I was reading the current issue of Mslexia [UK magazine for women writers] and came across on a piece about the results of a survey on receiving the feedback to criticism, and wondered what other people's thoughts are:
59% found the information helpful
41% found the process supportive and constructive
8% found the comments contradictory
6% felt it undermined their writing
Feedback was too general to be helpful:
30% it doesn't work for me
Or too specific to be helpful:
16% 'that comma's in the wrong place.'
Or simply, 'people don't always know what they are talking about [36%]
One in eight felt the feedback was distorted by the critters own insecurities.
One in six believe that the feedback was influenced by personal issues.
66% where hungry for feedback.
50% felt exposed in showing their work.
19% found criticism 'unnecessarily brutal.'
2% have fallen out with their critters.
As for the critters:
61% said that they tried to balanced the negative and the positive when giving feedback on a poor piece.
One in eight confessed to stretching the truth in an attempt to say some thing nice.
One in four overlook the problems altogether and focus only on positive aspects.
*Statistics taken from Mslexia Dec/Jan/Feb 2011-2