Vitriol

Sometimes people just hate you. Nothing you write is good, let alone good enough. Most times, those people will share with you exactly how they feel.

There is no escaping the vitriol of an angry public. If you are a professional artist, you will have to share your work with others. You have to push it on people and some people will push back.

Since you can't avoid it, the important question is what you will do in response to it. The natural reaction is to attack or defend. If somebody says your work is stupid, you attack them by saying that they're stupid for not getting it. If not, you become defensive, and then try to explain your work and why you think that it is good and valuable.

I advise against both of those. As an artist, your work should stand for itself. If somebody doesn't like it, then there is nothing you can do to change it. If somebody hates insults your work so much that they offend you, don't attack them. You're being just as terrible and stupid as they are. And if you get defensive and try to justify yourself, all you're saying is that your work is not good enough to speak for itself. It is also a show of weakness.

If somebody passionately hates your work, you should be proud. Somebody looked at your work, pondered it, was greatly affected by it, and then took the time to find and communicate with you. It's an honor. It says that what you do holds a tremendous power.

I know that compliments are far nicer and more pleasant, but not everybody takes the time to write random fan mail. Random hate mail also works though. It may be fiery hot, but remember that heat rises, so it should uplift you, not keep you down.