How not to handle criticism
Yesterday or the day before I was on goodreads and in one of the groups I am a part of I came across a post by a Mike about his blog post on how to handle criticism. I tried to read his blog and I made a suggestion, well here's what happened. What do you think
The post I made and the rants that follow
Me: My advice to since I had to get the dictionary to understand your blog is to stop using all the 50 cent words and talk like a normal person. There are simpler words for the big words you used.
I am not saying your blog was bad just hard for me to understand.
Mike: I'm aware that my writing can be a bit esoteric at times; that's just my style. You can call it whatever you wish. I don't mean to be anything more than what I am. Your advice has been heard and considered, but I've understood that to be just what it is; apparently, you're just not within my demography.
Mike: Also, "normal" is subjective. I would think a fellow writer to know better than to use a term like that. Define normal. If by normal, you mean "average" then simply take it as that I am not your average person, rather than lowering my vocabulary level and warping my grammatical structure. My advice to you, is to improve your own vocabulary and understanding of the English language.
The difference between the two is simple: "average" is mathematically proven; "normal" is perceptual.
Mike: ...and it's *"speak like a normal person" *"blog" and *"advice to you". I'm aware that I may sound arrogant with this response, but it's truly not intentional. I just think that we're writers; therefore, we should represent. I also suggest you work on your spelling.
No one's writing is perfect. That's part of the lesson therein. Becoming comfortable with who you are and your own voice is part of that very journey to mastery of the art. The difference between I and a lesser-skilled writer who would use those "50-cent" words you speak of is that I actually have a full understanding of the words that I use and actively seek, on a daily basis, to add to my personal lexicon, lest I not use them at all. This is who I am; this is my voice. If it would appeal to a smaller niche audience, then so be it; this is who I am, ostensibly not who you are or those like you.
^ and that is the attitude I think more writers should have, once they've found, created, and/or molded themselves into who they genuinely want to be, in order to write from the heart with passion.
My last reply to "mike"
I made a suggestion and that's all it was please do not take it as bashing I just would hate for any writer to lose readers for what ever reason. I am sorry you feel that I was putting you down. I was just trying to be helpful enjoy your world.
Mike's last reply to me
And I apologize if I seemed arrogantly defensive.
This whole thing happened because I suggested that he use simpler words but as u can see he took my suggestion as a bad thing.
The post I made and the rants that follow
Me: My advice to since I had to get the dictionary to understand your blog is to stop using all the 50 cent words and talk like a normal person. There are simpler words for the big words you used.
I am not saying your blog was bad just hard for me to understand.
Mike: I'm aware that my writing can be a bit esoteric at times; that's just my style. You can call it whatever you wish. I don't mean to be anything more than what I am. Your advice has been heard and considered, but I've understood that to be just what it is; apparently, you're just not within my demography.
Mike: Also, "normal" is subjective. I would think a fellow writer to know better than to use a term like that. Define normal. If by normal, you mean "average" then simply take it as that I am not your average person, rather than lowering my vocabulary level and warping my grammatical structure. My advice to you, is to improve your own vocabulary and understanding of the English language.
The difference between the two is simple: "average" is mathematically proven; "normal" is perceptual.
Mike: ...and it's *"speak like a normal person" *"blog" and *"advice to you". I'm aware that I may sound arrogant with this response, but it's truly not intentional. I just think that we're writers; therefore, we should represent. I also suggest you work on your spelling.
No one's writing is perfect. That's part of the lesson therein. Becoming comfortable with who you are and your own voice is part of that very journey to mastery of the art. The difference between I and a lesser-skilled writer who would use those "50-cent" words you speak of is that I actually have a full understanding of the words that I use and actively seek, on a daily basis, to add to my personal lexicon, lest I not use them at all. This is who I am; this is my voice. If it would appeal to a smaller niche audience, then so be it; this is who I am, ostensibly not who you are or those like you.
^ and that is the attitude I think more writers should have, once they've found, created, and/or molded themselves into who they genuinely want to be, in order to write from the heart with passion.
My last reply to "mike"
I made a suggestion and that's all it was please do not take it as bashing I just would hate for any writer to lose readers for what ever reason. I am sorry you feel that I was putting you down. I was just trying to be helpful enjoy your world.
Mike's last reply to me
And I apologize if I seemed arrogantly defensive.
This whole thing happened because I suggested that he use simpler words but as u can see he took my suggestion as a bad thing.
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