elainemcooper
Lisa Lickel
Five ways to overcome criticism.
Posted by janeteckles on September 15, 2012
By: Janet Perez Eckles
No way. Could that be true? Book reviews be tainted and slanted for a fee?
The answer is in this New York Times article.
Confession time: Regarding reviews, as an author, a slightly negative comment about my work erases joy quicker than a click on the mouse.
Faced any rejection lately? A bit of criticism clouded your day? Here’s a thought: If our keyboard is on the solid ground of God’s grace, we can ask five questions to overcome criticism.
1. Did we seek God’s wisdom?
2. Are our motives pure?
3. Do our efforts reflect God’s truth?
4. Did we craft our very best?
5. Are our convictions uncompromised?
If the answers are yes, then our soul whispers a sweet, “all is well.” Renewed peace fills our nights knowing others’ reviews or criticism shouldn’t really matter.
When ready to overcome criticism, what will matter is discerning whether our fingers danced on the keyboard to string insights that make the Lord smile with pleasure.
Seeking to please Him covers our writing, changes the focus, and highlights the truth He wrote in our hearts: “He comes to judge the earth He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth” (Psalm 96:13).
Father, how foolish of me to be torn down by what others think, what others say, or by those who criticize my work. The truth of your promise that tells me you see my heart, you know my ways and you alone judge my motives brings me fresh freedom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• What promise do you hold on to when criticized?
• Where does your reassurance come from?
• Who holds your tomorrows, your future plans and outcome?
Janet
Cheering you on to experience life, harvest its lessons and share their outcome.
2 Responses to “Five ways to overcome criticism.”
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Lisa Lickel said
Thank you, Janet, as always, for turning a negative into a positive. I’m rounding up reviewers again for my newest novels, and one person asked to review who had not been happy with another book of mine. I sent a copy anyway because honesty, given for the reasons that are helpful and not simply hurtful are welcome. As I say in my “how to review” booklet, a review reflects more on the reviewer than the material being reviewed, so watch what you write-and don’t write. We can be gracious when someone correctly points out formatting issues that made a book hard to read, or when a particular scene jumped out and bit the for a documented and sensible reason, but when a reviewer is the only one of a couple dozen to take pot shots, then you should giggle.
sandra305 said
Hi,Janet I received an error message for the link to the New York Times article in case you want to replace it with another link. Thanks, Sandy