Recent posts tagged criticism
2020
Kauffmann Syndrome
The problem with much criticism: it proceeds from the flawed premise that art is hierarchical.
The Impossible Factor
Why SF&F have something to teach us even when it isn't "real".
Leveled Up
If people critique your themes or intentions, that's a sign you've leveled up.
Kindly Educate Me About My Suckage
More on how most writers are not good givers of writerly feedback. Few people are.
By Hook Or By Book Or By Crook
On how my friend and fellow writer Matt is against the idea of the "hook" as a narrative mechanism.
When Weighing In Got Outweighed
Why I no longer write reviews of stuff for my own site.
2019
I Owe An Excuse
What's the difference between an appreciation of something and making excuses for it?
Short Of My Own Mark
A good critic of other work makes me look at my own and feel like I've missed even the standards I wanted to set for myself.
The Case For Preferring Older Books
You miss out on less than you think.
Words From The Wise
Very few people are qualified to give useful story advice because they think the main function of a story is to entertain them.
The Performance Index
On gauging artistic quality by way of popularity, always a bad move.
2018
Beat It To Fit, Paint It To Match
"Workshop" is the wrong word for the place where we come to mutually improve our writing.
But Who Am I To Be Critical?
When you look at something, you have to be willing to not pretend that it needs to be great in order to justify anything.
Ruined Forever
No critic can ever "ruin" a work you like, unless you don't know what their job really is.
It's A Living
If written fiction's becoming nothing but a prelude to adaptation, what's that mean for written fiction itself?
2017
Grindhouse Vs. Arthouse Vs. My House
On schlock being useful without the love of it becoming its own snobbism.
How To Take Advice Disguised As Criticism (& v.v.)
Or, how to keep pedantic jackasses from getting the better of you.
Crazy Doesn't Help
On the use of "crazy" as an intensifier.
Me First
I like to write about other peoples' work, but I write my own work first.
Not The Bookish Type Dept.
I went looking for books in my personal library that are about the craft of writing. I could barely find any.
2016
Cynthia's Blues Dept.
Can in time a comic book stand in the same realm as anything Henry James produced? I'm sure it's possible; I'd argue it's already happened.
10,000 Hours And Then Some Dept.
Why everything that's truly creative is what we're trained to ignore.
But That's Still Just, Like, Your Opinion, Man Dept.
I think, therefore I differ.
None-Hit Wonders Dept.
If I'm in the habit of listening outside my well-worn grooves, nothing is disappointing or distasteful.
Listen Without Prejudice Dept.
How to hear them out when they say you're wrong.
See other criticism posts for 2016
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