On Giving and Receiving Feedback
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/
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 Wall Street Journal | Fla. test scores: More questions than answers WFMZ Allentown The Florida Department of Education has released the results of its most recent statewide standardized tests, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in reading and writing. Results for the FCAT reading tests for grades nine and 10 showed that 52% of ... Hold politicians accountable for education Regraded Test Upends Florida Schools 80 percent of 4th-graders pass FCAT writing portion |
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Writer For Content Writing King Published Social Marketing Article Houston Chronicle A new blog post written by Content Writing King has been released. This post is about article writing, content marketing, and social marketing. Recently, the article writing writer for Content Writing King has released a new blog post about content ... Content Writing King Releases Link Building Educational Material |
MTSU grad is writing her own ticket for multimedia success The Daily News Journal 10:09 pm MURFREESBORO — If there's a script for success in broadcasting, Fadia Patterson is writing—and rewriting it—every day. The newly minted master's graduate from MTSU has barely had time to finish writing thank-you notes before packing up for ... |
Boxing writers honor Fernandez for first-place column Philadelphia Daily News RECENTLY RETIRED Daily News sports writer Bernard Fernandez, for the 11th consecutive year, had placing entries in the Boxing Writers Association of America writing contest, known as the “Barneys” in honor of the late former president of the BWAA, ... |
Dean Minnich Writing Again: It's a public government, not a church or cement plant Carroll County Times (blog) As the Carroll County Commissioners trudge through the budget process, it occurs to me that they have no shared vision. Commissioner Robin Frazier apparently wants to use government for missionary work. An online service is needed to view this article ... |
 Farm Futures | Farm Bill Writing Underway in the House Farm Futures House Ag Committee wrapped up last subcommittee hearing Friday, now the work of crafting a farm bill begins. It'll look different than the Senate's. Friday, the House Ag Committee wrapped up hearings on the 2012 Farm Bill using a series of subcommittee ... |
 Independent Online | Bongi has the write stuff Independent Online By Debashine Thangevelo Hard work paid off for head writer Bongi Ndaba, who was appointed as co-producer of SABC1 s Generations. Picture: Generations Nursing a cold, Bongi Ndaba wasn't about to call in sick. Apologising in advance for the ... |
 The Hindu | 'Da Vinci Code' author Dan Brown speaks in NH Boston.com PORTSMOUTH, NH—Best-selling author Dan Brown made a rare public appearance in New Hampshire on Friday, saying very little about his next novel other than he's well into the writing process. "The Da Vinci Code" author, who grew up in New Hampshire, ... 'Da Vinci Code' author Dan Brown speaks in NH, says writing under way on next ... 'Da Vinci Code' author Dan Brown speaks |
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