If you are the author of books, blogs, or articles that are “edgy” or that challenge mainstream/traditional thinking . . . or you’re aspiring to be such . . . you must get used to a few things. In fact, you must learn to live with them.
Here are eight that come to mind. They are in no particular order:
1. Expect some reviewers of your work to completely misrepresent what you believe, what you have said, and engage in masterful straw-man argumentation. Some of them will falsely accuse you of writing the very opposite of what you have written and stand for. Do not expect these reviewers to have the spiritual sensitivity and integrity to show their reviews to you first to ensure that they are accurate before they’re published in some public venue.
2. Expect some people who read these reviews to believe the misrepresentations and begin the bashing machine without ever reading the work themselves to find out if the review was accurate or not. People still believe what they read despite that they know in their hearts that “not everything you read is true.”
3. Don’t expect those who have read your work and understand it to know about these reviews. In other words, don’t expect them to respond to and refute the misrepresentations. And if some of your supporters do happen to see these inaccurate reviews, don’t expect them to rise to your defense. It’s a rare person who will stick their neck out for another person. Most people shrink back from doing this out of fear of rejection. Selfishness usually reigns in such situations.
4. Don’t expect any of your critics to challenge you privately to a public debate or discussion on your work. (Whenever this does happen, you will be pleasantly shocked.) Instead, expect them to criticize, attack, and misrepresent you in public, never coming to you privately to ask open and honest questions that think the best of your motives. In other words, don’t expect them to treat you the way they would want to be treated if they had written something you disagreed with or didn’t understand.
5. Always remember that all things come from God’s hand — both negative and positive — so never defend yourself. But learn to trust the Lord with all of it. If what you have written carries His anointing, it will stand, and He will use it to change lives, despite any opposition from the gainsayers. (Answering someone’s question is not the same as defending yourself. Defending yourself is getting angry, attacking back, and responding when not specifically asked.)
6. Remember that if you have something worthwhile to say, you will attract disagreement, hostility, spin, and opposition. The servant is not greater than his or her Master. Over-sensitive people will say things to and about you that are hurtful, and they will “read into” your words, thinking the worst of what you meant. Some people are so unwilling to believe the best of others that they will still misrepresent you or something you said even after you have explained your meaning to them. Sometimes the attacks will come from people who are your supposed “fans” when you say something they don’t like. Expect this.
7. How you respond to your critics speaks volumes about you and the message you carry. If you get defensive and attack them back, you reveal just how small a person you are. Be willing to answer questions about your work if they are posed to you with a right spirit, but do not engage in defensive, angry argumentation (there’s a big difference between the two). A soft answer turns away wrath. Refrain from giving people what you think they really deserve. Take the higher road.
8. Always be open for correction, adjustment, and more light. Never entertain the delusion that you have “arrived.” Both humility and wisdom dictate that you are open to improve. Of course, there’s a big difference between fly-by critics (gutter snipes), and valuable feedback by your supporters. Know the difference and always listen to the latter.
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More Thoughts on Missional – Some Interesting Testimonies
I absolutely loved this! Also a timely read for me.
Frank,
I just read this today (2 years late) but I wasn’t an author 2 years ago so I couldn’t have related to this, but now it’s soooooo timely for me. Thank you so much! I remember reading McLaren’s books in seminary and I enjoyed his perspectives immensely! It is encouraging for me to read that other, more seasoned, authors have felt the sting of harsh reviews and can pass on the wisdom of how to handle that to us “rookies” who feel broken in two when we are criticized!
Blessings,
Lynn
http://www.shootthewounded.org
Frank, thank you for this piece by Brian McLaren to all authors. I get some great responses to my works, but my worse criticisms come from associates who usually inform me that they are going to write a book also. The first thing that they point out is some mistake, be it a “typo” or misplaced word. I agree with them while laughing inside because I do understand.
Marion Clark Ingram/author
“His Daughters Do Prophesy”
(With A Word For You)
BarnesandNoble.com
Amazon.com
It seems like this is a problem that everyone who swims against the current faces, authors or not. (The main difference being that no one has ever written anything on Amazon warning others that I might say something they find ridiculous.)
To lift a quote completely out of context and use it to prove my point, Barak Obama said in one of the debates that, “The status quo will always resist the forces of change.” This thought is an echo of similar things that have been said through time by people like MLK, Abraham Lincoln, and, of course, Jesus. All of whom were not exactly loved by everyone in their day.
One of the big things I challenge myself with is understanding that the hard job isn’t igniting the people who agree with you and are ready to hear what you say. The hard job is getting everyone else to understand that you have an important message and aren’t just out to prove them wrong. Of course, you all know this, but I’m just saying that communication is always a major speed bump in group settings.
By the way, Frank, in my own opinion, you did a fantastic job in walking this tricky line in Pagan Christianity. I was ready to read what you wrote and it got me fired up, but I would think that even someone who did not agree with you in the least could see the compassion and love in the point of view you wrote from.
As a matter of fact, I’m going out on a limb and giving Pagan Christianity to all of my family members for Christmas this year. Don’t be disheartened when you see their reviews on Amazon, I’ll keep working with them…
It’s funny that I read this just after reading some guy named later emerger criticize your book. I thought to myself, did this guy read the same book I did? He doesn’t seem to understand that you’re not talking about a Quaker or Brethren theology or method. Your section on biblical blueprintism is a description of the Brethren. He did a great job at mischaracterizng your whole point. Frank, your thesis of using the trinity as a model for the church is unique. this was groundbreaking for me and its what I loved about the book. I’m sorry some folks don’t seem to get it. I can imagine how frustrating that might be as an author. Don’t mean to bum you out, just don’t read that guys review :). It’s really sad. I agree with what Leonard Sweet wrote about it. Keep on keeping on, many of us out here do get it.
When I read the part about putting out a new book being like sending out a daughter to school,
well..there’s so much to think about there, like
what Jesus said about how he sends out his sheep
into the midst of wolves.
If the wolves had more of the Bread Of Life in
their bellies maybe they wouldn’t be so hungry,
and if the other children at school knew who the
Father was, maybe they would be more careful.
May we all go out as sheep, and be as the sheep.
May God bless those who feed his sheep.
I know what I have to look forward to… 🙂
I popped into your blog because I just began reading Pagan Christianity and was curious to find out more about the authors. Just wanted to thank you for the book. For the past several years I’ve been searching for this information because the book contains my questions and I had no reference point to begin my search for answers. Now, I do.
Now, coming to this blog I see you’re being attacked because of your work. You are suffering on my behalf and many others like me that God is using this book as answered prayer. This may not be much of a help, but I thank you for your willingness to share what you have learned in your research with us in spite of the personal cost to yourself. Following God is sometimes so hard and my prayers are that you will stand in strength, love, and purity through these struggles.
Frank-
Thanks for this.
Roger
This is good advise. It is much easier to find fault than it is to look for the good. I am sure this will resonate with many people even if they are not aspiring authors or writers. The verse that has carried me through misunderstandings is 1 Cor. 11:19:
“For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (KJV)
Hey, Frank:
We’ve never met before, but I thought I’d just tell you that I appreciated your thoughts here. I’ve experienced a few of those things myself and it is encouraging to know that people I admire from afar experience them too. It gives me hope and in some ways helps me feel a little less crazy.
Thanks again.
Nick
http://www.nickloyd.com
My favorite example of a person handling extreme criticisms was Kenneth Hagin. Reporters would call and ask him to reply to gossip about him or criticisms of his over one hundred books. His standard answer was, “No reply. God bless you.”
He felt that any truth he wrote or preached would outlive all of the lies and criticisms of his Word of Faith messages.
Now whether you agree with all of Kenneth Hagin’s works or not, is irrelevant because this character trait of Hagin is admirable. Especially when you consider how thin-skinned we writers are!
Hey, I get to be your first response. I know it is early over in America. But you know this is very good. But it goes so much into also our live with each other as well. I think the Lord has to deeply deal with our hearts and change that to keep us from being critical…..I haven’t decided if those that write books or share on these blog about how they see the Lord are incredibly brave or really got a incredible thick hide on that backside…..or really like abuse or something.
Have you ever been concerned that you would write about something and defend that position passionately. Then as you mature and grow… you find out you were not right about it?
I have always wondered how Authors deal with that in their lives? How to explain you were wrong after you even wrote books on it?
Oh well, very interesting for sure……But unless you plan on writing a book for me……I doubt I would be inspired to write one. Unless it was about you and how you were all wrong…….LOL
Just messing with you Frank!
Be blessed,
Ruth