Reflection of Criticism - Writing, Reviewing and avoiding Internet Drama
Drama has struck my little corner of the online world, and I find myself reeling from the aftermath. The dispute reveals to many of us the shattered edge between communication and reflection.
Many of those I admire for their work have disappointed me, and others have proven themselves completely unable to accept any form of criticism at all, instead being most comfortable and vocal in blindly supporting those who dish out the very same, if not worse.
Even though it may crush our very souls, it is essential that we all, in one way or another, reflect on our own work and take criticism on board without protest. This does not mean blindly listening to and accepting everyone’s feedback, as most, if not all, is subjective, especially in writing. However, we should not succumb to arrogance, remaining humble, as we are most definitely not arbiters of what makes a ‘good’ story.
As a Fantasy, Sci-Fi author, a reviewer and a dabbler in the casual interview, I have tempered my criticisms of others’ works. Writers put everything into their stories, reviews, articles, and the list goes on, and I firmly believe that we must consider that fact when providing feedback.
I have to my shame been guilty of the sin in which I’m now writing.
I had completed my read through of the book “The Seeker’s Wrath” (The Essence Wars) by P.S. Davis, and it was a brutal narrative heavily focused on the antagonists, which I did not find comfortable. As a result, my initial review of the book was inappropriate, and what was worse, the Author had read the review and it had upset him. Twenty-four hours later, I sat down and rewrote the review because I knew his book and the efforts he had made to write it deserved not only a proper analysis and feedback but also an explanation for my initial scathing first attempt.
After I contacted P.S. Davis, I informed him of the changes and apologised to him. What is remarkable and a credit to Davis is that he had taken both reviews on board and informed me that my second review was the best he had ever received—a testament to the ability to reflect and understand the precious work you hold in your hands. What was even more humbling was that he sent me his sequel for me to review later on.
“As for literary criticism in general: I have long felt that any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel or a play or a poem is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae or a banana split.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage.
If we are to assist in improving the skills of our fellow writers and uplift them, we must enhance our own skills in providing feedback. To do so, we must keep much of the raw emotional response to a minimum and remain critical. We have taken on the great responsibility of reviewing our fellow writers ‘ works, and as writers ourselves, we should be held to the highest of standards. If we give in to emotional feedback and response, we risk losing the professionalism we have worked so hard to establish.
Many of those I admire for their work have disappointed me, and others have proven themselves completely unable to accept any form of criticism at all, instead being most comfortable and vocal in blindly supporting those who dish out the very same, if not worse.
Even though it may crush our very souls, it is essential that we all, in one way or another, reflect on our own work and take criticism on board without protest. This does not mean blindly listening to and accepting everyone’s feedback, as most, if not all, is subjective, especially in writing. However, we should not succumb to arrogance, remaining humble, as we are most definitely not arbiters of what makes a ‘good’ story.
As a Fantasy, Sci-Fi author, a reviewer and a dabbler in the casual interview, I have tempered my criticisms of others’ works. Writers put everything into their stories, reviews, articles, and the list goes on, and I firmly believe that we must consider that fact when providing feedback.
I have to my shame been guilty of the sin in which I’m now writing.
I had completed my read through of the book “The Seeker’s Wrath” (The Essence Wars) by P.S. Davis, and it was a brutal narrative heavily focused on the antagonists, which I did not find comfortable. As a result, my initial review of the book was inappropriate, and what was worse, the Author had read the review and it had upset him. Twenty-four hours later, I sat down and rewrote the review because I knew his book and the efforts he had made to write it deserved not only a proper analysis and feedback but also an explanation for my initial scathing first attempt.
After I contacted P.S. Davis, I informed him of the changes and apologised to him. What is remarkable and a credit to Davis is that he had taken both reviews on board and informed me that my second review was the best he had ever received—a testament to the ability to reflect and understand the precious work you hold in your hands. What was even more humbling was that he sent me his sequel for me to review later on.
“As for literary criticism in general: I have long felt that any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel or a play or a poem is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae or a banana split.” - Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage.
If we are to assist in improving the skills of our fellow writers and uplift them, we must enhance our own skills in providing feedback. To do so, we must keep much of the raw emotional response to a minimum and remain critical. We have taken on the great responsibility of reviewing our fellow writers ‘ works, and as writers ourselves, we should be held to the highest of standards. If we give in to emotional feedback and response, we risk losing the professionalism we have worked so hard to establish.
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