A writer can get a lot of criticisms and suggestions. Criticism can be productive, but read them correctly and cull the bad ones. You should evaluate them as much as they evaluate you. Here are some ways to handle them appropriately:
- Note the Nature – If someone is rude or hostile, it’s not worth bothering. You can’t affect your writing based on someone’s bad attitude or day. On the other hand, If people come at you with general interest, try to stay open as long as you can.
- Professionality – if someone criticizes your work with a professional tone, they probably read your book with that same professionalism. That’s a good thing even if they say something negative. Note that professional doesn’t mean “stick in the mud.” People can be funny, happy, and pleasant and still be professional just as at any workplace.
- Evaluate Properly – I had someone criticize my book after they admitted they expected it to be something else. As they wrote, it was also clear that they hadn’t read my book (at least closely.) I threw that one away. Not every criticism has a useful purpose.
- Look for Executables – Criticism isn’t very useful if it just exists. There should be something that can improve your writing. You should be able to come out of the critique with at least one or two concrete action items that you can actually do.
- Attention to Subjectivity – Yours and theirs. Make sure that they don’t come from a place where they are telling you their favorite things or their specific rules for writers. They might push you into being a second rate version of themselves. Then, if they pass that test, don’t read things to maintain your status quo. Often, you have to change your writing in a way that will stretch you in ways that aren’t comfortable. Don’t let your druthers keep you from getting quality ideas for your next work.