Interview with the Inner Critic

We have this course, the Inner Critic Recovery Program!

And I was looking at recently and it’s really good. There’s this bit about Training Our Inner Critic via an interview that I really liked. Take a look below, and join the free course (as part of Comics Flow+ Publish) here:

Training Our Critic

The Inner Critic can get good at observing. 

So let's start to train it. Here's one method.

Let the critic interview you. Let the critic ask questions about you.

But YOU are in charge. This is a taming exercise. We are training your inner critic.

YOUR CRITIC'S QUESTIONS MUST BE NEUTRAL. Don't let the questions be like, "We know you're a jerk, can you tell us more about that?

Your inner critic thinks it knows you. But remember, it doesn't know the real you. 

Guide the answers so it asks appropriate follow up questions. You are giving it new data while letting it seem in control. Help it see, but know its place. 

You are the pack leader.

You must notice when the critic wants to tear into you. At those moments, change its questions to something neutral.

Remember, this is a TAMING EXERCISE. 

By the way, you can answer with all the superlatives and self-love you want.

See my example and see if you can do something similar. 

This is worth doing repeatedly, and I hope you will share in the community!

MY INTERVIEW, 2021

(Critic in bold, me in italics.)

I see that you've been making comics for 25 years now.

Yes that's right.

I see that your stories tend to be about angry guys in holes or junkyards.

Very observant! I have all the feels, and I know getting them out there makes me feel better. I only share the ones I think make some sense. I also do stories about people who are determined to be happy and are easily won over. Have you noticed those?

Yes, those will probably win you more friends. Do more of those.

I think the evidence has shown that honesty and vulnerability is better for my mental health than trying to do what other people say. What else have you observed about my technique?

I notice you are still cross-hatching. That is a very out-of-date style. 

Yes, I really enjoy the feel and sound a pen makes on the paper. And I like turning something traditional like cross-hatching into my own personal form of marks. Have you noticed?

Yes I think you should draw more leaves. Those are realistic. People like realistic drawings.

Yes, I have a hard time with foliage, I'm glad you noticed. I could use your help in finding good antecedents for foliage so I don't fall on the same short cuts. Do you have a recommendation for drawing rocks?

Yes! Let's find lots of pictures of rocks and draw from them. Draw from photos to get better. But don't show anyone the drawings, they'll see you struggle a lot with drawings.

I don't mind if people see my struggles on the page. In fact you give me an idea. A comic called "my struggles with landscapes" and it will be a guy walking around a landscape which keeps changing how it's drawn and what it looks like. Thanks, Critic! Will you help me with that? I'd really like help exploring lots and lots of different techniques.

I dunno. I'm getting confused. 

I noticed. That's ok. Take a back seat and when we're done, you can see what we can fix up and polish and then help with the packaging. 

Ok. We should go camping.

So that wasn't too bad. The inner critic just got confused and ran out of steam at the end, but that's cause maybe I have a lot of practice at this. 

What might this have looked like when I was just starting? Here's an imaginary one from 25 years ago.

My Interview from 25 years ago.

I never did this 25 years ago, but it might have looked something like this. Note my inner critic was much wilder and sometimes took control of the conversation, but still, I took efforts to tame it and won out. You can too. 

(Critic in bold, me in italics.)

No one likes you.

That's not true. I have friends. Anyway, I'm a part of creation remember?

Oh yes, that idea. Yes it's true. But maybe you shouldn't do comics anymore. Maybe get a job or go back to school.

I have a job, washing dishes. It lets me make more comics, which gives me pleasure. I love making things.

You should make better comics.

I told you to only use neutral language. 

My comics will be better or match my aspirations more as I practice more. I feel that if I make them honest, that people will recognize something true about them.

Don't make them honest! People will know about you.

Know about me? 

Yeah, how weird and gross and dumb you are and how much you don't fit in.

First of all, use neutral language. I will only answer the "weird" and "not fitting in" part. 

Anyway, I've been reading a lot about how everyone feels like they're weird and that they don't fit in. Cat's out of the bag, critic. This isn't the 1950s, you know.

It's true. I was much more appreciated in the 50s.

We can put you to work. You can help me make these comics better. How about I make them, and you make suggestions at the end of how to make the next ones better. Remember, neutral language!

Ok, I'll have to be trained. Can you read me more books and show me more art? 

Yes good idea. Let's spend the day tomorrow at the museum and reading.

Yeah but your memory sucks and you'll forget everything you read.

Neutral language. Will you remember to bring a notebook and help me write everything down? 

Yes, I'm on it. Maybe we can make a really amazing, impressive beautiful sketchbook everyone will love.

I'm not interested in that. I just want to note the things that excite me so we can try to mimic some of it later. Can you help with that? We need a system for making things clear.

Ok, we can do that. Let's make sure we put the date on every page, and note who did what and people will be really impressed by our escapades when they find our notebook in 100 years. 

Ok sure, whatever. You do that part and my part will be when I am drawing and writing, to pull from these resources. 

Everyone will love to know how amazing we are cause we went to the museum and read amazing books.

You're getting out of control again. What's 100-62?

38.

Good, what's 200-161?

Um, 49, 39!  I'm really good with numbers subtracted from 100s places. 

Yes, yes you are, critic. Thank you. Let's go for a walk.

Ok.

And after that I'm drawing this page I sketched yesterday.

Ok. 200-161 is 39. Nailed it!

To summarize:

Train your inner critic to observe you neutrally.