The Value of Criticism

[rj_anderson]

And O, this essay by Tara LJC O'Shea on receiving and giving criticism is a fine, fine thing that ought to be read and cuddled and taken to heart by every writer and reader I know. Not that I have an opinion about this, or anything

Comments

[persephone_kore]

*reads link*

I guess I'm just not a writer, then. I'm not going to go back, in most cases, and revise something I already posted. And while I'm not going to tell people not to tell me if something's wrong, I'm not going to demand that they do either. The authors that most often discourage me about the idea of providing feedback are the ones who pressure readers to find something wrong and rant about how worthless any response is if it doesn't tell them what could be better.

[rj_anderson]

Well, in regard to finished works, I sometimes get criticisms I think are valid but still decide I can't be bothered to go back and make the changes. That's my call, as the author -- if I figure I can live with a given mistake or omission or weakness in the story, then there's no reason I should feel morally obliged to change something I've already posted.

I don't think we're talking about unsolicited feedback from strangers here, though, so much as feedback from beta-readers and others during the writing process. Sure, maybe after the story's been beta-read and edited and posted someone will still find a major flaw that needs fixing, but it's not so likely. It's the people who are too precious to ask for or accept constructive criticism at any point of the process, or who fly into a rage when they get it, who are non-authors in my opinion, and I suspect that's more what taraljc is talking about too.

[yahtzee63]

I don't change finished works, even when I sometimes bleed and cringe at what I've done, b/c in some ways I feel like you have to hit a point where something is done, flawed or not. If you know the flaw is there, that's the important thing -- not because you're going to "fix" something that's out, but because you'll do it better next time. And it's worth preserving the mistakes for no other reason than to remind myself that I make them, and Feel The Cringe.

[persephone_kore]

I know you were talking about beta-readers, at least largely. I thought the linked post was talking about feedback received after posting

[persephone_kore]

Note: I realize she wasn't actually demanding that every review find something wrong, or telling people never to bother otherwise.