Ignore Your Critics: It’s The Only Way to Write

The only way to keep writing is to ignore your critics (http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/03/ignore-your-critics.html). In any kind of profession or industry, apparently, the best way to keep moving forward is to put aside those who stick out their tongues at your efforts, or those who would stick out their legs to trip you up (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8510322.stm).

But it does seem especially important for writers—critics, scholars, essayists, poets, novelists, and bloggers come to mind—to develop a kind of professional armor when coping with the negative responses that inevitably accompany the publication of any work whatsoever (http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2006/07/02/ignore-your-critics/  http://www.dirjournal.com/articles/dealing-with-criticism-on-your-blog/ … http://www.writingforward.com/category/writing-help/critiques-writing-help).

Otherwise a writer can become obsessed by the cult of anonymous criticism and fall into the abyss that most recently swallowed Orlando Figes (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/23/poison-pen-reviews-historian-orlando-figes).

There is plenty of advice about how to deal with criticism, as you might expect, ranging from bon mots from highly quotable figures such as Samuel Johnson (http://www.wisdomquotes.com/003672.html) to articles in a wide variety of publications about how to cope with the phenomena (http://www.monstersandcritics.com/tech/news/article_1150181.php/Internet_website_facilitates_anonymous_criticism) (http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/silence-your-critics) (http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/leaddev/he501w.htm) and even make good use of it.

Naturally, one’s own inner crtic is called into play (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/therese-borchard/5-ways-to-silence-your-in_b_216767.html) when the criticsm starts pouring in from the outside (http://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/2009/10/the-inner-critics-dressingup-box.html) and often the self can be the toughest voice to handle (http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/01/how_to_quiet_your_inner_critic.html). 

Of course, the trouble with paying too much attention to your crticis is that you lose sight of your own style, your own message, your own perspective, and your own reasons for writing.

And if you’re not having at least some fun when you write, why bother?

Take my word for it.