There's definitely a lot of cruelty in the way people criticize amateur writing that goes well beyond 'harsh criticism' and just becomes harsh. Pointing out every single mistake a new writer makes is harsh, but not cruel. Saying that someone who makes certain mistakes should never write again is cruel, and the latter happens more often than the former. :/
Sometimes staying within a comfort zone is a good thing, and it depends on what the author of the work is trying to accomplish.
This, so much! I remember reading an article that said that literary criticism is pretty much the only field where people will say "I don't understand what's going on here" proudly - where ignorance of the creator's intent is seen as a valid criticism, not a failing on the viewer's part. Too often in criticism you see people commenting on what a work isn't and not what it is actually trying to be.
Not everyone is going to be an excellent writer, and not everything an author creates is going to be great, but writing is something which gets easier the more you do it.
This is true, as well, which makes it even more frustrating that so many people are eager to make sure others are at a certain level right out of the gate. The best way to get better at writing is to do lots of it and to get feedback on it - feedback that isn't distorted by snarky commentary.
no subject
Sometimes staying within a comfort zone is a good thing, and it depends on what the author of the work is trying to accomplish.
This, so much! I remember reading an article that said that literary criticism is pretty much the only field where people will say "I don't understand what's going on here" proudly - where ignorance of the creator's intent is seen as a valid criticism, not a failing on the viewer's part. Too often in criticism you see people commenting on what a work isn't and not what it is actually trying to be.
Not everyone is going to be an excellent writer, and not everything an author creates is going to be great, but writing is something which gets easier the more you do it.
This is true, as well, which makes it even more frustrating that so many people are eager to make sure others are at a certain level right out of the gate. The best way to get better at writing is to do lots of it and to get feedback on it - feedback that isn't distorted by snarky commentary.