Okay, here's the scenario:

You wake up one morning with inspiration that must have come from the Lord above! You rush around, frantically searching for a pen that works and something-- ANYTHING-- to write on. Hurry!!! You can't lose these thoughts!

In a maniacal frenzy of ink and scribbles, you finally end this masterpiece. Once you catch your breath, you read it and realize that you are the world's new lyrical genius.

So, after correcting a few mistakes (after all, you're not a PERFECT genius!), you decide to share your brilliance with others. This is when your ego is deflated!

First of all, it's a difficult step to go from writing to sharing your work with others. You become extremely vulnerable. As artists, we are naturally sensitive. In most cases, we are more sensitive than the average person. Our work is a part of us, and more often than not, it is derived from personal experiences.

I remember my first critique. I thought I knew it all. A publisher returned material and had made a few suggestions. I was instantly hurt and angry. Didn't he feel the way I did? Couldn't he understand the emotions and statements that I was making? Looking back at it, I can now see my mistakes. However, eight years later, it is still difficult to accept an undesirable critique.

Here are some tips that I have had to use:

1)  When you first read a critique, don't make any judgments. Read it and then step away. The amount of "away time" depends on you and the harshness of the critique.

2)  Remember that all critiques are made by humans. We are all different and our ideas do not always agree with someone else's.

3)  Try to see the other person's point of view. They may actually have valid points! I know, it is a big step to look at your work objectively, but YOU CAN DO IT!

4)  Keep a sense of humor at all times. Sometimes we do tend to take the whole business way too seriously. Don't forget what brought you here to begin with. Have fun with it.

5)  Have confidence in yourself. If you love a verse that the majority of critics dislike, trust your gut. After all, it IS your song. You don't have to change anything if you don't want to. Stay true to your style. However, once again, try to see if their points are valid.

6)  Be nice! There are times when you want to say harsh words when someone gives you a tacky critique. It is best to just ignore it. Unfortunately, there are those who want nothing more then to totally bash another person's work. Don't play their game!

7)  Realize that you are not perfect. You will always need to work on some part of your writing. Take baby steps and get better every day.

8)  Critique someone else's work. Try it and you'll see what I mean. There are a lot songwriting message boards out there. They have helped me grow as a writer and given me some wonderful contacts.

9)  Last, say Thank You! Yes, it can be difficult. But, someone took time out of their life to critique your work. Even if you don't agree with them, you need to appreciate their effort.

I hope this has helped you. I have enjoyed reading your e-mail from my other article. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions.

Have fun and keep on writing,

Angela Walsh
angela@lunarfx.com
angela-walsh@usa.net