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/
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThe biggest mistake authors make when trying to get free... Read More
If you want to be a writer, then you must... Read More
Structure in the form of frameworks, work processes and goals... Read More
Suspense novels are probably the easiest novels to write. Suspense... Read More
I call it cheap therapy. That gushing, near-religious, poured-from-the-body stress... Read More
About two weeks ago I received an article submissionthat immediately... Read More
So you want to be a successful author? You want... Read More
If you are a serious writer who wants to publish... Read More
One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More
Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as... Read More
Set your journal or diary where you will see it... Read More
Hundreds of writing contests tempt screenwriters with the lure of... Read More
Making Money from Freelance WritingIt's the question that every aspiring... Read More
How do you describe a scene without slowing down the... Read More
Productivity begins by recognizing and valuing your brilliance, time, and... Read More
And a dreadful thing from the cliff did spring, and... Read More
Simply put, it is the art of writing scripts for... Read More
Every part of your book can be a sales tool.... Read More
Self-examination sheds light on a writers motives, goals, and aspirations,... Read More
ACCEPT, EXCEPT Not commonly seen even from unpublished writers, who... Read More
Building a new website can be extremely exciting. Seeing your... Read More
If your cash is running out fast and you have... Read More
The rejection letter says: "Your story, on the surface, appears... Read More
You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Oh... Read More
Back in my school days, if the teacher demanded a... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..The dash--that curious mark of punctuation people use in their... Read More
In the words of Aristotle, "happiness is self contentedness helping... Read More
Not all writers write good grammar. That's a fact. It's... Read More
(excerpted from the "How to Use a Journal" audio series... Read More
You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More
Many writers write for the experience. Others dream of having... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?The writer, who doesn't have the time... Read More
When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a... Read More
When you read a letter from someone, we are immediately... Read More
Readers often send me interesting and exciting e-mails about the... Read More
During the past few months I have received many questions... Read More
What do you mean, you don't have a website yet?... Read More
Among the various foolproof methods used to boost traffic to... Read More
Before you even begin writing your novel, you need to... Read More
My dad was wrong. I just discovered that I am... Read More
The Internet has truly revolutionized the careers of writers worldwide.... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
This article is to help identify which style, technique or... Read More
Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel and bookpleasures is honored... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
Persisting With Bulldog Determination [Book excerpt from Successercising} by Rick... Read More
There is an image most people carry of the artist... Read More
Why is it that so many people don't take writing-as-a-job... Read More
Taming the Book Proposal: The BasicsOh, that most maddening of... Read More
When most people consider writing a book, they don't think... Read More
Writing |