Dealing with Criticism: Navigating Feedback on your Creative Writing

Dealing with criticism is a fact of life for every creative writer. Whether you’re submitting work to a publication, sharing your writing with friends and family, or receiving feedback from a writing group, it’s important to be able to navigate feedback and turn it into an opportunity for growth. At Creative Writing Ink, we like to embrace feedback on creative writing! So, here are some tips for dealing with criticism, navigating feedback on your creative writing and using it to improve.

Be brave in showing people your writing

Having the confidence and vulnerability to share your work and have people criticise your writing is admirable. It will seem scary at first, but getting over the first hurdle will open you up to a whole new world of confidence. This will be priceless to your creative writing journey. Keep an open mind when taking this criticism. It can be tempting to become defensive when receiving it, but it’s important to approach feedback with a positive mindset.

Remember that the criticism you are receiving is from a constructive perspective

Others that are giving you these pointers want you to improve in the best way possible. Try to understand the perspective of the person offering the feedback and consider their comments objectively. The more open you are to the feedback, the better understanding you have of your weaknesses and also strengths.

Make sure to separate the feedback from the source

It’s easy to become personally invested in your writing, especially when you have put your all into it. But, it’s important to remember that the feedback is not a reflection of who you are as a person, but rather a reflection of your writing.

Keep the feedback focused on the work and not the writer

Evaluating the feedback you receive is vital to your own growth. Once you’ve received feedback, take the time to let it sink in. Ask yourself if the feedback is valid and if it will help improve your writing, what aspects of it will help you improve. Take from the feedback what you need because when it comes down to it, your opinion matters the most!

Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand the feedback

A great way to implement this is to re-draft using feedback and see the differences. This is incredibly powerful for your writing, it can change your piece completely from its original form in the most natural way possible as you have an understanding of what you are changing. Use the feedback to improve your writing. Implement the suggestions you agree with and experiment with new approaches. Be willing to make changes and try new things. If someone takes the time to provide feedback on your writing, it’s important to show gratitude. Thank the person for their time and effort, and let them know that you appreciate their feedback.

Make sure to not rely on just one source of feedback

Seek out multiple opinions and perspectives to get a well-rounded understanding of your writing. Remember that criticism is a natural part of the writing process. Continuously learning and growing as a writer will help you navigate feedback and turn it into an opportunity for growth. Navigating criticism is not always easy, but it is a crucial part of the writing process. By approaching feedback with an open mind, evaluating it objectively, and using it to improve your writing, you can turn criticism into a valuable tool for growth and success as a creative writer.