I was watching the encore telecast of American Idol 11 and J.Lo shared the best advice someone has given her: to let it go. She tells the contestant, that people will give us critiques/comments on how to do this and that... how we could do better; and we should listen. But at the end of the day, after we had taken it all in, we just have to let it go. Stop thinking and just start feeling. 

I believe it also works in writing.  Most of the time, the reason why it's hard for us to start that chapter or story is that we tend to think too much. Yes, it is necessary that we know the technical aspects in writing and asking for  feedback about our stories can also help us improve.

However, we should never let these critiques/reviews limit us. If we listen and do everything we are told, we are just like robots writing a story for that one person or group of persons. Remember that we aren't pros here in AFF and being an English major doesn't really qualify one to be a reviewer.  

Below is a message I sent to one of my friends here:

None of the reviewers here are professionals and even if they are english majors, their critiques aren't perfect and absolute. Their experience is quite limited also. Besides, reviewing is subjective; it is based on the reviewer's taste. The numbers doesn't make it objective.

While there are guidelines on how to write a story, we also have freedom and creativity. Bearing in mind that people have different tastes, it would be nearly impossible to write a story that everyone would like. 

My sister is a creative writing major and she told me that the phds in her field are not that famous with the public since they tend to be strict with their writing. Perfect could be boring. Bloggers, who aren't even English majors, are even more popular. The freedom in their writing reaches a wider audience because people could relate to them.  

 

You'll be surprised that not all reviewers have perfect grammar and spelling; some fail to do research.

Ask for reviews but be sure to check their stories first. Just be critical; accept everything they tell you with an open mind. I believe that a good reviewer has a good command of the language that you won't feel bad to read his/her assesment. It is possible to provide a thorough and honest review without hurting the other person's feelings.  

I do read reviews here in AFF, and I feel bad for the client when words used in the review are harsh and dripping with sarcasm. Reviews like these don't really show that they are strict and serious reviewers. They just lack the vocabulary to make a decent review.  

Although some sound harsh and so full of themselves, just imagine and believe that they are really encouraging you to continue writing. Don't let them get you down. Besides, they leave those little nice notes in the end of the review to patch up your wounds XD

Now, when we open that document, let us not think about the "rules" and just write. Let us not silence our own voices or kill our own styles just to create that perfect chapter. Besides, we can always EDIT afterwards.

-Keeper

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E X T R A S

After posting this rather short yet encouraging *nod, nod* blog entry, Keeper went into stalking mode again and I found these: 1 2