A Bit More Criticism About Criticism

I wrote about criticism a few weeks back, and after reading this article, I have a few more things to say on the topic.

When I was at UCLA for screenwriting, critique groups were part of the course. The response was generally good. We listened until people were done with the crits, then we were allowed to defend our work. But there was no emotion brought into play. No personal attacks on people as writers.

About a year ago, I had a script that I thought was done. I had written umpteen drafts, gotten two recommends, and a well-known producer attached. My "manager" took three months to read it... and hated it.

Looking back, I think he was spread too thin. He talked about scenes that weren't in my script, debated plot points I didn't have, and when I asked him about it, he insisted that he read it twice.

So I went online to a critique group. Help, please! Was it really as befuddled as he made it out to be?

I laid out my credits. One film, three options, and this script has two recommends. What did people think?

Holy crap, they were beyond brutal. And it wasn't just that they hated the script, they hated me. Although I had every right to flame, I didn't. So, I had total strangers defending me, apologizing for the viciousness of the group. But when the moderator joined in the rip-me-to-shreds bandwagon, I left, never to return.

I've also been on the flip side, where I've critiqued people's work, given them pages upon pages of notes, and they say thanks, but they like it the way it is.

Now, I get it. Everyone has their own vision. But it's frustrating to try to help someone who's admittedly a newbie and have them throw it back in your face. Sorry, but if you're using Comic Sans to write a screenplay (true story), then you're doing it wrong. And I'm going to tell you. If you don't want to hear it, then don't ask for notes. It's a waste of my time and yours.

Ugh.