The creators are the ones who make things. They make buildings, cars, computers, books, plays, speeches, movies, rockets, and so much more.

The creators are the ones who move society forward. They invent. They design. They use their creative powers to stick their necks out, add value to others, and risk being criticized by those who don’t like what they do.

Critics, on the other hand, play a limited role in society. They are the ones who stay safely in the distance. They spend most of their energy pointing out the flaws in other people’s creative work.

There have always been critics, of course. And they do have a certain value in culture. We need people who can offer intelligent reflection and commentary on culture. But make no mistake, this is not where the real action is. The real action lies in creating something.

Which would you rather be, the creator who makes things for critics to comment on… or the critic who just rides the creator’s coattails?

The French novelist Gustave Flaubert said, “A man is a critic when he cannot be an artist, in the same way that a man becomes an informer when he cannot be a soldier.”

It’s easier to be a critic. And why not? You get to sit back and relax while other people do the work. Then you get to offer your opinion and commentary… all while never taking one ounce of risk.

Choose to be a creator. Choose to be the one who puts in the work and adds value to society. Choose to create with your words and through other means.

Don’t fall into the trap of just being a critic.

Question: What kinds of things are you creating now?

The post Are You a Creator or a Critic? appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

When it comes to the creative arts, there have always been two roles in society: those who are creators and those who are critics.

The creators are the ones who make things. They make buildings, cars, computers, books, plays, speeches, movies, rockets, and a million other things. The creators are the ones who move culture forward. They invent. They design. They use their creative powers to stick their necks out, add value to others, and risk being criticized by those who don’t like what they do.

Critics, on the other hand, play a limited role in society. Critics are the ones who stay safely in the distance. They spend most of their energy pointing out the flaws in other people’s creative work. There have always been critics, of course, and they have a certain value in culture. We need people to offer intelligent reflection and commentary on culture.

But make no mistake, this is not where the real action is. The real action lies in creating something. Which would you rather be, the creator who makes things for critics to comment on, or the critic who just rides the creator’s coattails?

The French novelist Gustave Flaubert said, “A man is a critic when he cannot be an artist, in the same way that a man becomes an informer when he cannot be a soldier.”

It’s easier and oftentimes more fun to be a critic. And why not? You get to sit back and relax while other people do the work. Then, you get to offer your opinion and commentary… all while never taking one ounce of risk.

This day, choose to be a creator. Choose to be the one who puts in the work and adds value to society. Choose to create with your words and through other means. Don’t fall into the trap of just being a critic.

The post Become a Creator, Not a Critic appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | Google Play

Do you remember what it feels like to be criticized for your writing?

Different memories come flooding back for different people. Maybe it was in junior high, when a teacher pointed out all your mistakes. Maybe it was in college when you submitted an essay to a contest, and you didn’t even place. Maybe it was more recently, when you published a blog post or wrote a social media post that someone didn’t like … and they let you know about it in no uncertain terms.

These memories can be painful because it feels like people are criticizing us directly. They’re questioning our personal worth and stomping on our creative identity.

Don’t they know how important this work is to you? Why don’t they understand that when they criticize your work, they are taking a little bit of your heart away?

But that’s precisely the problem. We are usually far too close to our work to be objective about it. What’s more, the criticism often says more about the person doing the criticizing than it does about you.

Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, knew a thing or two about dealing with critics. You don’t write one of the most popular books of the 20^th century without getting your share of criticism.

She once said, “I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.”

But how do we do this? How do we develop a thick skin when so much of our writing and creative work feels so personal?

The answer is simple. We must approach our writing like any professional approaches their work. The plumber, the contractor, the dentist, the attorney, the teacher … they all show up on time, put in the work, and then let it go. When something isn’t right, they try not to take it personally, but instead look for ways to get better at their job. Most important of all, they separate their personal identity from their work.

There’s an important lesson here for every writer. You are not your work. You produce your work, but your personal worth and identity are not tied to your work.

So the next time you publish your writing, wherever that might be, remember that this is not a job for thin-skinned writers. You will have your critics and haters, and when you do, remember that you are separate from the work.

If you keep that perspective, your mental health and your inner sense of security will be a lot stronger.

The post This Isn’t for Thin-Skinned Writers appeared first on Daily Writer | Essential Habits for Impact & Influence.