At work we are 'coached' by our manager.  His year, is based on how well his team does.  To help us improve, he has to point out where things are wrong, where and how things can be improved. I dont leave him notes saying...i know we have a coaching session today but can you be kind please. He's not rude, and yes it's hard to hear, but i go into those sessions with a desire to improve myself.

Writing is no different. I can take criticism. If something doesn't work for you, you're welcome to tell me. There are ways to do that without feeding your own ego, which is something i see a lot on here.  There is no interest in helping the author, only gleefully pointing out the error they found.  There is zero respect. 

You and i have had this convo, C. I've PMd you things i've found, questions i've had.  There is no reason to do it in comments that are permanent.  Send the spelling error you noticed in a PM .. have some respect and thought for the other human being/author. You've always been open about it, C, and i respect that. 

None of us want to hear them, but we need to open to learning from our mistakes, being open to opinions that may help us improve our writing. 

I truly appreciate being told when I have erred, and how I can write better. I get more out of a PM telling me what I got wrong, or disagreeing with something I wrote than I do from a dozen one-line congratulatory comments. 

2 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

I truly appreciate being told when I have erred, and how I can write better. I get more out of a PM telling me what I got wrong, or disagreeing with something I wrote than I do from a dozen one-line congratulatory comments. 

That is a good reason to have a good editor and good beta readers you trust. So hopefully most of the errors are fixed before you post. 

I grew up in NYC region. A very diverse area. I have mixed cousins, and a diverse group of friends. We have many discussions on why certain things are inappropriate. I think it’s important to write diverse stories, the world is diverse. If writing something you don’t know, that can be  tricky. Definitely ask and research. Also remember you won’t please everyone. Be aware  some people take political correctness to the extreme.

2 minutes ago, BlindAmbition said:

I grew up in NYC region. A very diverse area. I have mixed cousins, and a diverse group of friends. We have many discussions on why certain things are inappropriate. I think it’s important to write diverse stories, the world is diverse. If writing something you don’t know, that can be  tricky. Definitely ask and research. Also remember you won’t please everyone. Be aware  some people take political correctness to the extreme.

I've met and dealt with people from everywhere. Where i work is so diverse, my team is ... i love working there. The Bank works very hard to be inclusive. It's great. There was a blog in connection with Women's Day and one transgender employee said how hard it was for her to get work and she loves the Bank because she is accepted as is everyone. It's why i love it there too.. i have met people from everywhere .. all with their own talents, and humour and culture.  It's why i could write The Christmas Cracker  because i know Harish. I know him . and if i was single.. yeah, i'd go out with him. 

@Mikiesboy I won't call an author a worthless piece of trash but I also don't believe in discussing what's wrong with a story only in Private Messages. When I write a review I want it to be honest and maybe save someone from having to read a dreadful piece of drek.

@Parker Owens Based on how you've reacted when I've been less than happy with something you wrote, I'd say you have the right approach.

@BlindAmbition Political correctness has it's time and place but you're right about it being taken too far at times. I'm a believer in tough love. Sometimes you just have to slap someone down hard and if it happens I'm not afraid to do it in public. Being nice all the time is boring LOL

Without offering an opinion on the lady's work, I was impressed she took the comments to heart and asked to postpone publishing so she could do re-writes.

And since someone asked about this entry's title, it's a riff on the "Oscars so White" hashtag used for the Academy Awards.

Even though I have 'Author' next to my name, I rarely write. However, I have noticed how much I have improved since I posting my first story back in the summer of 2015. And it's all thinks to the feedback I've gotten, especially if they were critical. Those comments pointed out where my writing was weakest and most importantly- how I could improve on those weak spots.

That's why I welcome all comments and feedback, because I know they will help me be a better writer- which reminds me, I really should start writing more often.

Humans make mistakes. It is how we learn.  

Comments do not need to be, nor should they be, 100% positive.  Say how you feel, but do it NICELY!

Got a comment on your story that was less than 100% positive?  Take the info under advisement. You don't necessarily need to make changes. Each comment is only one opinion, and everyone has one. Like a certain portion of our anatomy, not all smell like roses.

Responding to a less than complimentary comment? As with making the comment in the first place, do it NICELY.

Want to write about something you don't have a good knowledge of? RESEARCH! Find a beta reader who has a good working knowledge of the subject. Conversely, if you are writing a story that is tangential to a previous work, find a beta that knows little to nothing of the previous story. You know the background, your regular teem does too.  You may automatically fill in the blanks where your reader may not be able to.

They say sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.  I call bull. Bones will heal.  The damage that evil words can do could become permanent.  Think about what you say.  An author here posted an excellent blog. I recommend everyone read MacGregs "Taste your words before you spit them out"   https://www.gayauthors.org/story/macgreg/poemsandshortquips/16

The only think I want to add to what @MacGreg said is something my gram used to say. "You may have to eat them!