is on the page
Taken from Writing Alone, Writing Together; A Guide for Writers and Writing Groups by Judy Reeves
Specific, insightful, kind critique is welcomed. This can be gleaned from a healthy writing group (learn more about forming writing groups in Charity Singleton Craig’s article at Tweetspeak), a trusted writing partner or colleague, a writing coach (as a coach, I offer clients ongoing constructive, encouraging input), or a gentle editor.
The cry for gentle, kind, constructive input comes from so many of us. Even Emily Dickinson:
This is my letter to the world,
That never wrote to me,
—The simple news that Nature told,
With tender majesty.
Her message is committed
To hands I cannot see;
For love of her, sweet countrymen,
Judge tenderly of me!
Writers have to develop a thick skin and deal with criticism, even that which is destructive. But when we are dealing with someone else’s words, whether in the form of a poem, post or story, we would do well to assume that they would like our input followed up by a “hug line” and that their heart’s cry is: “Judge tenderly of me!”
* * *
Flickr photo “Making Poetry” by Aurelio Asiain available under a Creative Commons license for noncommercial use, requiring attribution and no derivative work. Post originally published in 2010; updated with minor edits and updated links August 2015.
Great wisdom Ann. I remember years ago getting brave enough to send some poems off. Several weeks later they came back to me with a form rejection letter. I was so discouraged I tore them up, threw them away and vowed never to send another thing to anyone.
One little word of encouragement would have made such a difference.
Linda: What a shame…all those years you could have been sending out stuff, sharing it with the world, learning and growing as a poet! How many other voices have been squelched by harsh words from a peer review or the distance and disinterest of a form letter?
“The Difference between Critique and Criticism,” was fantastic. I’m participating an online writing course right now, and we post all of our work on the group message board. It’s amazing how harsh some of the other students are, and then how sensitive those same people are when they receive a helpful critique. I truly believe that anything can be said in a positive, helpful manner. That makes all the difference.
I wonder if you could point to that post without anyone taking it personally in hopes of encouraging a kinder, gentler message board?
It does remind me of successful author James Alexander Thom’s remark once that when he started, he received so many rejections that he began to think he was getting rejections for work he never sent–that somehow the word was out that he was sending manuscripts and publishers were saying, “Don’t bother sending to me”!
Great story, Lynn Hopper/Mom!
James Alexander Thom is a great example of how we can develop a thick skin and continue forward in spite of all that rejection. Just look at him now!
It has also occurred to me that some people–maybe even many–still think that poetry has to rhyme. That severe critic may be one of them.
That’s an interesting possibility. My students thought Emily Dickinson’s poetry wasn’t “real poetry” because it didn’t even rhyme–most of the time.
(hee-hee)
Very well written, Ann…wink…smile…
“your poem sucks” just what does that mean anyway..hahahahaha…
I know this is uncouth…but I want to direct everyone over here for a moment if I may…it is for two very good causes…
http://onething.beautifulheritage.com/?p=4653
blessings
Aww…go on!
Thanks for the note and the *encouragement*! 🙂
I’ll pop over to the link right away regardless of couth to see what Jenni has to say.
thanks, ann…you are a dear
Several years ago I took a university course in creative writing. How I wish that the professor had understood the difference between DC and HC. Not only was he merciless in his comments—written, of course, in red ink on our papers—but he encouraged the class to “critique” each other’s work in the same vein. One student obviously enjoyed this activity and was permitted by the instructor to savage his classmates’ efforts. As a result, many students dropped the class. I continued to the end, but didn’t write another thing for over a year until I had gotten over the experience and realized that the opinions of mean-spirited people really shouldn’t count. That professor has been invited to be the keynote speaker at the awards ceremony for a poetry competition I entered recently. I don’t think I will attend.
That right there….is a tragedy. And a nightmare. And, sadly, a perfect example of what I’m talking about.
This is REALLY sad!! It seems to me that there need to be more classes in how to critique before people are given license to do it. It’s a sad fact of sin nature that encouragement is not our natural bent…but it can be learned, and oh how sweet it is to be on the receiving end! I am sorry you had that experience, Joyce.
Good post. I, about a year ago, had a storefront on Etsy.com. Some may know it, it is a site for all things handmade. At the time I was into Pyrography, and had put up some of my work as Art. Well! Someone sent me a very sarcastic critique, which is not something done on the site regularly and asked “do you really think this is art!?! REALLY, it’s not!”. Now to be perfectly fair I’m not sure that was a harsh as what you got Ann, but it hurt. I let the site go and now only really engage in my woodworking for friends and family. Huh…I hadn’t really seen the stop from this point of view until now.
Thanks!
Andfrea
As we continue the discussion here in the comments, I am wondering what compels people to leave those kinds of comments? Of *course* it hurt–those were hurtful words!
I’m glad that you didn’t give up completely on the joy of woodworking in spite of that note, and that your friends and family are benefiting from your skill!
😀 Andrea
That makes my heart quake, Ann! I mean, I wonder sometimes how I can possibly develop a thick enough skin to seek publishing if I get so easily discouraged when I don’t get any blog comments! LOL..not negative comments, just a lack of them! I’m a wuss, obviously. No wonder so many people are going the self-publishing route.
Thank you for coming by my place; I really want to help the family in question but so far my bright ideas don’t seem to be going very far. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s in God’s hands, not mine!
Jenni
The same big heart that longs to help the family adopt is the same sensitive heart that wonders if anyone has a response to your words. You’re a joy–I hope you keep writing regardless of the sense of silence.
Thank you, Ann. I truly wonder sometimes if a little arrogance is helpful…it seems like so many of the great writers had enough of that to keep them going when rejections piled up! LOL!
Oh shoot, Ann, really? Why do people do that. Really. And I wonder about that person’s poetry, or if he/she has ever even tried.
Okay, honestly I don’t believe in critique. I believe in saying what works. Again and again and again. This gets tricky if I’m editing a piece, but even then I want to communicate the idea… hey, if I pulled something out it was only to make sure the good stuff shined the way I knew it could if it was left to itself. 🙂
I like your philosophy, L.L., of “saying what works.” I think that would help me. If someone would tell me “keep doing this,” then I’d focus on that and see how to move forward with more confidence.
Feel free to edit my HCB stuff any time. You can do more than point to what’s working–I wouldn’t mind you pointing out what isn’t working, because I trust you. Trust is another element of this discussion that I didn’t explore in depth, but I can take a lot from someone I trust.
when I was in college I had the audacity, I was a chemistry major through and through, to take a creative writing class…and although an instructor was a fellow student and they all “lived” writing, reading…and were steeped in all things literature…they were very welcoming and friendly to me…I think it was because I was from “outside” their hallowed building, just a curious interloper…
they were helpful and gentle at the same time…a little healthy criticism that isn’t couched in petty meanness and caustic barbs will go very far with me…
that was one of the funnest classes I ever took…ever…
for curious minds, it was a short fiction writing course
I’m so glad you had a good experience–it’s good to know that handled well, with positive people who are “welcoming and friendly,” a workshop class could build you up and be FUN! I think creative writing should free us to take risks and have some fun while we explore technique.
This was a great post, helping me understand why I’m smiling from some critiques, and totally flattened by other people’s input — criticism. Ah ha! I get it now.
This is helpful in parenting too, don’t you think?
Yes, great point–we parents are sure hard on each other. And I’m glad that this might help you sort out the helpful input from the destructive.
Oh , Ann . Geez.
I remember when I first decided to put my dream of being creative aside to pursue the more traditional school path. I shared some poems for the first time with someone. My step-father. And he said I was too smart to waste time crying the blues. That no one wanted to read sob stories. Especially ones that didn’t make sense.
It took me almost 25 years to put pen to paper again. And yet I was smart enough to know better. But our hearts often aren’t.
Deb, that’s yet another horrible story to read…of you abandoning art and creativity for sooooo many years! Such a painful loss of time, but I hope you are enjoying yourself now that you are taking up pen and paper (or keyboards and screen) again!
I have discussed your post over the last several weeks with colleagues, co-workers, family, and friends. Many points for discussion—including the definition of criticism vs. critique, sensitivity of an aspect of our lives to the perception of others, and the value of what we hold to be dear.
There has been varying degrees of agreement and disagreement with the interpretation of criticism as outlined in your reference of Scribes Alley but all generally agreed that it is how one conveys the tone and character of that analysis which is important and what profoundly affects that memorable experience. .
I think that it can be argued in evaluating the merit of a piece or performance, one should not omit the deficits as it can lead to continued weakness with lack of correction concluding with underperformance or the loss of potential of what could be. In an effort to be “kind” it is really doing no favors.
What is true is that no one person wants the “mean girls” to come “knock’n” on your doors of creativity or the things we hold dear..
As for the comment that was essentially tasteless ridicule- (and lacking in substantial value), I say kick it to the curb and leave it there as I suspect you already have.
Great post- insightful and thoughtfully written.
Hi Ann!
I’m getting my MFAW in writing at an arts school in Chicago. This week is critique week. What that is simply is where we hand our work in to a panel and they give us a 45-minute critique. I’m working on a novel (which I didn’t give them) and a lot of poetry about pop culture. One man insinuated that I don’t belong in a “fancy art school” and that my poetry is “boring” and “disconnected”. Then he asked me what type of stuff I read, how much I wrote. I think it floored him that my favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo and that I admire Marianne Moore (I think he was expecting me to deify Twilight). He said, “If you write so much, why did you give us this?” He was pretty cruel. I can take criticism, but this is one of the few people who have made me cry.
So I applaud you for writing this article. Thanks to this experience, I am only going to become a more compassionate person in writing workshops. The method I already use is the “Sandwich Method”. I point out what’s working, point out what’s not working, and finish with a few encouraging comments. The last thing I want is to make someone drop out because of something I said.
I almost dropped out of grad school today.
I’ve probably squelched a writer or two, Ann. I used to edit support-raising letters for colleagues and few of them never returned for help after a round with me. I wish I could redo those interactions, but they did prepare me for our work with TheHighCalling.org.
I’m sure I still slip with folks occasionally, but I’m learning. Your reminder and checklist are worth saving.