Thoughts on Critique

Personally, the only way I accept critique is when it's live.

I know, there's a lot of feelings against artists who can't accept such things over the internet and I probably seem weak saying that I don't want critique here, or on any of my websites, but I don't. The problem is, is that when you're typing to me here (or there, or anywhere over the internet) a lot of important elements of our communication are lost. Think about it; when you type a comment to me, I cannot see, hear or smell you. I usually cannot tell if what you are saying is kindly or if it is being laced with cyanide, because I cannot see your body language or hear your tone or subconsciously smell the pheromones that you are exhibiting. A lot of information is lost over the internet in this fashion and while that may not mean much for you, it means a lot to me because I am a nervous person. Thus, if somebody intends to critique me, then they'd better be willing to physically sit down with me and they'd better be prepared to reassure me that their intent is good, or I won't even sit down. I only accept critique from people who will do this, who will sit down with me in person. If I wanted critique online, I would find a website for that, but as it is, this is just my notebook and my sketch blog is just my sketch blog. I know my faults and I am working to correct them. If you have a problem with my policy regarding critique, then remember Bambi and the bunny Thumper; "If you don't have nothin' nice to say, don't say nothin' at all!"

Thank you! :)


Just a note - there are exceptions. One is if I've known you for a long time and we're friendly, or if you're somebody I respect as a creative superior and you know that I respect you, but we're also friendly. Don't critique online if we're not friends. I don't take it from strangers unless you're giving it live.

FFFFFFFFFFFF! (A vent.)

Alright, so here's a rant. I hate people who are critical of stories and I especially hate myself. People who are critical of stories are just plain annoying, especially if you know my take on what a good review is. If you can't enjoy a story even for its strong points, you suck. Am I critical of stories? Hell yes I am! To the point where I have killer writer's block right now and can't write more than a few paragraphs without having a conniption and deleting it all. I don't know what's wrong with me. I have tried everything from just temporarily abandoning my story and working on the next one to restarting the second half and nothing is working. I've tried editing what I have. I've tried rewriting parts and reworking them and I'm not sure if it's working. The problem is that I like some of what I have, I really do, I'm just not sure if its working and my brain really isn't computing. This is a recipe for strong self-hate because I feel like I'm chasing my tail to the point of getting really dizzy. Writing used to be what I loved doing most, before I moved out and became a stupid fucking adult. Scratch that - I wrote all of the EB that I have since I moved out, and it's excellent. I'm just having a block against writing anymore or doing anything to it, because a lot of what I come out with lately is CRAP in the quality. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. I can't stand myself.

Now everyone's going to think I'm weak for hating critics. Fuck off. I'm entitled. I have my own critic right here and she's a real scurvy bitch. I don't need anybody else messing with my head.

My Definition of a 'Good Review'

It's funny that in modern day I have to define this, but coming from a place like deviantART is this really surprising? My idea of a good review is not "OMFG THAT WAS FRIGGING AMAZING!!!!1!!!!1!!!" like people seem to think, but a kind, honest review that says "hey, this is a good book, it has faults like all books do, but I liked the characters or I liked it anyway." A good review is one that comes from shows that whoever read the book honestly enjoyed the ride the author took them on. I get really frustrated when people get super critical about books and movies, saying "it was a bad movie because of these continuity errors" or "bah they could of done so much more with the genre" or "that was so cliche, I hated it because they reused the same theme."

Let me say this; people who over critisize things really get my goat. Really. When people start nitpicking the shit out of a perfectly good story it makes me want to punch them in the head. Do these people not realize that there isn't a single story in the world that is completely original? Even Shakespeare took ideas from other authors. Human kind has been telling the exact same stories in different forms from the beginning of time and will likely continue to until its end. I'm sorry critics, but no matter what you say, you will never see a completely original tale. Somebody, somewhere, has said it all before. There is no such thing. So get off your high horse and enjoy the story for what it is, otherwise kindly piss off.

That's all.