Writing is a personal and introspective process. To share with another what we wrote is to risk. Some of us are more hidden than others, some of us tolerate risk better than others. When you critique someone's work you don't know where on this continuum the writer stands.
In order to offer feedback, one needs to be prepared. First you must respect the writer. He (or she) put his soul into the work and probably cares about it more than he thinks he should.
Secondly, you must respect opinions, tastes and ways of navigating the world that differ from your personal preferences.
This respect for the writer leads to understanding the writer. Now you are ready to offer feedback.
1. First of all, tell the writer what works in her story. What did you like? What moved you, intrigued you, made you think, made you feel? Where does the writer's strengths lie? In description, humor, drama, dialog?
In my 14 years of teaching creative writing, I have noticed that writers grow more from focusing on developing their strengths than trying to fix their weaknesses. This does not mean that we should pretend that writing weaknesses do not exist. When the strengths expand, however, they crowd out the weaknesses. The more one writes, the more one can intuitively fix the writing up as she goes along.
2. Do you feel that something essential is missing? What do you wish was in the story?
3. Technical assistance: Were there parts that you didn't understand?
Try to critique your own work also, following these guidelines.
To receive feedback also takes some preparation. Were you appreciated? Misunderstood? Did they find the one spot that you knew was weak, but you told yourself no one would ever notice? Was the part you loved the best the part they thought should be eliminated? There are two important points to remember:
1. Without honest feedback from others, how will you grow and improve as a writer?
2. Don't give feedback-givers power over your writing, your self image and your emotions. Whether to accept their points and make actual changes based on them, is always Your decision.
If you find that feedback from others discourages you from writing, then stop seeking out feedback.
Esther Susan Heller is the director of The Jewish Writing Institue which offers email courses in writing, including poetry, comedy, creative nonfiction and fiction. She is a freelance editor creative writing teacher and magazine feature writer. Visit her website: http://www.jewishwriting.com/
cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareQ and A.Best choice when subject is very verbal or... Read More
1. Become an EavesdropperListen carefully to the way people REALLY... Read More
Some writers are just too kind.They hate to put their... Read More
There's a little known secret we writers like to keep... Read More
Whether you keep a separate spiritual journal or just want... Read More
And a dreadful thing from the cliff did spring, and... Read More
How to avoid mistakes that undermine your credibilityYou're probably already... Read More
Peter Mayle was born in England in 1939.His fascination with... Read More
There are various forms of structure, including frameworks, work processes... Read More
The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only been running for... Read More
Pictures they say are worth a thousand words, but many... Read More
The first five pages of a novel are critical.Editors make... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More
On the first day of a bright and shiny new... Read More
'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented... Read More
Verb and SubjectIncorrect:"I bet you two had a fine time,"... Read More
How many times have you checked out a job board... Read More
Sometime one must coax the words out.Each day is a... Read More
You can turn your $200 fee to write a press... Read More
Sometimes I can be dense when it comes to realizing... Read More
In the words of Aristotle, "happiness is self contentedness helping... Read More
FIVE MINUTES ... Is All You Need ........to phone a... Read More
Dream that your book can be a number one best... Read More
When a writer is working on their next literary masterpiece... Read More
Screenwriting is a competitive trade. To distinguish yourself as a... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..Set your journal or diary where you will see it... Read More
This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More
Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great... Read More
You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Oh... Read More
Summer's here and the time is write for dancing in... Read More
When one population in one century survived five wars, two... Read More
Eight or nine times out of ten, picking up and... Read More
Suspense novels, unlike any other genre, need fast starts. Fans... Read More
Not long ago, I took stock of my unrealized desire... Read More
I went to school to be a teacher. In fact,... Read More
All the famous writers I heard of could paper the... Read More
Being a great writer is no longer enough if you... Read More
I am sure that at in some era, at some... Read More
Okay. So I'm not David Letterman. But I doubt if... Read More
If you are a serious writer who wants to publish... Read More
One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More
You have just completed a draft of an article. It... Read More
Self-examination is brutally honest. Self-indulgence is brutally maudlin.Writing requires the... Read More
The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers,... Read More
Q and A.Best choice when subject is very verbal or... Read More
Creating incredible characters can be easy if you know of... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
The following rules are essential if you want people to... Read More
There is an image most people carry of the artist... Read More
Writing |