stacycandoit

Sometimes you need to have a laugh at your rejection. I learned that today when I visited this web site -- www.writingfailure.com. I wrote three pages after my visit. Pretty funny stuff.

rainbow

usually, whatever someone tells you as constructive critism is true, what you should do is look at your work again-in their light, bearing in mind what they say, and either improve it or bin it. Learn from rejection

Havoc

couldnt have said it better

Rob

I think you need to be a little careful in applying this. Soneone's constructive criticism is only "true" in the sense that it's their true opinion. If you seek constructive criticism from several sources, you'll often find disagreement between them, and it's not unusual to find direct contradiction. For this reason, you shouldn't assume that the opinion of one person represents the 'truth', simply an opinion. It may well be good advice, but you, as the author and owner of a piece have the final say as to whether you wish to take or ignore that advice.

Omni

Nazareth

unless their critique is pointing out grammar problems or structure prtoblems- those are pretty much universal truths- Also, they can be valuable in pointing out wether the story has appeal enough to be considered for publication

White Warlock

Opinions are like a-holes, everybody has one. I've been in writing groups of 60 or more people. Each one would interpret what i wrote, or what each other wrote, in a different way. What you need to look for is not what people point out, but affirmation. Affirmation of something you wrote that bothered you, and then bothered another, or affirmation of something you liked, and others liked as well. Also, if the majority find a particular part disturbing, and that was not your intent, then you should reconsider the way you are presenting that particular part.

Taking criticism is not an easy task. It requires that you set aside the investment of time, energy, and emotion you put into your work... and allow people to hit you with their best shot. Only then can you improve. For although art can be interpreted... damn ugly is still damn ugly.

The thing is, if you can step out of yourself, out of your ego, out of you defensive pride and your faltering self-esteem, and look at your work through the eyes of others... step into 3rd person mode and see your work for something other than the 'baby' you birthed... you'll gain insight into just what it is that needs improvement. Not merely on that particular story, but on all future stories... and possibly on ones written in the past.

Thanks for reading

eMBeR Chan

wow I should post all my work on that site...

__________________
Yesterday, there was so many things I was never shown
Suddenly this time I found I'm on the streets and I'm all alone
'Cause yesterday's got nothin' for me
Old pictures that I'll always see
Time just fades the pages In my book of memories

Ed Parnell

If you are in any creative field, people are going to have opinions. Sometimes those opinions will offend. Occasionally, they'll hurt. Often they'll help.

AS long as it's constructive, take it on board and set a course for adventure.

__________________
I heard a rumour that gossip may be dying out.
http://www.edparnell.co.uk. Don't laugh.

Ralizah

With opinions on your work, you should consider every one of them before applying any of them to your work. Use what you can and throw out the rest.

Anyhow, if a publisher says you have no audience, then you probably don't. Remember, publishers look for what'll sell, not what is or isn't a good story. So if they don't accept your 8 book fantasy epic because they don't think it has an audience, then don't take it to heart and search for someone else to look at it.

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Thoughts: Philosophy is the basis of human morality and thus it is also the basis of human life; loving life is a result of applying a healthy philosophy.

crceres

I feel obligated to point out that there are a number of books (e.g. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) that went through over a hundred submissions--at least, I think that's right--before someone published it. And that was a book that was in definite need of constructive criticism.

Ed Parnell

You have to remember I think there are people who are convinced, despitre all evidence, they are right. In some cases this is to be admired. It is an admirable quality to pursue your dream, no matter how deluded it seems to others.

However, most of us will take a firm look at projects and see if they need re-writing. I used to send script off as soon as I had finished them when I first started and became very bitter about the responses. Now, having learned my trade, I develop, nuture, and take on board what people have to say. I take on board what I think is relevant and disregard anything I think doesn't gel with the project. It's a lot like having a salad. I always disgard the celery, whilst dipping the tomatoes into the mayonaise and enjoying the fresh, pure taste.

So my scripts are full of mayonaise and tomato stains? So what?

__________________
I heard a rumour that gossip may be dying out.
http://www.edparnell.co.uk. Don't laugh.

Truth-Teller

So how DO you deal with rejections?

Like this ... like this ... or like this ...

Christ, I'm more like this:

Hmm...

Truth-Teller

Most of you are probably like this:

And in that order.

Krim

I go like this...

"Blah."

__________________
"A terrible energy and strength began to grow in him. It grabbed his emotions and forged them into a solid bar of anger with one word stamped on it: revenge." - Eragon by Christopher Paolini, an international bestseller

mammamaia

why are you guys replying to posts that are YEARS old?... take a look at the date of the last post that's noted on the left side of it, at the very top...

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