Try any goddam thing you like, no matter how boringly normal or outrageous. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.
Stephen KingRead
The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you something is broken that you can fix.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Listening to critics can provide valuable feedback and help improve your work.
In this quote, Stephen King emphasizes the importance of paying attention to criticism rather than dismissing it outright. Critics may offer insights that highlight flaws or areas for improvement in one’s work, suggesting that constructive criticism can be a beneficial tool for growth and development. Ignoring critics might mean missing an opportunity to refine and enhance what you create.
Themes
CriticismFeedbackImprovementGrowthListening
In practice
Example use cases
During a workshop, you can quote this to encourage participants to embrace constructive feedback.
More from Stephen King
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Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.
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That's the day's business. Thinking. Thinking and isolation, because it doesn't matter if you pass the time of day with someone or not; in the end, you're alone. He seemed to have put in as many miles in his brain as he had with his feet. The thoughts kept coming and there was no way to deny them.
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Late last night and the night before, tommyknockers, tommyknockers knocking on my door. I wanna go out, don't know if I can 'cuz I'm so afraid of the tommyknocker man.
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