My old professor said my field notes were just a list of objects, not a story.

I started sketching the whole site layout and noting soil changes, which showed a clearer picture of daily life there. Anyone else get that kind of critique that actually improved your process?

3 comments

3 Comments

alice1211mo ago

Ever had a critique that changed how you see your own work? That "just a list" comment would've stung, but your fix is spot on.

taylorhunt1mo ago

Actually disagree with the whole premise, alice121. Sometimes a list is exactly what a piece needs, clear and direct. Taking every piece of criticism to heart can make your work bland, trying to please everyone. That "just a list" comment might have been more about the reader's taste than a real flaw. Learning to tell the difference between useful feedback and personal preference is a bigger skill than just fixing things.

wyattc7629d ago

Yeah, that's a life skill right there, not just a writing thing. You see it everywhere, like when someone gives you "advice" on how to parent or how to spend your money. It's just their preference dressed up as a rule. If you listen to all of it, you end up living a life designed by committee, which sounds awful. Spotting the difference between "this is broken" and "I would have done it different" saves your sanity.