A massive amount of time and energy goes into any creative endeavor. For novels, it’s typically eight or nine months to a year, for me. Art is hard, and it doesn’t help that most artists are perfectionists who have very little patience with their own growing process.
But now and then, you produce something that surprises you. You blink a few times, step back a few feet, pinch yourself, and think, “Wow…I just did that.”
Then comes an odd moment of elation—a sense that you might actually have a chance, that you might finally be moving forward. You look around you, and in a burst of courage, you decide. “Okay! I think it’s ready. I’m gonna share this with the world.”
And then, out of nowhere, the self-proclaimed Constructive Critics show up.
They’ve got some well-meaning advice for you. They’ve got a few pointers you might need to work on next time. They’ve got a quick evaluation of how your doing, and how you could do better. What?
You’re not open to constructive criticism? You shouldn’t be so sensitive. Don’t take it personally. This is just to help you grow. You’ve got to be able to listen to feedback if you’re ever going to level up and be the best you can be, you know.
There are two things to be learned here. The first is a little-known fact that probably no teacher ever taught you in school. There are points in your creative journey where it’s completely fine to reject criticism. Yeah. No, I’ll say it again for you. There are points in your creative journey when it’s completely fine to reject criticism. When you’re in the middle of riding a wave—you’re inspired, you’re motivated, you feel like you’re picking up some momentum—this is not the right time to backtrack. You should let that positive energy rocket you into the next phase of your growth.
Sometimes, “constructive criticism” comes from our friends or family. It’s just habit. You probably asked them for feedback on numerous things in the past. When you show them something you’ve created, they’ll automatically start looking for how to improve it to help you, because you’ve wanted it in the past. But this time, you’ve got a finished project—something you’re proud of and happy with. It’s different. Here’s where communication is important. It’s our job, as artists, to be very clear with our friends and fellow creatives what kind of feedback we need—or if we want any at all. You’re not looking for critique at this point, you’re hoping to find someone to celebrate with.
Another great place to get unsolicited critique is, you guessed it, online. This is actually pretty annoying. This kind of feedback sometimes comes from total strangers. People are just scrolling along through Instagram and stumble across your latest drawing, or something. They notice something about it they don’t like. Since they know so much about it, it would only be right to share their expertise and let you know how you could do better, right?
In either case, understand that we’ve kind of built a whole culture around the concept of constructive criticism. People just assume all criticism—no matter when it’s given, or by whom—is constructive. As long as it isn’t openly mean, it should always be appreciated. I’m here to tell you, it’s okay to ignore it sometimes. If you didn’t directly ask for it, you’re not obligated to receive it.
The second lesson, I’ll give you as a send-off. Don’t give unsolicited critique.Always be absolutely sure the other party wants it before offering any constructive criticism. Ask what they feel they need to improve. What are they shooting for with their art? If you don’t know those things, you don’t know how to help them succeed.
And remember, sometimes…every great once in a while…an artist is happy with what they’ve done. No amount of criticism has ever made anyone perfect. Sometimes, the best we can do for each other’s growth is hype each other up.