Forum: Writers


Subject: Critiquing Conundrums

lavender opened this issue on Apr 12, 2003 ยท 15 posts


dialyn posted Sun, 13 April 2003 at 10:04 AM

I think, if this doesn't sound too silly, it would be healthy (if you started such a group) to set down some ground rules. What is constructive feedback (as opposed to nitpicking? What is valid criticism versus a difference in a opiniion? What I find, often, is that people will say, "you're not doing this right," when they really mean, "you aren't doing it the way I would do it." The goal should not be a uniform style but to bring out the best in each individual. I would suggest, mildly, that a workshop on giving feedback might be helpful. There is a difference between steamrolling a person with your opinion and giving them information that helps them grow in their art. Sometimes in the midst of criticism, which is so easy, we forget that creating can be very hard for some people. And the writers and artists need to keep in mind that no one's opinion is the final word if you yourself believe strongly in what you are doing. You may tell me I need to change the way I write. It is up to me whether or not I want to write like you or like myself. I believe, at heart, I have no choice. I'd rather be silent altogether than to try to be someone else. But that's just me.