You're receiving conflicting feedback on your writing style. How do you navigate this tricky situation?

Aristotle wisely observed, "Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing." For those who write because they have something meaningful to share, criticism is inevitable and should be viewed constructively. When faced with critique, take a moment to evaluate it objectively: if it aims to improve your craft, embrace it. If its sole purpose is to discourage you, disregard it. Above all, maintain self-honesty—this is what truly matters in your journey as a writer.

I was told once ‘never listen to criticism from someone you wouldn’t go to for advice’. Equally, ‘don’t ask advice from someone if you don’t want their criticism’. This has really made me step back and listen clearly to what relevant people have to say.

As a creative writer, there's so much you have to consider. First of all, the source matters. Not purely their experience, but also their intentions. Not everyone has intentions to help you succeed, regardless of their position or status. As a creative, it's essential that you find your own personal writing style and then not lose it. Learn what to take in and what to dispel. If it's a consensus opinion, hear it. What helps decipher is whether changing it goes against honoring your voice. However, if it's a client or someone you are ghostwriting for, it's their voice. In that case, they're communicating that you aren't matching their vision. Art is a collaboration, but honoring the vision is the base from which everything should flow.

Contrasting opinions can stem from different experiences, different skill sets, and different perspectives. If one critique doesn't like my approach towards a certain issue or how i framed my whole piece, that doesn't mean their feedback is not valued. Maybe they're right. Never take criticism or even approval to your heart. Step back, assess your writing and the given feedback, and you'll know whether any type of feedback is justified or not.

Another time point to consider clarity in goals is when asking for feedback itself. If you state your goals (and / or questions) clearly and specifically as possible when initially asking for feedback, perhaps that can save time and conflict later on. A general “what do you think” will naturally beget a diversity of opinions, but a more narrowed down question can help the individual giving feedback channel their thoughts into a more appropriate and helpful way. And of course, always tailor the question and goals depending on who the person giving the feedback is. What exactly are you asking to whom, and why is that a good person to ask that feedback from?

As the creator of your piece, you are most aware of your goals. Often, conflicting opinions from multiple quarters leads to a sea of suggestions that might not align with what you are trying to achieve. A 'vision board' approach can help you tide over this. As you evaluate each suggestion, keep an eye on your goal, and try to map the two together. Incorporate whatever is useful in reaching the goal, and you can safely keep the other suggestions aside.

Navigating Conflicting Feedback: Prioritizing Your Goals Define Objectives: Clearly articulate your writing goals and target audience. Evaluate Feedback: Assess how feedback aligns with your objectives. Prioritize Recommendations: Focus on feedback that improves your writing's effectiveness. Consider Context: Evaluate feedback in light of the specific writing project. Experiment and Iterate: Try different approaches to find what works best.

Antes de hacer cambios, vuelve a conectar con los objetivos de tu escritura. Pregúntate qué quieres lograr con tu texto: ¿deseas persuadir, entretener, informar? Cuando priorizas tus metas, es más fácil identificar qué críticas alinean con tus propósitos y cuáles desvían tu trabajo del camino.

Opinions are like sphincter muscles, everybody has one/some. If someone has taken the time to give you their opinion, it may give you insight about your style or story. If a reader is confused, perhaps you may need to or want to consider an explanation about some jargon you used that is not familiar to a general readership. For example, the use of military jargon or buzz-words could use a parenthetical explanation (short n sweet) to the "general public". XX, OO, Butch. Former Jarhead fulla military jargon or fulla sumpthin!!

Si un comentario resuena contigo, implementa pequeños cambios en lugar de revisar todo el manuscrito de inmediato. Modificar una sección te permitirá ver si la sugerencia mejora tu escritura o si, en cambio, afecta tu estilo. Esto te da control y evita que te sientas abrumado por revisiones exhaustivas.

Navigating Conflicting Feedback: Experiment and Iterate Try Different Approaches: Experiment with different writing styles and techniques. Track Results: Measure audience engagement and response. Iterative Improvement: Use feedback to refine your style. Confidence: Believe in your ability to find the right approach. Risk-Taking: Be willing to step outside your comfort zone.

Balancing Feedback: Maintaining Your Unique Voice Understand Your Brand: Define your personal brand and writing style. Consistent Tone: Maintain a consistent voice throughout your writing. Authenticity: Be genuine and genuine in your writing. Experimentation: Try different approaches while staying true to your core style. Confidence: Believe in your unique perspective.

When I receive conflicting feedback about my writing style from different client representatives, my first step is to listen attentively. On one hand, the criticism is often valid, as my primary goal is to create content that authentically represents the client's voice. But it's crucial to maintain my professional boundaries as a content expert. This sometimes necessitates a clarification meeting, which I always approach armed with well-reasoned professional arguments. In essence, I strive to find the spot between accommodating the client's preferences and leveraging my expertise to deliver the best possible content. Thus, final product not only meets the client's expectations but also adheres to high standards of quality and effectiveness.

Los comentarios pueden desafiar tu estilo, pero es vital no perder tu voz auténtica. La escritura es un reflejo personal, y aunque ajustes son necesarios, no deben diluir lo que te hace único como autor. Evalúa los cambios propuestos con una pregunta en mente: ¿estos ajustes fortalecen mi voz o la silencian?

I strongly believe in reflecting on my writing when I get conflicting feedback, assess my goals and the reader's expectations and see which piece of advice is more applicable and worth following. My biggest critic is myself.

I think that as you gain experience, you learn at least two skills with regard to feedback, conflicting or not. The first is to stop yourself from responding immediately- and yes, overcoming the impulse to defend yourself immediately is a learned skill for many. Take the time to reflect so that you won’t react defensively. The second is to have enough insight into your strengths and growth areas as a writer to interpret feedback realistically. Is your critic onto something? Or does your experience reflect that you, and not they, are on the right track?

As with any advice, I would, to quote Walt Whitman “..Listen to all sides and filter them from myself.” Then trust your own judgement and exercise critical thinking.

Incorporate breaks into your schedule for this reflection time. It is important to schedule self-care during your day. Do the same for periods of reflection. Refocus your mind with meditation, enjoy a walk in nature, or another exercise to boost your endorphins. Whatever works for you will work for you. Give yourself the best possible chance at making the best possible decision.

Navigating Conflicting Feedback: Reflection and Decision-Making Self-Awareness: Understand your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Identify Patterns: Look for recurring themes in the feedback. Evaluate Feedback Sources: Assess the credibility and relevance of the feedback. Trust Your Instincts: Believe in your own judgment and intuition. Iterative Improvement: Use feedback as an opportunity for growth and development.

Implement changes gradually and monitor how they affect your writing and audience reception. Continuous improvement allows for adjustments without overwhelming your style. I make incremental changes based on feedback and track how these adjustments impact my writing. This gradual approach helps in refining my style without abrupt shifts.

Receiving feedback on my writing style, huh? Well, I'd say it's like getting a fresh pair of eyes on my creative baby! I'm all about growth and improvement, so I welcome constructive criticism with open arms. First, I take a deep breath and remind myself that feedback is not a personal attack. It can be hard though. It's all about refining my skills and delivering top-notch content that resonates with amazing people like you! Next, I carefully consider each point, weighing the suggestions and ideas. I ask myself, "Does this align with my goals and tone?" and "How can I incorporate this feedback to enhance my writing?"

Critiques can provide valuable insight into your development along this journey. However, providing them with too much power over your process can hinder you. Developing self-awareness and strategies to manage your emotional arousal will benefit you here.

When facing multiple critiques, especially when they seem to contradict, I look at a couple of things: * Are these critiques indicating I was not clear in the first place? Often when multiple people take away different meanings from what I write, the problem is that I didn't communicate what I meant well in the first place. * Is there a through line in the seemingly disparate critiques? Is there a common message all these opinions are pointing to? If it is not a lack of clarity in my writing (see my first point) then what else is it that is not connecting with my audience? Of course, not all critiques are valid, but looking for the "golden win" in the comments is always a good idea and can lead to improved writing over all.