4. As a writer and an author, how do you handle criticism?

My impression of criticism is that, yes, generally we should try to listen, to see if there is anything of value in it, but we have to keep in mind that most people are usually lazy in their criticism, and speak only from their preferences. Just because someone didn't see the beauty in your work, doesn't mean beauty isn't there. For example, I am a talented musician, and I don't like classical music. Honestly, I think it's boring. So, if I speak from my preferences and say "classical music is stupid and boring," as if that's all that could be said on the matter, clearly I'm an idiot. In my laziness, I've failed to invest the effort to go deeper and see classical music for all it truly is. So, if people say nonsense about your work, it probably is nonsense, reflecting more their lazy approach than the truth about your work. Don't listen too closely to people who don't have a heart to see deeper than their preferences.

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