Wednesday 22 December 2010

Praise = Constructive Criticism. What do you think?

  • Do you ever hold back praise in fear of not constructively criticising someone's work? 
  • Do you ever hold back praise because you think the author/writer is brilliant and knows it? (Believe me, we may think we're brilliant in small bursts of temperamental self-confidence, but it never lasts. More often than not we think we're terrible.)
  • Do you ever hold back praise because you think the work has so many problems that need to be dealt with before offering any?
  • Do you ever hold back praise out of jealously?
  • Do you ever hold back praise due to thinking the writer might believe you're not very well-educated in literature and therefore can't find anything to criticize?

Well, I say stop it. You know why? Because praise can act as constructive criticism too. Sometimes praise motivates us to do better because we want to continue to impress the person who has offered it. We want to continue to write well (or whatever the project may be) in fear of disappointing the praiser the next time.

  • Praise is a push in the right direction.
  • Praise inspires.
  • Praise goes a lot further than you think.
  • It's not just flattery - it's validation.
  • Praise makes writers want to write more - artists want to keep creating.

So go ahead! Praise someone. You might even make yourself feel good too. :o)

36 comments:

  1. Dear Fim,

    You don't always suck. Sometimes you're sort-of cat-like in a normal way. Keep up the good work.
    ~C

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  2. I open my crits with praise before I move on to my suggestions for improvement. I agree that a spoonful of sugar does make the medicine go down more easily.

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  3. I NEVER hold back praise. Ha. I totally agree it's necessary and constructive.

    Merry Christmas!

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  4. I am much more likely to hold back on criticism. I will go ahead and offer crits that are easy to fix, but it's really hard when a writer has something that has severe issues, especially if you think that writer has no idea they exist. I tried to read a self-published book by a friend, and it was so bad that I just couldn't say anything. It never should have been published in its current state. How can one tell a person that?

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  5. So, so important!! If a crit partner can't at least find something positive to say, then they're not the right partner for me. Praise is important, and very much needed for all of us ... along with constructive criticism.

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  6. I look for what's praiseworthy and what could be strengthened in every critique I offer. It's so important to point out what's good -- and I love how you put it here: (Praise) is not just flattery, it's validation. So true!!

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  7. So true! If I can't find something nice to say about a piece that I'm reading then that tells me it's just not the right piece for me to be critiquing. Personally, if I see something one of my fellow writers is doing that I really enjoy I want to make sure they know, so they continue to do it!!

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  8. I praise YOU. Love your blog and your topics. And I appreciate your comments on mine.

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  9. Lol I love the comic. Brilliant.

    I always praise and complement people when they deserve it. If people want my honest opinion about how he/she wrote, why would I lie to him/her?

    But you make some excellent points as to why praise can be so important.

    Well done.

    ;-P

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  10. I've seen pieces which I thought were well-written and comparable to published work, only to be torn apart by crits. If someone is on the right track, let them know with praise. Tell them what's good so they can keep doing it. I always point out what I like and why and critique technical errors so they can be fixed. Writing style is subjective and I leave that alone.

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  11. I never hold back negative or positive feedback when I crit. It would be a waste of everyone's time to do so. I might miss something from time to time, because I lose focus, but if I notice it I'm damn sure pointing it out. It would feel to disingenuous to do otherwise.

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  12. Praise is like balm to the writer's soul. Especially to the soul of a writer who has been torn apart again and again and again. I try not to hold it back.

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  13. I never hold back praise...

    But I'll admit that when I recieve it I'm often skeptical of whether or not it's genuine.

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  14. I agree 100%! You always have to say something good along with the criticisms.

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  15. Praise me all you want, I won't believe you. Criticize all you want, I won't believe you.

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  16. I love to praise! It's impossible for me to hold back!

    Have a very Merry Christmas!

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  17. There is always something to praise, even if it is just the effort, the bravery, the hope involved in writing anything.

    The best praise of all? "I wish I had written that, but I know I could not because I am not you. I can help you say this more clearly. I can help the writing follow stylistic rules, but only you could have written this piece, and I am better for having read it."

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  18. AGREE! AGREE! AGREE!

    Brilliant post. Writers are an insecure bunch and thrive on praise.

    Have a great Christmas, Jess!
    xx

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  19. I never hold back praise that’s just wrong!

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  20. hi miss jessica! WOW thats the most fantastic greatest most best ever most smart and most wonderfullest post ever in the whole history of posts!!!!! hows that for praise. :) for me just a little pat on my back get me feeling good.
    ...hugs from lenny

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  21. I agree! A good crit always points out the positive. Even a small smiley in the margin is enough to nudge me in the right direction. As for the nasty crits - well, we're in the wordsmithing business. I think we should always take the time to phrase things in a constructive, tactful way.

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  22. I agree that praise is a total self-confidance booster and motivator and offers inspiration to get the next scene written. But since I've just recently gotten my first praise from a critiquer, after several months of only "fix it" critiques, I wouldn't have felt as overjoyed as I did once I got it. Howoever, since I know how much just a little bit of praise can help me to keep going, I always offer a compliment to the writer's work either before or after I offer suggestions for improvement. christy

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  23. I agree completely -- praise is a strong motivator. And there is always something to praise. :)

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  24. I find it easier to praise than criticism.
    As for praising myself, best I can offer is I am becoming a better writer!

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  25. Praise should always be given before and after a critcism - it's called sandwiching. And if we don't offer praise, how do we ever expect to receive it?

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  26. I always praise work I've read. Just getting it on paper and in someone else's eyes is reason for praise. And then I give 'em my 2cents.

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  27. Nice! I agree - there's always something to like in someone's work. I think it's best to start there - let them know they're appreciated :)

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  28. I would NEVER hold back on the praise...even if the other party were a complete a$$. I think how you praise/criticize though depends on how far along the writer is.

    Merry Christmas!

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  29. Agree, agree and agree.
    And I love the cartoon.

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  30. Agree, agree and agree.
    And I love the cartoon.

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  31. You're totally right--I think pointing out both what works and what doesn't is best, and if something merits REAL PRAISE--shout it!

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  32. Well, I'm brilliant all the time.

    Wait... what if I'm not? What if I suck? Oh God, what am I going to do?

    No, wait. I'm brilliant. Yeah. Deep breath. Brilliant. Sure thing. Right?

    Right? Why aren't you answering?



    :)

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  33. I never hold back praise. I usually can find something genuinely good in anything I read.

    I have been a little too honest with my criticism, however constructive it may be, and am guilty of sometimes holding back my honest opinion for fear of crushing an inexperienced writer's confidence.

    I think we always have to consider where the person is in their development as a writer before we give feedback.

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  34. That last comment sounds confusing. What I meant was... I have been too critical in the past and now I tend to hold back a little.

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“I'm using my art to comment on what I see. You don't have to agree with it.” ~John Mellencamp

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