As writers, we pour our hearts and souls into our work, making ourselves vulnerable to the world. But with that vulnerability comes the inevitable criticism. In this insightful segment of our interview with bestselling author Jennifer Youngblood, we explore how she handles criticism and stays resilient.
Watch the Full Interview:
Click below to watch Jennifer Youngblood talk about her personal strategies for dealing with negative feedback and how she balances the emotional toll of criticism.
Key Insights from the Interview
1. Writing is a Vulnerable Venture Jennifer emphasizes that writing opens us up to the world, and with that exposure comes scrutiny. No matter how great a writer you are, someone will always have something negative to say about your work.
2. Different Types of Criticism Jennifer has learned to distinguish between personal attacks and simple differences of opinion. She says, “I’ve tried to look at it more analytically. Sometimes criticism can be valid, but other times it’s just personal preference.”
3. Analyzing Repeated Comments If she notices the same type of criticism appearing repeatedly, she considers it more seriously. It might signal an area that needs improvement.
4. Coping Mechanisms From long jogs to indulging in chocolate, Jennifer shares some healthy ways to cope with the sting of criticism. Despite years of experience, negative feedback can still hurt, but she doesn’t let it bring her down for long.
5. Not Taking It Personally Jennifer acknowledges that it’s hard not to take criticism personally, but she tries to focus on the fact that not everyone will like everything. “I’ve learned that there are people that are just not going to like something,” she shares.
6. The Amazon Review Landscape Publishing through Amazon means your top positive and negative reviews are displayed side by side. Jennifer notes that some reviewers may seek notoriety through their negative reviews, making it essential to recognize the motives behind criticism.
7. On Leaving Reviews Jennifer chooses not to leave negative reviews for other authors, understanding how much effort goes into writing a book. “If I read something that I’m not as crazy about, well, I just wouldn’t say anything.”
Do you have a book in you? If you feel you might, that’s why I have this series of author interviews and why I created the Spirit-Led Authoring Course.
Final Thoughts
Criticism is an inevitable part of the writing journey, but Jennifer Youngblood’s approach to handling it is both practical and inspiring. Her ability to keep perspective and not let negativity overshadow her passion is something every writer can learn from.
Interested in Writing, Publishing, and Marketing Your Own Books?
If you found Jennifer’s insights helpful and want to delve deeper into authoring your own works, check out our Spirit-Led Authoring Course. This comprehensive course will support you through every step of the writing process, from idea generation to writing, to publishing and marketing.
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Marnie Pehrson Kuhns is a best-selling author, consultant, musician and Certified SimplyAlign Method™ Practitioner who blends decades of business acumen with spiritual wisdom, nature observation, and music to mentor you past barriers, fears, and doubts to find greater peace, love, joy, and fulfillment in daily life. Her motto is “let it be easy.” Her practical, down-to-earth style helps her clients and students accomplish their goals and aspirations in a graceful, fulfilling way. Whether you’re trying to write and publish a book or stay spiritually connected while you deal with the challenges of life and career, Marnie is a resource to you.
Marnie is a bestselling author with 33+ fiction and non-fiction titles ranging from historical fiction and romance to business and inspirational titles. She blogs about nature, creativity, inner peace, and spiritual topics at www.CreationGirl.com and lives and works alongside her husband Dave at Spirit Tree Farms.