As you can probably tell, I’m not a huge fan of critiquing groups. This is only my own personal experience with them, though. When used properly, they’re an irreplaceable part of a writer’s journey to better writing. But when they’re used incorrectly, they can destroy writers from the inside, out.
So, the time has come. You get a notification for your posted fanfic/short story/novel and you go to check out the review only to find out that it’s — gasp —negative?! That weird whirlwind of anger, shame, and indignation you’re feeling right now is one that we’ve all felt at one point or another. Whether it was from a particularly harsh critiquing group or an online anonymous 123username reader, it cuts deep. So, what do you do?
