Zoochblog

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always hated constructive criticism. I know I’m supposed to appreciate it, but I’m sure when I get it people are just trying to be cruel, egotistical (my way is better than yours!) or stubborn.

Then I got to thinking, maybe, it’s me that’s stubborn.

I love writing for clients, but when they use the opportunity to edit and send the piece around to the “committee” for suggestions it feels
demeaning. I feel like I’m back in grade school and getting slapped on the wrist if my words aren’t meeting with the approval of the class.

Am I making too much uot of this? Probably so. The creative arena is one that has a lot of emotion invested in the end product. We don’t want to be criticized for what we view as a work of art. Now granted, much of what we write today isn’t reagarded as “works of art” mainly because the high standards of writing have been lowered to sad abbreviations in text messaging for sake of time and ease.

Did you know that many schools have stopped teaching cursive writing because children will only be using computers to do homework on so they teach them to type not write? Hmm.

But I digress. Constructive criticism should be received as in a brainstorming session where no idea is stupid or wrong; it’s just different. It takes me a few moments each day when receiving changes to articles by the “committee” to settle into the frame of mind to accept the changes as about the piece and not about me.

So, there in a nutshell is the crux of the issue. Don’t take it personally. Look at the suggestions as about perfecting the work and not the perceived slap on the wrist.

Here are a few steps to follow:

1. Step back and look at it through the eyes of the sender.
2. Is the suggestion valid?
3. Does it add to the piece?
4. Does it detract from the piece?
5. Can the suggestion be improved upon as well?
6. Are the changes pure semantics or conceptually accurate?

Once you’ve started to look at the critiquing with a critical eye and not an ego based one, you might find that the ideas have merit and you even like them. Learning to take criticism is a virtue. Taking it personally will only lead to trouble.

In the end, it’s just one man’s opinion,
mine.

Keith……