Letting the Mouth do All the Talking is Not Always a Good Thing for a Writer
Save it for someone who actually gives a f*ck
“… some encouragement can go a long way. Especially if they are newbies….Leaving a thank you and a clap means the world to both new and experienced writers” — JS Adam.
I understand constructive criticism. Heck, as a newbie writer, I would appreciate it if it can improve my craft. But the one thing that irritates me is when a so-called ‘experienced’ writer picks on a new writer to convey how you are not worth reading in their lofty eyes.
Has this happened to you?
My advice is to brush it off like the lint that it is and keep doing you. Let nobody bring you down because the one thing ‘they’ forget when they act all high and mighty is that they were once new writers too.
“I love how you reach out to new writers, and I remember how you offered that same olive branch to me when I was getting started” — JM Heatherly.
I am blessed with a supportive community of writers. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get the occasional holier than thou comment.
Here’s one:
“Nope. Won’t be reading anymore.”
Hey, you are entitled to your opinion. Nobody forced you to read when you could have easily utilized that time for more worthy pursuits like penning your entry for the Pulitzer prize!
Following a quick peek at said writer’s profile page, I typed out a quick response.
“I think I’ll live. Thanks :)”
Please note, I took the time to thank this person for reading and commenting as I do to all my readers, but I did not respond in kind. And I definitely don’t plan on going on somebody else’s articles and leaving a steaming pile if I didn’t like it.
I’d rather exit quietly without leaving a clap/comment.
Remember, sometimes, a seemingly innocuous comment such as the one above can be enough to shatter the confidence of a new writer and put them off writing for good.
What qualifies me to talk like this — you wonder?
A lot, actually.
1. First and foremost is the sheer amount of questions I receive from new writers — some asking my opinion on their pieces, others asking me about navigating this platform, and those who tag me in their articles for inspiring them in their writing journey.
I am by no means an experienced writer ( 6 months old) but I take the fact that other writers trust and value my feedback — very seriously indeed. I certainly don’t get a kick out of raining on someone else’s parade.
You weren’t scared by the task ahead of you/You embraced the challenge/ You embraced the opportunity — Aaditya Rajagopalan
As a new writer, have you tried pitching to reputable publications (outside of social media platforms) that clickbait articles claim you can write for and as easily earn the big bucks?
Let me give it to you straight: it is brutal out there.
Especially for someone with little to no writing experience.
2. Nevertheless, I have successfully done it. Not because I am a genius at article writing but because my editors must have seen something in the way I write and choose to work with me and help me grow as a writer.
If you are hot stuff, then good for you, but frankly, I could care less on account of your attitude.
3. And by the way, you know why I said I’ll survive if you don’t read my stuff?
I’ll let my numbers, not my mouth, do the talking for me :
4 of my articles with a 100% read ratio are long-form articles in the 4, 5, and 6-minute range. Out of the 6, only one is related to Medium.
Not bad for a newbie, huh?
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