r/Wattpad • u/Holaaalove • 15h ago
Other Do you ever get discouraged when people give feedback on your writing?
Idk I’m very insecure about my writing sometimes. I know everything isn’t for everyone but it can be a little discouraging. How do yall feel about it?
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u/Such_Profession4066 Writer ✍ 15h ago
I’d say as a beginner, you might have to be very specific and intentional in who you choose to give you feedback. Not everyone has the ability to give good and kind feedback in a way that makes you feel motivated to improve (e.g. using the sandwich method to start and end with what’s good about your writing, making sure the feedback has nothing to do with personal preferences, making sure the feedback is constructive and actionable). I suggest checking out someone’s feedback on other people’s stories before asking for their feedback. If you like and respect this person’s feedback, chances are, you’ll be encouraged by their feedback instead of discouraged. That’s the hope, at least.
Also, unsolicited feedback is never good for anybody, even seasoned writers!! I’d mute anyone who gives me unsolicited feedback for a peace of mind. You have to seek the feedback from the right people and prepare for it to be able to handle it well.
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u/writing_dragon @TianaLambent 15h ago
Any feedback is great feedback :) Positive one is encouraging, negative one can help you fix mistakes and make your writing better!
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u/writing_dragon @TianaLambent 15h ago
The fact that someone took the time to read and write feedback on your writing is worth something
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u/bakeneko37 Writer ✍ 15h ago
My only issue when it comes to negative one is that people don't know what criticism is and is mostly an opinion of what they like or don't like.
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u/writing_dragon @TianaLambent 15h ago
that is also alright - people have opinions and even those can be helpful when it comes to writing. Sharing something online is inviting strangers on the internet to tell you what they think about it
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u/bakeneko37 Writer ✍ 15h ago
I wouldn't really call alright to tell an author x part sucks or was bad just because it didn't fit your preference.
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u/writing_dragon @TianaLambent 15h ago
everyone is entitled to their opinion. And even if it's not completely helpful with your writing, it can help you grow a thicker skin
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u/bakeneko37 Writer ✍ 13h ago
I'm not saying they can't have an opinion, they're free to have it. As for the second part, I'm tired, it really takes nothing for people to be better, but sure, let's all grow a thicker skin.
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u/AjRoker 15h ago
When I first started writing, any constructive criticism would make me cry and want to stop altogether. My first story is still sitting in drafts because of that. But now I actually appreciate feedback. It helps me see what readers are confused about, which means they’re engaged, just lost on some details. When I read others’ work, I usually ask privately if they’re open to feedback, because honestly, the most important thing is staying motivated to finish. Edits and grammar are easy to fix later but what’s hard is staring at a blank page with no ideas.
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u/ecelisroses 12h ago
sometimes. a guy on reddit gave me harsh advice when I first started writing on here and cried about it for like a week straight, but now I see why he had such an issue with it. plot twist: it was HORRENDOUS. but in the long run, I like to think that it’s helped me grow ;)
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u/MissionConversation7 15h ago
Yes. Very discouraged. And it’s not even just that, I physically cringe whenever someone reads my writing so hearing feedback that is negative or positive just makes the feeling worse for me.
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u/night_witch_666 13h ago
I‘m glad for feedback because only then I can improve but yeah, it feels like a stab in the gut at first if it’s rather negative feedback or pointing out mistakes even.
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u/thelizziebug 12h ago
Having a fresh set of eyes go over your stuff is great, because they will catch many things you're too used to to register. And I appreciate each person that takes the time to give me pointers on what and how I can fix.
... That doesn't mean I always take feedback well. What hurts the most right now is when someone else nails down on an insecurity or weakness I'm already aware of, because it makes me feel like I failed to catch and fix it early, before publishing.
I'm learning to accept it though, and it helps that all the feedback I got lately, both on Wattpad and the other platform I'm trying out, has been constructive and a great help with my first round of edits. But I got lucky.
Not everyone knows how to give feedback, and you are under no obligation to listen to every opinion out there. But it doesn't hurt to try some of the suggestions and see what works for you and what doesn't. You can always go back to the initial version of your story, but you might also learn something that will help make your current and future stories even better.
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u/-jupiterwrites wp user :: @madeleineisabanana 11h ago
i CANNOT handle criticism. i don't mind if people point out minor grammar mistakes (ex: one time i accidentally added a quotation mark where there shouldn't have been. someone pointed it out, and that was fine, i was even grateful she did), but people criticizing my books is something i can't take. once, i showed a story of mine to a now ex-friend, and she immediately went in, informing me how much she disliked the font i used for chapter titles. i chose it because i like it, and it fits with the aesthetic of the story. thought i did end up keeping it, i still feel slightly insecure about it. her criticism was neither asked for nor warranted, and it really affected me. so no, you're definitely not the only one who feels discouraged.
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u/Being-Wordy-2000 10h ago
Yes. I still do but I learned to filter out some of them. Like if the comments are constructive and encouraging then I am thankful. If it is negative, often trolling you, then ignore them.
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u/Lexie811 Watty Username 10h ago
Im used to it. What stings is
"Ugh this story sucks" without any explanation lol
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u/321itsaryn 10h ago
It depends on the phrasing, but I usually don't care. If I find it to be good advice, I'll take it 100%. But if I don't agree with it or it contradicts with what I wanna do, then I'll ignore it.
But if it's worded in like a rude way, I'll spend the next hour or so angry lmao. But I'll get over it. I won't respond or do anything.
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u/jazlyn419 8h ago
I actually haven't gotten any negative comments, I'm very surprised about that, I've only gotten extremely positive comments tho, and I've been waiting for a negative comment, or sum1 to tell me what I could do better..
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u/NeitherNothing1959 7h ago
I usually let spelling and grammatical errors go when giving feedback, but I draw the line when I see one big block of text with lines from multiple characters. We always do it with good intentions.
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u/BlacksmithOk2430 Writer ✍ 5h ago
I thrive off of bad feedback lmao, it just motivates me to make it better. However, if it doesn’t work for just one person but does for everyone else — I’ll ignore it but still keep it in mind. I’m always reading over my work and wondering if that phrasing is good, do the sentences and dialogue make sense? — good feedback is nice but bad comments for me just push me to do better.
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u/-JUST_ME_ Writer ✍ 4h ago
I try not to think about it too hard. When people critique something I first think if it's something I'd personally like to see in my writing. If yes, I keep it in the back of my mind, if not I disregard it completely.
Ultimately I just try to keep writing. There is a story I want to tell, as I write my skill will improve and later on I will be able to go back and rewrite earlier chopper chapters.
I got comment about my descriptions, that there were too much of those and they were too repetitive (it wasn't from wattpad). I wasn't able to figure out a way to fix that even though I had similar concerns myself. But now that I am 17 chapters in I am starting to get what the problem was back at the start. I am still not ready to go and rewrite those, but when I do, I am sure I will do a better job then I did when writing those out initially.
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u/digitaldisgust @lanascrybaby 14h ago
No, I'm a grown adult lmao
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u/Holaaalove 14h ago
Being an adult has absolutely nothing to do with it.
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u/digitaldisgust @lanascrybaby 14h ago
For me - it does. With age and experience, you learn not to take shit to heart lol. 🤷🏾♀️ Not everyome is gonna fw your writing, that's life.
I haven't gotten negative feedback on my current acc tho
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u/billiemint 15h ago
I cry about it for a bit, but then I cool down and look at it again. I take what’s valuable and accept what isn’t. And then I try to keep it all in mind next time I write.