tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post3944325216519745433..comments2024-01-17T22:00:41.839-08:00Comments on Full Throttle and F**k It: Slings and ArrowsSteve Malleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-15787833399996061712008-04-21T15:00:00.000-07:002008-04-21T15:00:00.000-07:00Lana, when it comes to an honest critique, I defin...Lana, when it comes to an honest critique, I definitely let that 'ouch' factor be my guide.<BR/><BR/>Shauna, you are one clever lady!<BR/><BR/>Kate, GREAT to see you!! Miss your blogs! My first published work (a now-out-of-print graphic novel) got TRASHED by critics but sold well and got lots of fan mail. *And* the critics were absolutely right in everything they said about why they didn't like it. <BR/><BR/>What I call the James Patterson effect...<BR/><BR/>Avery, I've never done the workshop-thing, either. And one of the most important things that happens in those first reads is a game I call What Confused the Dynamo?<BR/><BR/>If she don't get it, a less insightful reader will be lost!Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-8608044543176198862008-04-21T13:46:00.000-07:002008-04-21T13:46:00.000-07:00The criticisms from people I respect are the only ...The criticisms from people I respect are the only useful ones for me. The closer they are, the bigger the sting, but the better I take the advice in the long run. I've tried drop-in workshops, but they never did anything for me; I didn't know enough about those people to care about what they were saying. There was nothing for me to judge their competence/motives by. <BR/><BR/>"I would sometimes try to "explain," before I realized that if I have to explain I didn't do it right." I've been there many times, Charles.AvDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16574481780173046619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-43327882988959882412008-04-15T18:03:00.000-07:002008-04-15T18:03:00.000-07:00Sigh. I think the criticism that bites the most is...Sigh. I think the criticism that bites the most is the one we know, deep in our hearts, is the true.<BR/><BR/>The first bad review I got stung because I knew the observances of my weaknesses were spot on. I just hated to have to admit it, and worse yet, acknowledge that someone else saw it too. Not just saw it, but had the nerve to point it out. Publicly. :)RK Sterlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01034917381901499281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-78609150162396759502008-04-15T17:53:00.000-07:002008-04-15T17:53:00.000-07:00Good points. I would add one more:6. Sleep on it. ...Good points. I would add one more:<BR/><BR/><B>6. Sleep on it. </B> Sometimes one can't tell whether a comment is valid or a suggestion is an improvement until it's had time to percolate in the brain for a while.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-28156491240599867832008-04-15T15:02:00.000-07:002008-04-15T15:02:00.000-07:00Great advice. It took a long time for me to come t...Great advice. It took a long time for me to come to terms with a different one; "If it hurts my feelings, it's probably a valid point." It wouldn't hurt my feelings if it weren't, y'know?Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-2108877720174833032008-04-15T14:06:00.000-07:002008-04-15T14:06:00.000-07:00SQT, Candy, to be fair, that guy actually taught i...SQT, Candy, to be fair, that guy actually taught in a safe and structured fashion. Very few injuries, all of them minor. <BR/><BR/>Come to think of it, none of those guys hurt us too bad. Just kind of, you know, focused the attention.<BR/><BR/>Like a bad review, I guess!Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-23434827392437022212008-04-15T08:35:00.000-07:002008-04-15T08:35:00.000-07:00From now on, whenever someone criticizes my work, ...From now on, whenever someone criticizes my work, I'm going to picture Steve Malley fending off a knife-wielding fiend!cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-26076032781733896092008-04-15T07:08:00.000-07:002008-04-15T07:08:00.000-07:00Criticism can be the best catalyst ever. If someon...Criticism can be the best catalyst ever. If someone tells me I can't do something I will bend over backwards to prove I can. Criticism has prodded me to do some of the things I am most proud of. <BR/><BR/>...You learned knife fighting with live blades? That's crazy! I've done knife fighting with rubber blades and walked away bruised beyond belief. If a teacher tried to get me to use a live blade I'd think they were nuts.SQThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251030404220909306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-17265512866558136032008-04-14T14:03:00.000-07:002008-04-14T14:03:00.000-07:00Bernita, thanks!SzélsőFa, bad reviews don't hurt n...Bernita, thanks!<BR/><BR/>SzélsőFa, bad reviews don't hurt near as much as those nerve strikes did. But then, I fell on my butt a fair bit too, back when I was learning to walk. :)<BR/><BR/>Charles, did you notice your reaction to criticism is a perfect sequel? You feel the pain, think about what was said, formulate a new plan and act on it! <BR/><BR/>Lisa, I think just about everyone who bothers to give detailed feedback is well-intentioned. Real meanies are rare, few and far between...Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-48291212233885279952008-04-14T08:36:00.000-07:002008-04-14T08:36:00.000-07:00I've had the good fortune this year to participate...I've had the good fortune this year to participate in some structured workshops where I was able to give and receive quite a bit of detailed critique. One thing I've learned is that providing constructive criticism is work, and much more difficult when the goal is to provide meaningful, helpful criticism, while at the same time, having sensitivity to the writer's ego and feelings. I truly appreciate good, thorough feedback and I think it's important to recognize the effort that goes into providing it. I would much rather get a manuscript back with notes all over it, than one with an obligatory "nice imagery" written here and there or some minor typo or grammatical error circled. The first gives me something to consider and the second doesn't help me at all. Your feedback to the young artists sounds spot on, and I'll bet you agonized a bit over how to offer encouragement along with a reality check. Whether we like what we hear about our work or not, I think it's important to keep in mind that someone who has taken the time to read the work and develop comments has done us a service and taken time to do it. I've been very lucky that so far in that all the feedback I've gotten in work shops has come from people who do seem to be well intentioned. I'll let you know how I feel about it the first time I get notes from someone who's just being mean :)Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-58647303877684946412008-04-14T07:43:00.000-07:002008-04-14T07:43:00.000-07:00You laid it out clearly. I remember when I first ...You laid it out clearly. I remember when I first started getting criticism on my writing I would sometimes try to "explain," before I realized that if I have to explain I didn't do it right. <BR/><BR/>I don't like criticism, but I've learned to take it. I can't quite get over the emotional hurt that hits me for a little bit, but then I start thinking and most of the time the results are a stronger work.<BR/><BR/>I know several of those people whose personality is to criticize in order to express their inner cruelty. These days I just laugh at them, although I've been known on occassion to give them a heaping dose of their own medicine. But they are so hurtful to younger folks who aren't so sure of themselves.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-48298970569663648412008-04-14T06:07:00.000-07:002008-04-14T06:07:00.000-07:00Those reviews must have been hurtful, but useful, ...Those reviews must have been hurtful, but useful, too.<BR/>What a hard way we have to come through to appreciate being told that about that zipper and spinach thing. I like your simile :)SzélsőFahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600289147447182465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8052003455667869062.post-10765600568060577502008-04-14T05:54:00.000-07:002008-04-14T05:54:00.000-07:00Pretty well covers it.Pretty well covers it.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.com