Useful Critique

I'm not sure that I can add a lot to the reading today. I really feel that the lesson she taught is so important, and it is something that I have known is important, but haven't realized how much I need until I read the article. I've worked in writing groups before and I've really struggled with how to get valuable critiques. The author of our reading captured the struggles of reviews so well. Our creations are so valuable to us that it seems no matter how hard I try I cannot emotionally remove myself from the comments that are given to my work. Yet that is something I really need to straighten out, because to be an artist you have to share. You have to let other people in and there will always be those who don't like it. More importantly, though, are those who do, but can still see its shortcomings and I think that is the most important lesson I learned.

She really helped me see what is required in a good reviewer of your work. First off, they have to love you. If they don't care about you, they they will either a) tell you what you want to hear because they don't really care what happens to you, or b) they will tell you what they want to say regardless of how it makes you feel. However, someone who really cares about you will want to be honest and yet help you succeed at the same time. I really liked that she said to stay away from all other types, especially the destructive ones who take pleasure in your failures. Secondly, you have to admire this person's taste. In other words, you both have to be into the same kind of things, or at least you must like what they like, because otherwise they will critique your work, but not really care or know how to improve it. It's not their fault and they will try and be helpful if they care about you, but they won't be able to because the decisions they tell you to make will not be right for your work. These two qualities are a must!

This article really opened my eyes to the importance of review, but even more importantly to the importance of the reviewer. As a hopeful writer I plan on searching until I find someone who possesses these qualities, someone who can invest in both my work and me as a writer, and hopefully I can help them in return. It helped me get even more excited to write.