While a little bit melodramatic, she's right. I though there was a whole bunch of truth to be had in Anne Lamott's “Someone to Read My Drafts.” While its one of the hardest things to do, we need to have someone to look over our unfinished work to help it get to where it needs to be. I know first hand how emotional you can get while waiting for others to read your work. Especially when its the first time anyone has laid eyes on it.
I think the real key, and what I've taken from this more than anything else is how vastly important it is that take caution when picking those that are going to be our critics. We need to find someone that will tell us the cold hard truth, while still expressing it in a kind and respectful manner. I've had a close friend read my work and tell me it sucked, and then tried to make up for it by reassuring me that I'm a great writer. I guess that she didn't really understand how a great writer is judged by his work.
In many cases, I feel I can use my mother as she herself has had some experience writing and years upon years of reading. Yet, when I know I've written something that is blatently not her style, I don't try and waste both our time by having her read over it. The best part is that she is totally understanding of this and supportive. I really haven't found that person that could be there for me 100% of the time, and I'm not so sure they exist. If they did I'm pretty sure I'd marry them as fast as reasonably possible (that is if they were female of course, but I'm assuming it would be).
It definitely is very difficult to find good critics. In my experience, more people want to point out your flaws than offer solutions. Good critique is definitely important, like the article says.
ReplyDeleteI like how you include that although your mother has great experience in writing, you don't take every work to her. People all have a bias. It's easy to be deterred by the people closest to us. I have taken plenty of works to friends and family and been shot down. It's not that my work was bad, nor that they were wrong in their critique. It just wasn't their style. Knowing your audience is key. Even in critics.