How Do I Handle Criticism of My Writing?
Receiving criticism is an unavoidable part of the writing journey. Whether it’s from beta readers, editors, literary agents, or reviewers, criticism is essential for your growth as a writer, yet it can often feel personal and difficult to process.
For many writers, hearing that their work isn't perfect or that their writing has flaws can provoke a range of emotional responses, from defensiveness to self-doubt. However, learning to handle criticism effectively is one of the most important skills a writer can develop, not only to improve their work but also to maintain their confidence and motivation. There is also a hard truth to tell you: this is an industry filled with criticism. From writing groups to agents and editors, book reviewers and readers, the process is filled with people saying what they think of your work.
It's good to grow a thick skin, if you’re a writer. So, how do you do that?
1. Understand the Purpose of Criticism
The first step in learning how to handle criticism is understanding its purpose. Criticism is rarely a personal attack; rather, it’s a tool for improvement. (I can’t claim it’s never an attack, but I can tell you it’s best to learn not to see it that way.) When others critique your work, they are offering their perspective on how to make the story stronger, clearer, or more engaging. Criticism is a reflection of the work itself, not of you as a writer. See it that way.
Criticism is an opportunity to see your work through a different lens and identify areas you may have overlooked or been too attached to. Writing, like any art form, is a process, and no first draft or initial effort is ever perfect. Understanding that criticism is part of this creative process can help you distance yourself emotionally from the feedback and approach it with an open mind.
2. Separate Your Identity from Your Work
This is important. Read the subtitle again! As a writer, it’s natural to feel a sense of pride and ownership over your work, and sensitivity when people point out things that are not working as well as they could. When you put your thoughts, feelings, and creativity into a story, it can feel deeply personal. This attachment makes criticism harder to take, especially when it points out flaws or suggests changes you might not have considered, but it’s crucial to separate your identity from the work itself.
Of course, you might lash out and make a fool of yourself. You might go home and eat a chocolate cake. But more importantly, if you take criticism personally, it can quickly turn into self-doubt. The more you associate your identity with the writing, the harder it becomes to objectively assess the feedback.
Also, remember your worth as a writer is not defined by the quality of a single manuscript or review. Embrace criticism as a way to grow and improve your craft, not as a judgment of your value as a person.
3. Recognize the Different Types of Criticism
Not all criticism is created equal. Some criticism, even if it is tough, is constructive, offering specific advice on how to improve your writing, while other criticism can be vague, unhelpful, or even overly harsh. Knowing the difference can help you navigate feedback with a more balanced perspective. But be honest with yourself! The person who pointed out specific flaws in your novel, and came up with detailed solutions, were they really just out to get you? Why would they do that? It’s easy to say it was personal. It’s not so easy to admit they were right. There are ways to spot differences, when you get a harsh critique:
Good Criticism: This type of feedback is focused on helping you improve your work. It offers specific suggestions, identifies areas of weakness, and provides actionable advice on how to make improvements. It helps you understand exactly what isn’t working and why.
Vague Criticism: Vague comments like “this doesn’t work” or “it’s not engaging enough” need clarification. Don’t be afraid to ask for more specific examples. If someone says your story isn’t great, ask them why. Vague criticism is probably more to do with either the taste or confidence of the person reading.
Bad Criticism: This tends to be harsh, unspecific, or overly negative without offering any solutions. If the criticism doesn’t offer any actionable advice or doesn’t help you see where you can improve, it might be better to discard it. The person might not even be trying to hurt you. They can be projecting their own frustrations onto you, an innocent bystander.
4. Let Your Head Clear
When you first receive criticism, it’s normal to feel defensive or upset, especially if the feedback is worse than expected. It’s easy to be angry, or worse, just to dismiss the critique, or alternatively allow yourself to spiral into negativity about your work. It’s important to manage your emotions.
Take your time. Let your head clear. You might want to step away from your writing for a day or two before revisiting the feedback. If you feel emotionally overwhelmed, consider discussing the feedback with a third person. But be careful! Do not do this solely to negate the feedback. You are doing this to find out if anything is useful or true. You are looking to gain a third person’s view, both on the criticism – and your emotions about it.
It can be tempting to argue with the person who has criticised your work. Instead of defending your writing, try to stay open-minded. Listen carefully to the criticism and ask questions if you can, either at the time of receiving it or a few days later. If a piece of feedback is negative, don’t dismiss it right away. Instead, enquire further. This is your opportunity to find a way forward.
5. Look For Patterns In Criticism (And Learn To Take It)
If you have had critique from more than one reader, look for overall patterns in the feedback. Is there a recurring theme? Do multiple readers point out the same things? If several readers comment negatively on the pacing of your novel, and one person says it was good, resist the temptation to believe the lone fan. Patterns from multiple readers are probably the strongest suggestion you have that something is not working in your novel. Again, when you get an agent and an editor, they too will comment on your work. Get used to it: it’s just a reality of being published.
6. Criticism Is A Gift, Not An Attack
No apologies for the Personal Growth finale! The ultimate goal of receiving criticism is to use it to make your writing stronger. It’s for you to get better as a writer. Refine your manuscript, improve your storytelling skills, and deepen your understanding of your craft: criticism that is thorough, clear and solution-orientated, even if hard to take, is a gift, if you want to become a better writer.
Handling criticism is one of the most challenging aspects of being a writer, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. By learning to view criticism as an opportunity for growth rather than as a personal attack, you can improve your writing and develop resilience. Remember, every writer faces criticism at every stage of their career. If you want to be a professional writer, with books in book stores, reviewed on Goodreads, then you have to accept this — and learn from it.
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