How would you react when someone says your story or writing is trash?

[keii4ii]

"Your writing/comic is trash" is instantly "not value feedback" in my brain.

Agreed. If someone can't see any value in what I'm trying to do, they CANNOT help me do a better job with what I'm trying to do. Even the harshest critic has to be able to see some hope in order to be helpful.

Like, it doesn't even matter if they're right, because if they're right... then the only choice I have for improvement is throwing out the trash. And that's not an option.

If it happens repeatedly, or worse, if the idiot in question attempts to methodically explain WHY my work is trash and what I need to do to "fix" it...

I love that you put 'fix' in quotation marks. XDDD Those quotation marks are Important.

[ar-ninetysix]

Literally ask why, anybody can say it's trash but if they have something negative to say, use that and make the best of the situation. That there is a vocal part of your audience giving you feedback, if you ask why and they give you their actual thoughts.. it's an oppurtunity for you to grow! If you can make changes and keep the story you wanna tell intact, that's great! If not, let 'em know!

If you ask why and they just insist on being a prick though, just block 'em. What are they gonna complain that they got blocked bc they were being rude as hell?? Nah, keep 'em out lol

[Iris-Grimoire]

Someone who can't communicate what they dislike and maybe they just resort to that canned response? I might either see if other commenters talk to them or if there's something worth approaching for.

They're just saying that to get a rise out of me? Well, agreeing or disagreeing is getting a rise out of me. They want something to happen. Not caring or responding in a deadpan way is the only way to get one over these people - they strive for attention, no real attachment to see the comic get better or any vendetta against its contents.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

I would actually be okay with it. I haven't had any comments like that at all. In fact, I think people say too many nice things about my work.

Is it too much to ask for someone to dump on my art? It might hurt, sure, but at the same time it would also be validation that what I'm doing is enough to bring out strong opinions, good, or bad.

[DualDragons]

Well as someone who's first work (different version of RotH) was hated and insulted to the ground by one i do hate these kind of replies. Especially if they have no constructive criticism. I once asked the guy who left hate on my episodes if he'd provide some feedback. He said it was not his problem.

I swear i was so pissed then. It was on webtoon so i couldn't even block the guy. At best i could ignore him. But if i met someone like that who kept pestering me irl i'd give them a strong right punch and perhaps pull something out. Like an eye.

Don't pester webcomic artists please.

[DiegoPalacios]

I`m a practical person. If the person cant give objective advice on how i can improve, i just ignore them. Truth is that people who give solid advice will not deal in absolutes by calling a story trash.

Now, if people point out flaws in my story and writing and give advice on how to improve, i will take it into account in the future. I would only change story elements i consider absolutely neccesary, to avoid being stuck in a remake loop.

[C_o]

A person being that harsh are likely doing so to get some kind of reaction.

Having said that, I just read a comic here last night and my first thought was literally "wow, this is trash". I just closed it and moved on with my life however, I didn't respond to their thread and declare as much.

[Iamapersonmanguy]

If they called my story trash i would
1 say what story
or
2 Agree

[spadesart]

theres not really anything you can do as the author to fight back. if you respond negatively you look unprofessional, if you have a large following and you respond at all, it could be interpreted as calling your followers attention to it to respond for you (no matter how polite your response is).

i wanna say as a smaller creator i have some elbow room so i'd probably go for a jokey 'hell yeah it is' answer. honestly an 'its trash' comment is better than total radio silence when it comes to feedback lol..............................................

[morganicfoods]

Honestly, I agree with that.

[Kiweevil]

I habitually brutally roast people on complete accident when they say things like this to me. I don't mean to, it just comes out like a sneeze or a flinch (but I intimately feel terrible afterwards). So if someone told me my work was trash, personally, I'd probably verbally make them regret the day they slid from their mother's womb. Though I certainly don't recommend doing it. That just opens up a whole can of worms.

The best thing to do is just remember that some people can't grasp concepts the same way you or your readers do, or perhaps they have different tastes. So if one sour patch kid tells you something like that with a complete lack of constructive criticism, don't take it to heart. You can ignore it and be the bigger person. There's a chance they just don't like it because of differing personal preferences....or maybe they're just an idiot.

[faisalhussein394]

If they don't have a constructive criticism or anything that makes sense about why our content is not satisfying enough to the readers than they are not worth our attention. They are obviously trolls and would like to get our attention and waste our time.

If there is one that points out the flaws either on our characters, stories or even world buildings and made valid points, then we must hear and read what is the problem for the sake of improvement.

[SuperRazz]

I'd ignore them. But I'd secretly agree D:

[Panqiuyan]

i would just say to the individual at i have something that they can't even do or create.

[indagold]

I ask why politely and then secretly laugh with my friends behind their back when they can't provide criticism and hem and haw because they didn't expect to get this far. Tactic never fails.

[cosgo]

I simply think that the story was not created for them. Take a look around. Even the wildest story finds its readers.

[NickRowler]

I'm really dyslexic so if they are talking about bad grammar/awkward sentences, I would have preferred if they would have addressed it in that way. Saying "Your writing is trash." doesn't help me. Maybe if their profile doesn't look like an edgelord, I might ask why because I am open to fixing those mistakes. I know there are people who just have no tact and are not trying to be trolls, they feel they have to put in their two cents.

If they said "Your story is trash", I would be confused. My stuff might be boring or confusing to some but I don't understand why their word of choice would be trash.

[IdiotWithPencil]

Would probably agree with them, to some extent and then tried to defend my story a little, I had this happen with my sister and it took a week of debating to finally agree XD. I'm happy we did cause I went and fixed it and now I'm happier with the result

[darkone4587]

Ignore them if they're not trying to be constructive.
If they are being constructive take notes and try to improve after getting some other form of feedback here and there.

[Ariaz]

I wouldn't really say anything as I dislike confrontation. I would probably believe them and possibly even thank them for being honest, then just never talk to them again. (It depends on their relationship with me).