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6:46:00 PM EDT
Hearing Nothing at this very moment.
Criticism
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Now, I like to think I'm a well-regarded -- heck, maybe even beloved -- figure around here at AOL Journals. But apparently not everyone likes me:
Did you notice that there's a man, one Mr. John Scalzi, who is being promoted as such: "Learn how to share your world through AOL Journals, with writer John Scalzi." Writer. He is actually being labeled a writer. What self-respecting writer places a very fair amount of his time, energy, and supposed talent into discussing how to liven up an AOL Journal? Only some down-and-out hack that can't get publication because he hasn't written anything actually worthwhile. Sure, he might have gotten a few novels into publication, but nothing of actual value towards the American writers as a whole.
I cannot deny this assessment, at least about the novels, if only because none of them have been released yet (the first one is coming in 2004). The rest of it, of course, is a matter of opinion. Mine is different. That's the magic of opinions. They don't have to agree. Anyway, my teddy loves me.
I air this criticism for a reason, which is: When you write online, you put yourself out there for anyone to comment upon. Some people will like you, some won't. The first time someone writes something negative about you or something you've written, it's probably going to hurt a little bit (especially if you're not used to criticism).
When this happens, the best attitude to have is not to let it worry you overly much, and to just keep doing what you like doing. Accept that people aren't always going to agree with you and that some people wil be very vocal about the fact in their own writing. That's fine -- it's their journal or blog.
But don't let it get you down. There are better uses of your time. No one can make you feel bad about yourself without your permission. That's permission you don't have to give. Yes, it sounds all New-Agey and such, but it also happens to be true.
Remember it when you see something critical about yourself on a blog or Journal. It happens. It's no big deal. Really.
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Thank you for the advice. By the way, I find your writing skills to be above average. I have enjoyed your journaling, and hope for more tips from you.
Alta -
(Last thing, promise.) Anyone who writes should read Paul Fussell's essay, "Being Reviewed: The A.B.M. and Its Theory" which is in his collection _The Boy Scout Handbook
and Other Observations_. The ABM referred to is the Author's Big Mistake, namely quarreling in print with a critic's bad assessment of ones work. -
[Topic hijak] Lordy, the Internet is a wonderous thing. There just no way I could have found that quote at this hour. 'Best I could have done was mumbling something about 'didn't Johnson write something about authors risking disgrace or something.'
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"He that writes may be considered as a kind of general challenger, whom every one has a right to attack; since he quits the common rank of life, steps forward beyond the lists, and offers his merit to the public judgement. To commence author is to claim praise, and no man can justly aspire to honour, but at the hazard of disgrace."
Samuel Johnson: Rambler #93 (February 5, 1751) [Via amueljohnson.com]
9/19/03 10:45 AM