Writers Facing Criticism

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. Psalm 13:18 NLT
One of the hardest things for a writer to learn is to receiving criticism and correction. Unfortunately, some never do.James Scott Bell refers to it as growing a rhino skin. Jerry B. Jenkins advises authors to develop a thick skin. 
This doesn’t mean we make ourselves immune to criticism.
It means we make the time to develop the attitude of receiving criticism without personalizing it. We look at criticism and correction as ways to improve our work.
The first step is to realize our work can be improved. If we fail to acknowledge this, we are heading to poverty and disgrace. And we are dishonoring our God who called us to write in the first place.
God doesn’t give us the words. He gives us the inspiration. We give him our obedience and our talent. Part of our obedience is to learn the craft and to work to make our writing the best it can be. 
This means being open to changing it. Not just our own tweaking, either. We need to show our work to others for constructive and useful feedback.
We need to learn to accept correction. When I began this crazy journey of writing, I had to learn to swallow my pride and my ego. And I needed to learn to overcome my fear: fear of rejection, of failure, of being ridiculed for even thinking I could write.
God led me to the right early critiquers, people who knew how to give correction with an eye to improving.
My advice: Seek the perspective of different eyes reading our words, of offering suggestions to make it better. We don’t have to apply every suggestion. Learn to discern what’s valid and what isn’t.  
Pray and trust God to lead us to the right critiquers for us: those who have our best interests at heart, those who want to help us grow as writers.
How has having others give feedback improved your writing?
TWEETABLES"God doesn't give us the words—He gives us the inspiration." -Henry McLaughlin, @riverbendsagas, on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
One of the hardest things for writers is facing criticism - thoughts from author Henry McLaughlin, @RiverBendSagas on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Henry’s debut novel, Journey to Riverbend, won the 2009 Operation First Novel contest.

Henry edits novels, leads critique groups, and teaches at conferences and workshops. He enjoys mentoring and coaching individual writers. 

Connect with Henry on his blog, Twitter and Facebook.