Comments on: Perfectionist or too critical? http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/ Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:15:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Keeping your chin up: Even if others say you stink ;-) « Dube’s World http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-1163 Keeping your chin up: Even if others say you stink ;-) « Dube’s World Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:38:23 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-1163 [...] up: Even if others say you stink ;-) Some of you may recall a post I wrote awhile back about being too critical of your own work. In addition to being a law student, I’m also a professional writer. I’ve learned over [...] [...] up: Even if others say you stink ;-) Some of you may recall a post I wrote awhile back about being too critical of your own work. In addition to being a law student, I’m also a professional writer. I’ve learned over [...]

]]> By: Dube http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-1020 Dube Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:10:47 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-1020 Panther - LOL! Wow! Your dad really is a bit too hard on himself! Steph - Good advice. It's hard to turn off the "inner editor" and just write, but that's the way to do it. Kraze - Great point and you're absolutely right. I guess it's better to be too critical than not critical enough! Panther – LOL! Wow! Your dad really is a bit too hard on himself!

Steph – Good advice. It’s hard to turn off the “inner editor” and just write, but that’s the way to do it.

Kraze – Great point and you’re absolutely right. I guess it’s better to be too critical than not critical enough!

]]> By: kraze http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-994 kraze Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:28:39 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-994 Its good to be a perfectionist in all artistic fields. The best critic you have is yourself... and you know what you want your image to represent. Granted some of your better work may slip through its a growing process. If you arent critical of yourself then you wont put out what you consider your best.. Its good to be a perfectionist in all artistic fields. The best critic you have is yourself… and you know what you want your image to represent. Granted some of your better work may slip through its a growing process. If you arent critical of yourself then you wont put out what you consider your best..

]]> By: Steph http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-990 Steph Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:31:26 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-990 As an editor, I find it extremely difficult not to heavily scrutinize my writing, specifically my fiction. It's so hard to just let myself write. Instead, I edit every sentence as I go, and then, often discouraged because of how tedious and difficult it is to write that way, I don't finish. Easier to edit other people's work! I've been reading a lot about how to write, about letting myself go, getting into that creative space and out of that self-critical editor space, to just let everything come out without inhibition. It's very tough getting back into something I love after so much time away from it (specifically fiction writing). One of the tricks, I suppose, is to do what one writer said: "Let THEM decide. You just DO." As an editor, I find it extremely difficult not to heavily scrutinize my writing, specifically my fiction. It’s so hard to just let myself write. Instead, I edit every sentence as I go, and then, often discouraged because of how tedious and difficult it is to write that way, I don’t finish. Easier to edit other people’s work!

I’ve been reading a lot about how to write, about letting myself go, getting into that creative space and out of that self-critical editor space, to just let everything come out without inhibition. It’s very tough getting back into something I love after so much time away from it (specifically fiction writing).

One of the tricks, I suppose, is to do what one writer said: “Let THEM decide. You just DO.”

]]> By: Urban Panther http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-987 Urban Panther Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:24:17 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-987 Let's just say I read my writing with a critical eye. I don't think I'm overly critical, but I won't post until I am absolutely happy with it. My dad, on the other hand drives us all nuts. He is an incredible artist. He goes off to openings of his artsy friends. He comes home muttering about how his watercolours are as good or better. Out they all come and he starts to frame them. 24 hours later, they are all back in boxes. The up note on this is that we will inherit them all. My brothers and I will pick what we like, and then we will shamelessly frame and sell the rest *grin* Let’s just say I read my writing with a critical eye. I don’t think I’m overly critical, but I won’t post until I am absolutely happy with it. My dad, on the other hand drives us all nuts. He is an incredible artist. He goes off to openings of his artsy friends. He comes home muttering about how his watercolours are as good or better. Out they all come and he starts to frame them. 24 hours later, they are all back in boxes. The up note on this is that we will inherit them all. My brothers and I will pick what we like, and then we will shamelessly frame and sell the rest *grin*

]]> By: Dube http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-981 Dube Fri, 25 Jul 2008 21:08:21 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-981 It's nice to know that I'm not alone! :-) @Bruce - I agree. Sometimes a deadline is the only thing that gets me to "just let go" of the piece! @Lefty - Thanks for sharing about Baby Face. It does sound like a requirement for our field, doesn't it? Something that's a part of our makeup. @Spy - You enjoy making fun of your writing? LOL. I can't wait to reach that point! @Ribeezie - You're right. Being overly critical does result in a stronger product. As long as I'm not so critical that I quit the project entirely! :-P @Kate - VERY interesting. I'll have to check your blog for the link! :) It’s nice to know that I’m not alone! :-)

@Bruce – I agree. Sometimes a deadline is the only thing that gets me to “just let go” of the piece!

@Lefty – Thanks for sharing about Baby Face. It does sound like a requirement for our field, doesn’t it? Something that’s a part of our makeup.

@Spy – You enjoy making fun of your writing? LOL. I can’t wait to reach that point!

@Ribeezie – You’re right. Being overly critical does result in a stronger product. As long as I’m not so critical that I quit the project entirely! :-P

@Kate – VERY interesting. I’ll have to check your blog for the link! :)

]]> By: kate1976 http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-980 kate1976 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:43:00 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-980 Oops logged in as my old self - so please feel free to edit my comment to my new details - or not (or delete this!) ... I am going now!!! Oops logged in as my old self – so please feel free to edit my comment to my new details – or not (or delete this!) … I am going now!!!

]]> By: kate http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-979 kate Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:42:03 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-979 I am uber-critical of my work so I completely understand you. On a similar theme and certainly more relevant to me as a noob to writing, I recently watched an interesting YouTube video (I need to go find it and when I do , I will post it on my blog!) which basically talks about the gap between the work you enjoy as a discerning reader/viewer with excellent taste and the work you are able to produce as a newbie. The highly refined skills of criticism which you are used to being applied to the greatest work mean that you know something great when you read / see it which can really hinder you when you first start out and it can take years before your work starts to live up to your high standards (if ever!). I am uber-critical of my work so I completely understand you. On a similar theme and certainly more relevant to me as a noob to writing, I recently watched an interesting YouTube video (I need to go find it and when I do , I will post it on my blog!) which basically talks about the gap between the work you enjoy as a discerning reader/viewer with excellent taste and the work you are able to produce as a newbie. The highly refined skills of criticism which you are used to being applied to the greatest work mean that you know something great when you read / see it which can really hinder you when you first start out and it can take years before your work starts to live up to your high standards (if ever!).

]]> By: Ribeezie http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-976 Ribeezie Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:03:17 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-976 Am I more critical of myself & my work than of other people? Absolutely! I don't like giving work any less than 100% of my effort and I'm displeased if I've felt I could've done more (which come to think of it, I guess we always end up feeling like we could've done more). Ultimately I know I've done a fine job (I'm often told so). If I wasn't so critical my performance would be weaker. So do I think it's ok to be overly-critical? I think so...yea...a little... Am I more critical of myself & my work than of other people? Absolutely! I don’t like giving work any less than 100% of my effort and I’m displeased if I’ve felt I could’ve done more (which come to think of it, I guess we always end up feeling like we could’ve done more). Ultimately I know I’ve done a fine job (I’m often told so). If I wasn’t so critical my performance would be weaker. So do I think it’s ok to be overly-critical? I think so…yea…a little…

]]> By: spyscribbler http://dube.wordpress.com/2008/07/25/perfectionist-or-too-critical/#comment-975 spyscribbler Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:31:57 +0000 http://dube.wordpress.com/?p=411#comment-975 Oh definitely. I've reached a point where I rather enjoy making fun of my shortcomings. It amuses me, even, to pound on my failings. Not sure it's healthy or not, but it tends not to cripple me any longer. I think I celebrate them: if I know they're there, then I can work on fixing them. How scary would it be to not know one's shortcomings? Oh definitely. I’ve reached a point where I rather enjoy making fun of my shortcomings. It amuses me, even, to pound on my failings.

Not sure it’s healthy or not, but it tends not to cripple me any longer. I think I celebrate them: if I know they’re there, then I can work on fixing them. How scary would it be to not know one’s shortcomings?

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