Everyone laughed at these authors books until their books were a big success

Why Writers Should Filter Out Mockery and Harsh Criticism

In 2026, the digital landscape for writers is louder than ever. While constructive feedback is often cited as a tool for growth, there is a dangerous side to public or peer mockery and UN-vetted criticism that can derail even the most promising literary career. Here is why writers should be cautious about whose opinions they let in. Especially keep these thoughts in mind as you send out drafts and get harsh comments and rejections from publishers.

Here are some examples of author's that were either laughed at or criticized but went on to be hugely successful

• Jane Austen: Authors like Mark Twain and Ralph Waldo Emerson were highly critical of Austen's novels, with Twain expressing a violent dislike for Pride and Prejudice and Emerson calling her works "vulgar in tone".

• James Joyce: Virginia Woolf famously described Ulysses as the work of a "queasy undergraduate," while D.H. Lawrence considered it "clumsy" and "dirty-minded".

• William Faulkner: Ernest Hemingway dismissed Faulkner's complex language, and Faulkner reciprocated by calling Hemingway a writer who avoided challenging vocabulary.

• J.D. Salinger: While less responsive to critics, Salinger's later work and Catcher in the Rye received harsh reviews from fellow writers such as John Updike, Joan Didion, and Elizabeth Bishop.

• Jack Kerouac: Truman Capote criticized the Beat generation's style, saying of Kerouac's writing, "That's not writing, that's typing".

• Henry James: H.G. Wells mocked James in his novel Boon, arguing that literature should be practical rather than an end in itself. James was also critical of other writers, calling George Eliot a "great horse-faced bluestocking".

---

So let’s break this down and make it really clear:

• The Negativity Bias: Our brains are biologically wired to give more weight to negative stimuli than positive ones. Think about that for a moment. How many times have you put yourself down, even before you have received a comment from another person? One mocking comment can overshadow dozens of positive reviews, shutting down the parts of the brain responsible for creative thinking and widening attention. This also happens with our own self talk, so carefully guard what you whisper to yourself and practice looking in the mirror and using positive affirmations to boost your own opinion of your work.

• Creative Paralysis and Self-Doubt: Harsh words can lead to "creative paralysis," where a writer becomes so fearful of further mockery that they abandon their aspirations entirely. Constant negative feedback often triggers internal self-talk that dictates writing flow, making it nearly impossible to recognize your true potential.

• Stifled Originality: Writing for "expert authority figures" or critics instead of a true audience leads to stilted and constrained work. When writers fear being laughed at, they often over-prepare and second-guess their choices, losing their unique voice in an attempt to be "perfect" and avoid ridicule.

• Mental Health and Well-being: Public humiliation and online harassment have a documented "chilling effect" on writers. Recent studies from 2025 show that negative comments significantly increase anxiety and unpleasant moods. In extreme cases, severe public shaming can lead to feelings of hopelessness and clinical symptoms of PTSD.

• Reputation Damage Through Satire: Research published in early 2025 suggests that satire and mockery can be more damaging to a writer's reputation than direct criticism. Because satire reduces people to caricatures, it can dehumanize the writer, making it harder for their serious work to be taken at face value in the future.

---

How to Filter the Noise

To thrive in 2026, writers must distinguish between constructive feedback (which focuses on the "product" to improve it) and destructive mockery (which targets the writer personally).

• Vet Your Critics: Only accept feedback from those you trust who understand your genre and goals.

• Protect Your Mental Space: Do not hesitate to block or disengage from trolls whose goal is to make you feel bad rather than to improve your work.

• Separate Identity from Output: Practice viewing your writing as a product to be refined rather than an extension of your human worth.

While you cannot stop others from having opinions, but you can change your response by choosing to value your own vision over the laughter of those who do not understand it. Some call this developing a “thick skin” but whatever you call it don’t allow others opinions to overshadow what your writer’s instincts tell you about your own work certainly listen to constructive criticism but use it for what it is, another opinion.

Thanks for stopping by we sincerely hope you enjoyed this weeks blog, Everyone laughed at these authors books until their books were a big success. We also hope that you don’t allow others opinions of your writing to halt your progress in this challenging but rewarding adventure we call writing. Please comment and share your experience’s that may help the next author to market his or her book.