4 Things to Remember When Someone Doesn’t Like Your Writing

“...You can (1) cater to everyone's opinion and then you'll have a bland book written by committee, or (2) you can adjust a little here and there simply to make it more marketable or (3) you can decide to write what you please and damn the rest. You do what works best for you. I suggest you go with either option 2 or 3, because you cannot please everybody.”

— Holly Bargo

Ashley

My passion for storyology started at a typical young age, but with a desire to do it forever. That's why before I started my true writing journey, I taught writing and reading in high school classrooms in AZ. Later, I started writing part-time toward a goal of being published. All the while, trying to help others like me with my storyology blog.

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6 Responses

  1. John Vogel says:

    My first real work was a book called ‘Dear Kids’. It began as some letters to my children about some pretty hard lessons God has taught me through some very unique experiences – including almost being killed in a car crash, a battle with cancer, and losing 3 of me children now (2 to suicide). Most people are blessed by reading it, some even say it changed their lives. But one woman read it and was incensed! She asked me “Who the HELL do you think you are to write this stuff?” At first I didn’t even know how to respond. I mean, I felt like I had shared my soul with her and was attacked in returned. I finally said, “I think I’m the person these things happened to. And there’s not a word in there that isn’t true. Besides, remember the title. These were intended as letters to my own children. It’s because of God’s prompting that I’m sharing them at all.” I never did find out what made her so angry. I think sometimes people don’t want to be CONstructive, but Destructive. It’s sad, but …

    • Nia Wilson says:

      I’m so sorry someone tried to invalidate your experiences like that, John! You’re so right, that some people look to just be destructive, even when given every opportunity to be the opposite. If God directed you to share, you may have touched her and her response was just anger because she didn’t want to accept that maybe she’s experienced similar, or that someone could address their ideas so adequately. In any case, you sound like you handled it so well, and didn’t let it destroy your confidence in your work. And, that’s the important part.

  2. E. Ericson says:

    We should keep in mind that we will boor some people. They won’t like what we write not because it isn’t good. It may be quite good. It just isn’t a good fit. I find this is true even with authors I like. I just don’t like some genres. Don’t take it personally, but two chapters in and I’m done. It’s not your problem and I don’t believe you can fix it.

    • Nia Wilson says:

      Very true. Some things are just out of our hands. We can’t please everyone! I’m the same way with some authors. I know sometimes, I’ll like the first book in a series, then not like other books because the writing style starts to change based on feedback from the author’s last book. It doesn’t mean the new style isn’t any better, it’s just not the style I enjoyed. And, that’s okay.

  3. Kellyn says:

    Thank you for posting this. It’s my first time here, and this is great. I’m having trouble finding my writing community. I honestly have no idea where to begin.

    • A Wise Woman says:

      Hi Kellyn. I’m glad you’re enjoying the content. I would recommend writing communities on Facebook and Google+. Personally, I’m very involved in the Writers’ Coffeehouse on Google+ the most and it has been a wonderful experience these past 7 months. The Writers Helping Writers group on Facebook is responsive, as well.

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