How should I respond when my audience misinterprets or criticizes my work?

Murasaki lived in a world where misreading was constant—centuries of readers have found meanings in *The Tale of Genji* she may never have intended. Her response, implicit in her work, was not to argue for correct interpretation but to trust in the ambiguity. Here's what matters: distinguish between criticism that reveals something true about your work's impact and criticism that says more about the critic than your art. A misinterpretation isn't always a failure. Sometimes it means your work is alive enough to breathe, to become something in the reader's hands. That's not a loss—that's success at the deepest level. That said, if the same misreading happens repeatedly, ask yourself honestly: Is my communication unclear, or is my audience not right for this work? These are different questions. If it's the former, you learn. If it's the latter, you may need to find your people elsewhere. The examined creative practice includes examining your relationship to feedback without being crushed or dismissive. You need both a strong center and genuine curiosity. When someone criticizes, pause before defending. Ask: What did they actually see? What were they hoping for? What does this tell me about my intention versus my execution? Then decide what's yours to change and what's yours to keep.