Watt the Pad ?!

4b. Butthurt: A PSA for crybaby writers

I've already touched this slightly on my "Dealing with negative feedback" chapters, but I have been triggered.

This is also the main reason why I only read and comment on works whose authors specifically request for my critique. The number of butthurt writers on wattpad is infinite.

I was reading a book not too long ago. I shall not name names, but it was -- in my opinion -- horrendous. Absolutely soaked in cliche characters, cliche dialogue, and a standard plot. As I always do in such cases, I dropped the book from my library after a few chapters. But not before I took a look at the comments section.

Someone had dared give that writer his opinion!

It was not a spectacularly rude comment. Sure, it was hurtful -- the same way it's hurtful if someone tells you you've put too much cocoa on that chocolate cake you've worked all day trying to make.
But it was not a personal attack on the writer. It was an honest critique of her work.

The gist of his comment was basically deconstructing the writer's one-dimensional main character, and the strained dialogue between her and the love interest. He did not "soften the blow" by first saying how much he loved the plot or how the story has potential, or whatever. He went straight to the point.

Some people here will tell you that's the wrong way to go about it. You have to sugarcoat your critique. Squash it between positive feedback.

I'm here to tell you that there is no wrong way in giving feedback. As long as the feedback is about the book -- the writing, the characters, the plot, etc. -- and not about the writer, or belittling people who actually did like (or dislike) the book; then you go do you. It's us writers who need to grow a pair and (wo)man the eff up.

But back to the critic and his harsh feedback. Naturally, the author (and I use that term loosely) piled on to him along with her authorly friends; calling him a troll, a hater, and even going so far as to visit his profile (oh yes; I checked) and leaving him wall messages letting him know that he basically "couldn't tell a good writer if one smacked him in the face".

Erm, no.

You don't get to respond to a critique on a work of fiction, with a critique on an actual living human being. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

Just because you disagree with someone's taste and standards in writing, does not mean they are an idiot, a fool, a troll, a half-wit, a jack-ass ... etc.

And this is the point where you tell me:

1) If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!
If you can't handle the internet, get the heck off. I've got news for you, sweetcakes. The world is not going to pander to your emotions. You are going to be offended. If Darwin's natural selection still applied, your kind would be extinct by now.

2) If you don't like the book, don't read it!
If you can't handle criticism and the fact that not everyone will like your work, don't post it online where literally anyone can read it!

3) Some of the writers here are only fourteen years old! Be kind!
We don't check someone's age before we read their work. The same way we don't google a published author's bio data before we read their book. Besides, being kind and being honest are not mutually exclusive. Just because something is blunt, does not mean it is not kind. 
Look at it this way; if friends and family members were a lot more blunt to some people, it would have saved a lot of people from grotesquely humiliating American Idol auditions.
It is in fact a lot kinder in the long run; plus, it actually helps writers improve -- rather than coddling them by letting them know how awesome they are and how anyone who disagrees are dim-wits.

4) But isn't it better to be constructive in giving feedback?
Again, constructive and harsh are not mutually exclusive. I can be absolutely straight to the point and blunt, and a good writer will be able to not take that personally and use the critique (or disregard it) to improve his writing.

5) Okay, fine. Isn't it better to be nice and polite when giving feedback?
Sure it is. But it's not readers' job to be nice and polite. These readers spend their time clicking on your book, reading through it and adding to your view count, and be considerate enough to leave critique you can learn from. Now you're policing the way they voice their opinions? GTFO.

6) Just because you're allowed to be as harsh as you want, doesn't mean you should.
Just because you can write whatever you want and share it online, doesn't mean you should.

~ ★ ~

Did I miss anything? Throw me your best shot and I will be happy to strike it right back.

I'm going to say this again.

If you ever hope to become a published author, you better damn well get your Big Girl Panties on, because not everyone is going to love your book. And not everyone is going to be courteous about it.