Self-Criticism: The Worst Kind

THE PLAYWRITING SEMINARS > WORKING > ADVICE > CRITICS > SELF

'By now, I am obviously aware that I have a predilection for . . . dealing with the painful and frustrating aspects of certain family and love relationships. . . . Those who have an affinity for these subjects -- the low key description of strong emotions -- will see them as variants on a theme. Those who are bored with them will say that I repeat myself.'

-- François Truffaut

Being your own critic is a millstone you don't need to cart around, though most artists do -- especially before they've gotten that first recognition of their work. Give yourself a break. There'll be enough folks ready to hammer on your head without you leading the chorus.

There's a difference between clear-headed thinking about how you might strengthen that first draft of your play and Self-Criticism -- which is usually nasty, mean, brutish, and sly. Your Self-Critic is not your friend.

The goal of this kind of criticism is to insure that you don't write anything at all. Carting around a particularly nasty Self-Critic in your head can do more to undermine your work as a playwright than the most ignorant and mean-spirited of theatre reviewers.

Coping with Self-Criticism -- and the difficulty of doing it successfully -- is what fuels most of the Writing Exercise and creative self-help industry. These things are responding to a real need, but putting words on paper every day may be a much cheaper way to solve the problem.

Some ways to start muffling this tricky beast . . .

Beware the pitfalls of Advice from Your Friends.
Spend time with other writers.
Preferably ones at about the same stage of a career as you are. It helps to have support and interest in what you're putting on paper. A number of cities have informal -- or even formal -- Playwrights' Organizations you can join. Ask around at your local theatres about whether there's something like this in your part of the country. Or check the Dramatists Sourcebook listings.
Don't criticize your own work to others.
This sort of thing just reinforces what your Self-Critic is up to.
Never allow your Self-Critic to introduce your work.
An alarming number of folks just starting in this business allow their early efforts to be undermined by a drum roll from their S-C beginning, "This is really not very good, but . . ."
And remember: the work you hate the most may be your best.
Odd as it may seem, the object of your loathing may be the first significant breakthrough you've made, especially in developing your Voice and Characters.

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