What If People Think My Writing Sucks?

(A guide to surviving the creative school of hard knocks)

You know when you pour your heart and soul into your masterpiece, spending hours upon hours crafting it to perfection?

Only to be faced with the cold, hard reality that other people don’t think it’s as brilliant as you thought it was.

It hurts, doesn’t it?

Well, I’m about to drop a truth bomb that might just rattle your creative tree a bit more…..are you ready for it?

Maybe they are right.

Did that even cross your mind?

It’s hard I know, but the point is you have to get used to the idea that it’s not just about you and your ego. It’s about how your work is perceived by others.

It doesn’t matter if you are a writer, artist, or musician, they might think it’s rubbish, so you’d better get used to it!

“If you write (or paint, or dance, or sculpt, or sing I suppose), someone will try to make you feel lousy about it, that’s all.” Stephen King

There’s always someone better than you!

I remember when I first strutted my way into the ‘university for creative arts in Kent, England,’ portfolio in hand and all proud like a peacock ready to take on the world with my art.

Unfortunately, my assigned tutor had other plans for me.

He looked through my work with a smirk on his face, and in his thick Geordie accent sarcastically said, “I suppose you think you’re pretty good don’t chya?”

It was at that moment, I realized that my perception of my own work no longer mattered.

And let me tell you, the creative school of hard knocks is no joke. There were people walking out of there in tears, and that was just me!

But it was all by design, part of the training.

It toughens you up and prepares you for the inevitable criticism and competition you’ll face in the commercial jungle. And oh boy, that can be even more brutal.

I would have to swallow this pill many times.

Like when you have spent days preparing your pitch for a project that you really want, with your best creative work. Only to get told the other firm was better and even more creative than yours.

That’s a lesson in humility right there, because there’s always someone better than you!

“I’ve learned that rejection is a great teacher. It teaches you humility and it teaches you to keep trying. It’s not a reason to give up, it’s a reason to work harder. “ Sting

Don’t delude yourself — face the heat and hone your craft

Now I’m no superstar on Medium yet.

But as a commercial interior architect I’ve had my fair share of creative success (and failure) and now I want to try my creative hand at writing. I could fail miserably who knows?

But with my background, here’s what I do know.

Platforms like Medium are filled with untrained, unsuspecting, ‘wannabe’ writers who still have thin skin. They haven’t been through the fire and come out the other side yet.

It shows in their work and attitude.

And don’t get me wrong!

I’m not saying that some don’t have natural talent and a good story to tell. They do. I’m a massive supporter of people being creative, I encourage it.

Here’s the thing though.

Unless you are the reincarnation of James Joyce, writing something and publishing it does not automatically make it great, or even good. You can’t just rely on people blowing smoke up your ass to make you feel better.

You need to craft it, hone it, refine it until it’s worthy of the praise you seek. I include myself in that advice too.

And let’s be real here.

Just because you write twenty posts a month doesn’t mean you’re the next Shakespeare either. Even he faced criticism and rejection.

The point is, you must accept the criticism, learn from it, and use it to improve your craft. If you’ve ever watched American Idol, you should know what I mean because that show highlights the process really well.

“The worst thing you can do is lie to yourself. If you’re not good enough, you’re just not good enough.” Simon Cowell

Others have faced rejection before you, and still succeeded

There is an Australian singer-songwriter where I live, her name is Amy Shark.

She found herself playing shows to no one. She was on the receiving end of a list of rejections as long as your arm for 10 years before she finally got signed by Sony Music.

She played cover gigs to fund studio time for her demo’s. An experience she describes as “soul-destroying”.

She’s now one of Australia’s top talents and is on the panel of Australian Idol.

And look at the greats who faced rejection and criticism before making it. The Beatles, Steven Spielberg, even Van Gogh, and that dude even cut off his ear!

But in all seriousness, they didn’t give up or complain did they?

They used it as fuel to keep going, to keep improving, and keep pushing forward.

Because rejection and negativity are always going to be there. It’s ‘par for the course’ when you put your self and your creative work out there, but you have to deal with it.

“I think rejection and failure are really important for creative people. If you’re not failing and being rejected, you’re probably not pushing yourself hard enough.” Sting

Here is where the rubber meets the road

If you do face criticism, and you get told you are rubbish and will never make it don’t run from it. Get used to it and embrace it.

Use it to toughen your skin and motivate you to master your craft.

That’s how you learn and find your voice in your art. It’s how you perfect your style and grow as a person and an artist.

You might not be as good as you thought you were, but you can improve with perseverance and practice.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the ego boost of being told you’re great. It’s about creating something that resonates with others and stands the test of time.

Welcome to the creative school of hard knocks, and be thankful for the lessons it teaches you on your way to greatness.

Cheers for reading: I’m a former ‘Commercial Interior Architect’ and I write for introverts & misfits looking to unleash their inner creative weirdo and sense of purpose, through a spiritual lens and a dash of humor. Read more at DJ Hopkins