Inside Scoop

[2] Dealing With Negative Comments

How do you deal with negative comments?

Leigh19: Working even harder

Well there’s a fine line between criticizing/critiquing comments and negative comments. If I get a comment where it offers useful information on my grammar, plot etc. Then that’s fine, anything I may have missed or neglected being pointed out is actually appreciated. However, getting negative and useless comments – I just shrug it off. I take everything said with a grain of salt and let it go. Not everyone is going to like or appreciate your work, especially with all the different types of taste out there, so to be offended over a comment which its goal is to get you down is better to just shrug it off. 

I guess in all honesty depending on my mood I might start something with the person who wrote the nasty comment because no writer who works their butt off deserves to be put down. My motto- ‘If you have nothing nice to say, Shut the heck up!’ But really as hard as it is to let something go, you can only push yourself through it and show them how great your writing is by working even harder. 

Emmiie: A positive attitude.

Normally with a positive attitude, because in most situations it’s just a misunderstanding or the person meant it as ‘constructive criticism’ but took it a little too far. In all honesty, I joined Wattpad because I wanted honest feedback and to grow as a writer—and in most cases negative comments will help you along the way to greatness, it all depends on how you take it. You can take it to heart, or brush it off, and learn from what’s being said.

As a writer, it’s important to have thick skin. Because it’s impossible to please everyone and not everyone is always going to love your work. So at the end of the day, write what makes you happy, because that’s what matters the most. It’s your story, so tell it your way, ‘cause if you are bored writing the story (whilst trying to please your readers) then they will be bored reading it.

My advice is to never let negative comments pull you down, learn from them, and have confidence in yourself and your story. Don’t write to please others, write for yourself. It’s the best way to go, because that passion you have in your story will more than likely shine through to your readers. Think positive, be positive, and never take negative comments to heart. Grow from them, learn, and always try to be the best writer you can be.

As the saying goes, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.’

Vicky_nfs: Trying to look at it from another perspective

Luckily I haven’t had to deal with many negative comments so far. Though, there are a couple of people who told me why they no longer liked my story, and because of that I knew where I went wrong. Therefore, negative comments can be helpful.

Negative comments don’t necessarily have to be ‘mean’ and/or ‘hurtful’ comments. I don’t think anyone deserves that kind of comments – after all, each and every single author took the time to write and had the courage to share what he or she wrote.

When I receive ‘negative’ comments I feel bad – definitely the very first moments. It’s never pleasant to be confronted with the fact that what you thought was really good, isn’t ‘that’ amazing after all. Usually, I just log off for a bit and pretend I didn’t receive that particular message – perhaps not the best tactic, but it works for me. While I’m doing something else, I’ll be thinking about that comment though, and the more I go over it and try to see it from that person’s perpsective, the less it bothers me. And I’ll get back to the person and ask for more information if necessary, because after all, it’s only when you know where and how to improve that you’ll be able to become a better author.

Whereas comments like ‘I loved it’ are really good for your self-esteem, the ones that point out small mistakes you missed or tell you your story seems to be going too fast or too slow are more  helpful. What might seem ‘good’ in your head might actually be less perfect to your readers. It’s the comments that consist of reasons why a person liked or disliked your story that help an author in ways the reader doesn’t even know.

And honestly, if my story was truly awful, I’d rather know it than keeping something badly written online. Failing isn’t bad, it’s part of the ‘process’, but -if possible- I’d rather not do it publically.

To say it in other words, if you walk through - what you think is - the most wonderful street and everyone’s staring at you from the sidewalks, I think you wouldn’t mind if someone pointed out that ugly tree in front of you, one that you didn’t see before, instead of walking right into it...for everyone to see.