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INSIDE THIS ISSUE - August 25, 2010
1. A Note from the Editor
Coping with Criticism
August 25, 2010
A Note from the Editor
Tracy Steen, Ph.D.
Coping with Criticism
It sure is easier to give advice than to take it. Most people would agree that "developing a thick skin" and learning to take constructive criticism are valuable skills for anyone engaged in academic writing. I find no fault in these suggestions to become skillful at asking for and receiving criticism. However, I think it is important to note that "developing a thick skin" is much easier said than done, and the difficulty level for learning to accept criticism gracefully is advanced.
Although
asking for and making productive use of criticism are advanced skills, they
are not unattainable. I offer the following suggestions to help you use
the force of criticism to improve your writing and successfully defend
your dissertation.
1. Accept that criticism stings. All this talk about needing a thick skin can create unrealistic expectations, frustration, and shame. Few people are able to put aside their pride when receiving edits to their written work. After putting in hours of effort into a chapter, section, or passage, who wants to be told it has problems?
2. Accept that criticism is often personal. "Don't take this personally" ranks up there with "grow a thick skin" on the list of easier-said-than-done suggestions. Academic writing can feel just as personal as any other writing. Even when we are reviewing, synthesizing, or critiquing others' work, we are still vulnerable. Dissertation level writing requires original ideas, and those original ideas can feel like an extension of ourselves.
3.
When possible, build in some recovery time. When you receive suggested
edits (aka criticism) by e-mail, you have the luxury of reading through the
edits once or twice and then (temporarily) putting them aside so that you
can nurse your bruised ego back to health. It's amazing what a difference
a day can make. Even when you are receiving criticism face-to-face, it is
still possible to build in some recovery time by employing strategy #4: focus
on the facts.
4. Focus on the facts. When receiving criticism in person, it can be useful to make a list of suggested changes and then repeat them back to your advisor or other committee members for clarification. This is a particularly useful strategy during your dissertation prospectus defense.
If, for example, a committee member makes a suggestion that would change the focus of your study or significantly extend your proposed timeline, taking the time to clarify the suggestion and its implications might be the only intervention needed. A helpful committee member might back down from the suggestion or reframe it as a suggestion for post-dissertation research. Even if your concerns are not resolved on the spot, you can schedule a follow-up meeting which you can prepare for by reviewing your careful list of just the facts.
5. Have a plan of attack. When you are ready to review and incorporate suggested edits, it can be helpful to have a guiding strategy. Here's what I do: The first time I return to a critiqued paper, I read it and make any easy changes (i.e., changes that take less than one minute or revisions that I don't mind incorporating exactly as suggested). The next time I read the paper, I read it with the purpose of making two lists:
List 1: Changes I don't mind (but will take some time and creative thought)
List 2: Changes that I don't understand or don't like (i.e., changes that require additional thought and/or negotiation)
Once I have List 1 in order, I then proceed to work my way through the list, enjoying the satisfaction of checking off each successfully incorporated revision. After completing List 1, I take a look at List 2 with a fresh perspective. By allowing List 2 to wait while incorporating List 1 changes, the magical passage of time allows me to open my mind to some of the suggestions and incorporate them as well. However, some items on the list may need to carry over to the next step: negotiation.
6. Negotiate (selectively). Sometimes journal editors and advisors are willing to back down or compromise once you have taken the time to explain your concerns about a suggested change. As an added bonus, the act of preparing for negotiation may give you the opportunity to improve your writing yourself. Oftentimes a criticism that feels wrong or confusing to you is a signal that your writing could be improved. (In other words, there is a reason that you are feeling misunderstood, and that reason might be a lack of clarity in your writing.) Regardless, it is very important to choose your battles wisely and negotiate only those suggestions that would meaningfully change your work.
7. Do not ignore criticism. Remember that the more extensive the edits, the more time your advisor (or another reader) spent reviewing your draft. Ignoring changes can send an unwanted message to an advisor: I don't value your time or years of experience. If you request a follow-up meeting to negotiate any items from List 2, it is important to start that meeting by offering a sincere thank you for the time spent on you and your work. It's also a good idea to mention a few suggestions in particular that improved your paper.
8. Remember (again) that writing is hard, and you are hardcore for being a writer!
For most people, communicating face to face with other people (which is hard enough) is much easier than communicating in written form. In our written work, we do not have the convenient tools of tone, facial expression, and gesture that we have when we communicate face to face. Instead, we have twenty-six letters (when in English), some punctuation, and our knowledge of grammar to guide us.
When we write, we do not have a head to nod, an eyebrow to raise, or a nose to crinkle. When we write, we cannot emphasize a word or phrase audibly. When we write, we cannot stop mid-sentence and change course and still retain meaning the way that we can when we speak. And because we cannot use the easy tools of face-to-face communication, is it any surprise when a critic of our written work does not understand what we mean? Simply put, writing is hard.
9. Continue to care. Good writers care about their work and they care about their ability to communicate clearly to their intended audience. Criticism provides a spotlight on any lingering bad writing habits or muddled arguments. By accepting the inherent sting of criticism and learning to manage the feedback we receive, we become better writers, one change at a time.
Dr. TRACY STEEN, Editor, ABDSG
Tracy Steen, Ph.D. , is a clinical
psychologist and dissertation coach in Philadelphia, PA. She received her
Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and completed a postdoctoral fellowship
in positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Steen draws
on her research background in positive psychology in her coaching work with
writers, helping them to remove internal obstacles so they can find more engagement
and flow in their work. You can contact Dr. Steen with questions about this
newsletter or about coaching in general at tsteen@mail.med.upenn.edu.
You can also visit her website at www.tracysteen.com