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"Criticism"
I've been thinking about criticism lately, and about how much I've always hated it. Not that I ever minded being
criticized about being disorganized or absent-minded, or about having an awful singing voice. Some things are just facts, and there's no sense worrying about them.
But writing and drawing were
always different. They were personal. As a kid, I used to hide my stories and pictures so that nobody could make fun of them. (I bet they would have, too!) I guess I figured I could work out all my
mistakes in private and not show people what I was up to until I was really, really good-so good there would be nothing to criticize.
Unfortunately, I never got that good (I'm not sure anybody
does), and finally I had to face the fact that there is no way to be an author or an illustrator without letting other people see your work. You can tell people you are, but at some point they are
going to want to see the evidence. And as soon as they do, they'll become critics.
I started thinking about this because I just finished writing a new story. Not to brag or anything, but it's
a really great story. I should know, because I've read it about a million times. At first there were some clunky parts but I got rid of those. Then I plucked out everything that was dull, or
pointless, or confusing. Then I threw out some other stuff just because I could. Now it's at the point where it's almost perfect.
Unfortunately I have to show it to my editor. This is where
the criticism begins. My editor is a tough critic. In fact, she often finds flaws in my very best stories-sometimes major flaws. And when she finds them, she points them out. I've had stories come
back from her so covered in small, written comments that I could hardly read my own words anymore. It's a terrible thing she does. What makes it really awful is that she's usually right
Of
course I'm older now, and I'm at least a little better at accepting criticism than I was when I was a kid. I hardly ever rant or rave (except privately), and in general, I have learned that listening
to criticism is an important part of my job. Some might say I haven't learned well enough (I reject this), but I'm working on it. I have even come to realize, deep down, that intelligent criticism
has made me a better writer.
Meanwhile, my near-perfect story is in the mail. I probably won't hear from my editor for a week or two, maybe longer. While I wait I'll busy myself with other
projects and try not to think about this one. Still, I have a fantasy that one day I'll send her a story and she'll say, "I love it! Don't change a word!" This is a bit like my other
fantasy, where my dentist says, "Your teeth look wonderful! Don't even bother flossing!" I doubt that either one will ever come true, but it is always nice to dream. •
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About the Author:
Mark Teague, born and raised in San Diego, California, has lived in New York
for more than fifteen years. He currently lives in a small town in the Hudson River Valley of upstate New York with his wife, Laura, and his two daughters, Lily and Ava. Mr. Teague is the
author/illustrator of eleven picture books and the illustrator of more than twenty others.
Recent books written and/or illustrated by Mark Teague:
The Great Gracie Chase written by Cynthia Rylant (Blue Sky/Scholastic, 2001)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? written by Jane Yolen (Blue Sky/Scholastic, 2000)
First Graders from Mars series written by Shana Corey (Scholastic Press 2000-2001)
One Halloween Night (Scholastic Press, 1999)
Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School (Scholastic Press, to be published summer 2002)
To contact this author or illustrator, please use the information for his or her publisher provided on our list of CBC member publishers.
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