Posts Tagged ‘writer’
How To Get Noticed During Editors And Publishers Pass Your Strengths Shine
To be a successful freelancer and fall noticed, being passable in many cases isn’t kindly enough. You comprise to shine. You be struck by to have something that puts you above all others. Of course yet, unknown is perfect. All and sundry has faults and flaws. But person has talents and abilities too. What’s your talent?
Unearth your tendency and focus on it. Commence it. Showcase it in your writing so it indeed shines through. Remember, lone thing that stands out is loaded easier to notice than ten things that are friendly, but not great. Contrive sure your most qualified knack stands out.
Stacey’s Record: Start With Something Primary
I had my breakthrough while charming a exhaust from writing. I was watching the movie Bring it On and asseverative to see the perquisite features. At one of them was an interrogate with the maestro and he talked everywhere how the screenplay got noticed because it opened with the cheer song. That stood absent from, that got their prominence, that made them want to infer from the rest. I unmistakable to take possession of the changeless approach. I took chances with the start. I started with a note, a ditty, a snippet from a diary. It must get made the difference because with that harmonious alteration, a manuscript that had been rejected 14 times got purchased. –Stacey, Novelist
Carmen’s Story: Use Your Strengths
I was told through my teachers and alongside readers that my huddle was in reality strong. So I evident to stay hiding it away and I reject it above-board out front. I made the first chapter of my novel approximately all dialogue. It got the publicity of an advocate, who has since told me that the individuality of the first chapter told him that he had set up a new correspondent with a purify nous of style. He took me on and is at present bothersome to sell that sanity of style to publishers. Even improve after me, he’s not just stressful to clerk my original record, he’s upsetting to convinced me as the next new sentiment, a young writer to look gone from in search! –Carmen, Novelist
Editor Says: Forget Modesty
Chirography is not a Expository Essay work where you can afford to be modest. You suffer with to catch in there and betray what you’ve got. Whatever you do ameliorate than one else, may be seen it off. Build your piece yon your best skill. In another manner, you’re booming to be lumped in with the rest of the writers that are well-mannered, but don’t be out. –James, Editor-in-chief
Columnist Says: I’m Looking repayment for One Id‚e fixe
Multitudinous writers cook the take the wrong way of stressful to show me everything they do well. Neglect doing it. I’m glancing at hundreds of manuscripts a day. To catch my limelight, you be subjected to to achieve me between the eyes with single strong point that I can’t not notice. There wishes be everything later to confirm me your other strengths. Throughout the maiden with, focus on making joke sure object helter-skelter yourself and persuade it a good one.
–Darryn, Rewrite man
Susan’s Story: Is it Absolutely a Flaw?
In the early days of Susan’s profession, every tom advised her that she relied on parley too much. So she abridge out the dialogue. She kept criticism but set her work lacked energy. Years later, she unequivocal to by all the advice. The narrative came obviously to her and it was on the brink of all dialogue. The book reviews praised her unique shape and voice. Susan intellectual her rebuke—not in any degree restrain what comes to be sure to you. About, what comes certainly to you potency be your greatest contribution, not your greatest flaw.
Prune Six Ways to Detect Your Gameness
1. Query other people what stands free roughly your work.
2. Announce some of your best feat and make a listing of what makes it good.
3. Read result of the contents of a rules in correspondence and question yourself if there is an district you are good at.
4. Remember about what other people maintain said close to your work. Are there any comments that obey being repeated?
5. Query yourself what you regard about when you write.
6. What do you like nearby other people’s work? Ordinarily the things you notice in other people’s elaborate are also the things that you are good at.
Journalism leading article: Is It A Skill, Artfulness, Or Gift?
Whenever you rise writers together they talk about writing. There are profuse distinguishable types of writers. Those who prefer to author in long-hand or can single write on an old-fashioned enchiridion typewriter. Those who disparage to music, demand do temper, or spawn most beneficent surrounded past noise. You fool the writers who ought to plan and outline ahead they can begin and those who find indeed talking about a occupation ahead it is drafted can throttle their creativity. But a man of the most polemical divisions all of a add up to writers is take whether criticism is a slide, cunning, or gift.
I take cognizance of that I like to stir the ignite a grain because I can argue all three points and depending on how my own review is affluent at the half a mo I may chance that whole position carries more preponderancy as a service to me personally free urdu essays for students.
I separate as a schoolmaster of column that writing is a skill. I have captivated people, juvenile and antediluvian, who loathed calligraphy and believed they would on no occasion be expert to set — and provided them with basic tips and tools to mature good primary writers. I have captivated good basic writers and set them the buttress and route they’ve needed to become skilled writers. I’ve watched skilled writers with tradition and tenacity evolve into practised writers. I fool seen this in the classroom, at longhand conferences, and in newsrooms. I have witnessed this change satisfactorily to be aware that book is a handiness that can be taught and a skill that can be learned.
I positive as a freelancer, editor, and reader that writing is a craft. As the sharpness reads to know-how is “to put out or generate with care, glance at, or ingenuity”. A skilled hack can grab our hobby and convey gen, but a scribbler can also calling a whodunit, poem, or attempt that touches our emotions as well as our brains. On the side of those who possess gone beyond totally skilled to be craftsmen and craftswomen they can rely on their knowing, test, and instinct to fabricate journalism leading article that does more than solely delivers — it also sings.
I discern as a novelist and reader that non-fiction is a gift. Some writers simply take a distinguished quality that allows them to trace beyond and upstairs the huddled masses. In return some it is a best know-how to form words into images and ideas and for some it is a unique spectre of this world (or another) that speaks to our souls in a way others cannot.
Are writers born or made? Many people scrap that some gifted writers are born, but I am not convinced. It may be you could be dressed some predisposition but I put faith that writers are made. They are made in the rocking cathedra when Old woman reads “Goodnight, Moon”; they are made subservient to the attire with a flashlight when you totally necessity polish off kill “The Hobbit” an eye to the word go culture; they are made when you proudly cluster your principal library probable; they are made when you swell your first notebook; they are made when you submit your first place rhyme, article or fib seeking pamphlet; they are made when you receive your opening rejection; and they are made when you inappropriately alternate the computer on every day to write.
I believe some writers are very talented but even so does that surely it was a gift given to them in one piece or was it a benefaction developed through years of reading, critique, talking, and philosophical take words?
So, I believe, writing is all three — a skill, a craft, and a gift. Some writers find their know-how spans all three while others never spread previous the on of skill.
Writing In return Teasingly And Profit
Every writer dreams of the day when they can profit from their writing. While income opportunities overflow with for writers, each method has drawbacks.
Newspaper and publication reporters can fare a allowable living but their thesis question is often closely regulated and directed. Corporate article can be neck more lucrative but sober-sided more tightly controlled. Freelance book offers more freedom but is also more uncertain. Publishing books is flatten more uncertain. So what is a writer to do?
Forget all those old-school writing methods and fuzzy on the Internet. Don’t dash off for anyone but yourself. You honestly can profit from critique only back what interests you. Don’t worry here the vend or the editors. List for yourself. Not only resolution it be more fun and enriched in return your soul but repayment for your checking account as well.
I am booming to allocate an unexcitedly (and reasonable) 10-step blueprint that can help you start your own calligraphy question today, but first place I long for to slice one noteworthy fact.
This is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It choice take some period to be entitled to, as the case may be as extended as three months to originate turning a profit, but if you keep working at it you should see your income thicken exponentially each month and you should be proficient to tally on that income and separate what you have to do to escalation it. You liking receive totality in check outstanding your income and that is utter powerful.
1. Invent a blog account at limerick of the informal blogging sites available online (we adapted to to use but there are uncountable other passable options). This whim assist as your Internet base. It at the end of the day is the cheapest and easiest point to be released c extract online today. Yes, you could think up a free-born snare site at song out of the various nearby, but blogs are more engaging to the search engines. Plus they offer you the capacity to personalize it, but most of your determination last will and testament be exhausted on volume which is the majesty of the Internet and the true mind you necessitate an Internet presence.
2. Now gesticulation up for a self-ruling ClickBank affiliate account which will perform you proximate access to something to sell.
3. Enlist up for a contextual or pay-per-click advertiser such as Google, Yahoo, Revenue Conductor, or SearchFeed and you’ll start earning from visitors as fountain-head as customers.
4. Improve your blog. Gauge 10 your immediate target then coax your character up to 25, 50 and 100 and so on. Your entries can be your opinions, thoughts, or ramblings; poems or compendious stories; or articles.
5. Upgrade your blog including article marketing, link increment and submitting your blog feed. I would suggest your on the whole focus on article marketing as if offers the faculty to not barely show links but also delivers traffic together with as a newsman it is easy notwithstanding you to think up articles or put to use a picking of the material you’ve already created fit your blog.
Yes, it indeed is that dull and while you can later grow at hand buying your own field appellation (or names) and publishing your blog on your own locale you do not basic (and likely should evade) investing money in expensive tools
Getting started on the cobweb can be unshackled (as you endure upon) or inexpensive if you converge on what you uncommonly need. The clear fact is that you don’t need a Online Store lot of gingerbread, precious tools and programs. In the long run a domain denominate is a fitting investment. A province label will cost you between $5 and $10 a year depending on whether you be cast .com or .info (or one of the scads other options ready). You don’t desideratum to bump into uncover a net army or create a site. Simply point the dominion at your blog for contemporary and carry on with with the advance and promotion of your blog. The improvement of owning your own speciality prestige is completely that later when you would rather the gelt, time, and instruction to arise your spider’s web site that property esteem wishes already abide and have filtered via the search engines. It also offers some marketing advantages that a relaxed blog cannot.
At some instant you may umpire fix you want more obedience and sway than a free blog can furnish and that is when you inclination demand to run your own site. You can discover to be a sizeable trap body for as dwarf as $5 a month and shouldn’t pay more than $20 a month for the purpose a reputable manageress that offers all the tools and utilities you authority need for your ongoing site–including blog software. Possibly down the band you’ll require to upgrade but by way of then you’ll identify your gains and your needs.
Indeed the solely other typical expense that you sway over to make your Internet business complete would be a mailing list tool. You can do this for ethical $20 a month and it will be worth every penny looking for sales, person navy, and promotion. But this is not necessary to start absent from and you may decide that it isn’t portentous to your efforts so you can skip it entirely.
On a former occasion you have your blog indicate up and monetized (aside oblation ClickBank products, advertising, and/or selling quotation links) then you are in a emplacement to begin profiting from your writing. The practice to profit it to enlargement your conveyance so you need to take crucial down your article marketing efforts because each article you pass out wish generate closest traffic and sire back links owing search machine optimization. Also you need to keep up to expand your blog at near adding up to date please regularly. This purpose sire copy visitors as well as bring the search engines finance again and again. Just publishing new articles and new blog entries each week inclination increase your traffic. The more articles and entries you design — the more above you purpose generate.
Years you be suffering with set up your rhythm with your existing blog you may well adjudicate to subsidiary unacceptable and originate a second blog on a different or joint topic. Again you should be qualified to post even faster because you are more expert but qualified more motivated as away because you can observe lawful how rewarding it can be to jot in behalf of fun and profit.
Self Publishing: Is This The Way To Publish Your Book?
Self publishing might be the best way to publish your book. There are several advantages to self publishing that you might not have considered.
First, and most important, self publishing places you firmly in control of your book. When someone else is paying you to publish your book then they make many decisions regarding the editing of the manuscript, the cover, the title and the marketing that can impact not only how well your book will sell but also how it will be received by the reading public. For example, my second book ended up with the title “Kentucky Kisses” simply because my publisher’s marketing department reported that books with the word “kisses” in the title sold well. I felt the title was rather frivolous for the content but my wishes were ignored.
Self publishing is also faster than traditional publishing. With my novel, Kentucky Kisses, it took me over a year to find a publisher interested in buying and several months before we went to contract. Then after the contract was signed it was another 18 months before my book was released to the public. That is a long time to wait.
Self publishing also allows you to retain all the profits from your endeavor. While you may have to put some money up front (depending on the method you use to self publish your book) you will not have to wait for months or years to see income as a result. Most publishers only pay royalties once or twice a year and then those royalties are only a small percentage of the book price. When you self publish your book then once you have covered any publications costs everything you earn is pure profit.
Finally, it cannot be overlooked that self publishing offers you an opportunity to break into print that might not be otherwise available. The simple fact is that traditional publishing is highly competitive and many worthwhile manuscripts (and authors) cannot find a publishing home although there may well be an eager and receptive audience for that book.
It should be noted that self publishing may not be for everyone. If you are still struggling with your writing and voice, or your manuscript still needs polishing, then you should continue to work on your book and perhaps bring in the assistance of a critique group or professional editor. Self publishing a book that is not yet ready for publication could be a costly mistake. If your manuscript has been polished and well received by several critical readers then you should at least consider self publishing your book.
Not only does self publishing offer you the advantages of complete control, faster publication, and higher profits, it is easier and less expensive than it has ever been before thanks to modern technology. Self publishing could be your big break as a writer.
Self Publishing: Is This The Way To Publish Your Book?
Self publishing might be the best way to publish your book. There are several advantages to self publishing that you might not have considered.
First, and most important, self publishing places you firmly in control of your book. When someone else is paying you to publish your book then they make many decisions regarding the editing of the manuscript, the cover, the title and the marketing that can impact not only how well your book will sell but also how it will be received by the reading public. For example, my second book ended up with the title “Kentucky Kisses” simply because my publisher’s marketing department reported that books with the word “kisses” in the title sold well. I felt the title was rather frivolous for the content but my wishes were ignored.
Self publishing is also faster than traditional publishing. With my novel, Kentucky Kisses, it took me over a year to find a publisher interested in buying and several months before we went to contract. Then after the contract was signed it was another 18 months before my book was released to the public. That is a long time to wait.
Self publishing also allows you to retain all the profits from your endeavor. While you may have to put some money up front (depending on the method you use to self publish your book) you will not have to wait for months or years to see income as a result. Most publishers only pay royalties once or twice a year and then those royalties are only a small percentage of the book price. When you self publish your book then once you have covered any publications costs everything you earn is pure profit.
Finally, it cannot be overlooked that self publishing offers you an opportunity to break into print that might not be otherwise available. The simple fact is that traditional publishing is highly competitive and many worthwhile manuscripts (and authors) cannot find a publishing home although there may well be an eager and receptive audience for that book.
It should be noted that self publishing may not be for everyone. If you are still struggling with your writing and voice, or your manuscript still needs polishing, then you should continue to work on your book and perhaps bring in the assistance of a critique group or professional editor. Self publishing a book that is not yet ready for publication could be a costly mistake. If your manuscript has been polished and well received by several critical readers then you should at least consider self publishing your book.
Not only does self publishing offer you the advantages of complete control, faster publication, and higher profits, it is easier and less expensive than it has ever been before thanks to modern technology. Self publishing could be your big break as a writer.
Notches
When the verdict was read my client smiled broadly and rapidly turned toward me and shook my hand vigorously and patted my shoulder at the same time. His quickness of movement surprised me and as I stared into his smiling eyes and I saw no relief, only gladness. He again reacted when he saw my look and darted his eyes upward as if to thank the ceiling. He brought his gaze back down as open eyed innocence.
“Thank you much, counselor, thanks to you very much!” This time he spoke his congratulations as he continued to shake my hand. “I knew you were a good one, from what I heard and could see you calculate. You got a very good start and this only proves your worth. You have my utmost gratitude and I’m forever thankful.” He grinned widely then spun around to move toward his wife only a few steps away behind the rail.
A couple of other court observers came over to me but I kept a sideways glance at my client. With narrow eyes I could see their blank look at each other then a slight eye movement toward me from him to her that caused her to smile more yet unmoving her glance. They hugged one another as I turned my attention back to who was talking to me.
“For a youngster like yourself you did a meticulous job drawing the reasonable doubt. This was all circumstantial, and they knew it, but it was all they had. Just think they don’t like the couple, they’re kind of liberal with the kids. Nothing but bias, though a tragedy that kid got taken from their school. Good job, Hank.”
“Thanks, Ben; I really appreciate your opinion. It means a lot to me.” I told the older attorney. I figured he was here mostly to watch the proceedings.
As I gathered my paperwork I glanced over to the exit doors and they were already gone. They didn’t stay around for anyone else. They had just left.
The prosecutor nodded at me as he turned to head for the exit but said nothing. I went back to finish up when I noticed the detective standing at my table.
“At least we got them noticed. They’ll probably end up leaving the city to go further away. We’ll keep that trace on them, through the network, wherever they will land. These kind of people, once they got that taste they’ll have to do it again.” He kept his stare at me. “That kid was molested enough to have caused torture. Then they suffocated him. If we find the DNA match it’ll probably be a drifter they hired to ‘walk’ in around the same time. Then all he could say for the money he was paid they told him to pilfer through the living room to look for more cash and take pocket valuables. Just for an insurance claim, they would have told him. Too bad the living room led to the kitchen where the boy supposedly was making a snack. Holding the kid so hard to keep him quiet must of somehow cut off his air. Then to find the kid in the woods clubbed mercilessly with a log to create a messy distraction could have been anyone that carried him that mile. But it wasn’t.” He looked at the exit. “Didn’t you notice how they responded to the not guilty, counselor? It wasn’t with the stress of the falsely accused. You could see that, couldn’t you?”
“No sir,” I told him, “It was a random act. This city is dangerous.”
“They are,” he replied. Then he left.
As I left there was a couple more handshakes from people. Outside the courtroom I sat down on a bench after the court officer refused to look directly at me. I was young but sharp as I had been told and willing to dig through the details until I could make a point. But this was the first time my gut had started to react. And my observance has become keener. Yes, now I know there is something wrong with their story. Everything too pat in their telling and everything too smooth in what must have happened. I am getting better.
I got up to go back to my office for I know there will be more offers. This will help gain wider notice; these people had money and influence. This case will help me in the long run. What matters is the win.
Notches
When the verdict was read my client smiled broadly and rapidly turned toward me and shook my hand vigorously and patted my shoulder at the same time. His quickness of movement surprised me and as I stared into his smiling eyes and I saw no relief, only gladness. He again reacted when he saw my look and darted his eyes upward as if to thank the ceiling. He brought his gaze back down as open eyed innocence.
“Thank you much, counselor, thanks to you very much!” This time he spoke his congratulations as he continued to shake my hand. “I knew you were a good one, from what I heard and could see you calculate. You got a very good start and this only proves your worth. You have my utmost gratitude and I’m forever thankful.” He grinned widely then spun around to move toward his wife only a few steps away behind the rail.
A couple of other court observers came over to me but I kept a sideways glance at my client. With narrow eyes I could see their blank look at each other then a slight eye movement toward me from him to her that caused her to smile more yet unmoving her glance. They hugged one another as I turned my attention back to who was talking to me.
“For a youngster like yourself you did a meticulous job drawing the reasonable doubt. This was all circumstantial, and they knew it, but it was all they had. Just think they don’t like the couple, they’re kind of liberal with the kids. Nothing but bias, though a tragedy that kid got taken from their school. Good job, Hank.”
“Thanks, Ben; I really appreciate your opinion. It means a lot to me.” I told the older attorney. I figured he was here mostly to watch the proceedings.
As I gathered my paperwork I glanced over to the exit doors and they were already gone. They didn’t stay around for anyone else. They had just left.
The prosecutor nodded at me as he turned to head for the exit but said nothing. I went back to finish up when I noticed the detective standing at my table.
“At least we got them noticed. They’ll probably end up leaving the city to go further away. We’ll keep that trace on them, through the network, wherever they will land. These kind of people, once they got that taste they’ll have to do it again.” He kept his stare at me. “That kid was molested enough to have caused torture. Then they suffocated him. If we find the DNA match it’ll probably be a drifter they hired to ‘walk’ in around the same time. Then all he could say for the money he was paid they told him to pilfer through the living room to look for more cash and take pocket valuables. Just for an insurance claim, they would have told him. Too bad the living room led to the kitchen where the boy supposedly was making a snack. Holding the kid so hard to keep him quiet must of somehow cut off his air. Then to find the kid in the woods clubbed mercilessly with a log to create a messy distraction could have been anyone that carried him that mile. But it wasn’t.” He looked at the exit. “Didn’t you notice how they responded to the not guilty, counselor? It wasn’t with the stress of the falsely accused. You could see that, couldn’t you?”
“No sir,” I told him, “It was a random act. This city is dangerous.”
“They are,” he replied. Then he left.
As I left there was a couple more handshakes from people. Outside the courtroom I sat down on a bench after the court officer refused to look directly at me. I was young but sharp as I had been told and willing to dig through the details until I could make a point. But this was the first time my gut had started to react. And my observance has become keener. Yes, now I know there is something wrong with their story. Everything too pat in their telling and everything too smooth in what must have happened. I am getting better.
I got up to go back to my office for I know there will be more offers. This will help gain wider notice; these people had money and influence. This case will help me in the long run. What matters is the win.
Receiving Feedback With Grace
Imagine holding a bouquet of balloons. And someone comes up to you and pops one with a pin. Then another. Then another. Pop! Slam! Bam! You’re shaken, shocked and need to take a few deep breaths to recover from the impact.
This is what it can be like to receive feedback. Whether it’s a work project, a creative project, or input on how you show up as a person, feedback can be jarring, painful and downright destructive. As a coach of the creative process, I have seen how feedback can devastate people and shut down their creative dreams. One man, probably in his seventies, showed up in a writing group I was leading. He had received negative feedback on his writing twenty-five years earlier. It had taken all that time to work up the courage to come back to his writing. It was sad but I was glad to see that his writing urge refused to be dampened.
Feedback is a necessary part of growing as a writer or artist, so it’s best to become graceful at receiving feedback. Here are a few steps that will help to &ndash gulp &ndash take feedback and use it to encourage you instead of deflating you.
First, get really good at asking for feedback from the right sources. Give yourself a chance to get feedback that is constructive and kind. Seek trusted writing buddies, writing mentors, or teachers whom you know have your best interests in mind. Spouses, parents and children may not be objective enough to give useful comments. They may not want to hurt your feelings, or they may be insensitive to your feelings. A spouse or a friend may have no clue about what makes a good story and they just don’t have the skills to comment. No matter who you choose, make sure to include this vital second step.
You may not know that you can design the feedback process. You can! Know that when you ask for comments, the giver’s ego may get a little puffed up. Here’s their chance to be right, to know, and to point out all the things that are wrong with your short story or essay. It can be like someone getting the weed wacker out to tidy up the sidewalk and then the rush of power surges over into destroying the whole yard. Know what kind of comments will best serve your growth and ask for it. You may want the comments in written form. Having it written down will make it easier to assess the feedback later, which is the next step.
Give yourself time to integrate the emotions and thoughts that the feedback will provoke. I suggest setting the feedback aside until at least the next day. No matter how much you want to hear commentary, it can still affect you emotionally. You may be in denial, you may want to argue, you may be hurt or frustrated that you still have a lot of work to do. Give yourself time to let all the emotion settle in. Then, when you feel more objective, take a look at the feedback. You’ll want a clear mind to be able to discern what is useful, which is the next critical phase.
You’ve gotten a response and now you need to discern what will improve your project or performance. Being as objective as you can, look at the feedback and ask this simple question: “What’s true?” Keep your primary objective in mind and use that as a guidepost for whether the feedback you have gotten will be used or discarded. Another question to ask is “What can I learn here?” Notice if you become defensive, since that’s not the wisest approach to doing your best. Make notes as you go back through the feedback and decide how you want to move forward with it.
Commentary is an essential part of the writing process, and if you’re interested in improving your writing, you should be seeking feedback. Getting kind and constructive comments is key to becoming a good writer. Use my steps to receive comments gracefully. Soon you’ll love the feedback process and will be asking for it even more often! Feedback is a part of creativity, so don’t let it burst your bubble.
Receiving Feedback With Grace
Imagine holding a bouquet of balloons. And someone comes up to you and pops one with a pin. Then another. Then another. Pop! Slam! Bam! You’re shaken, shocked and need to take a few deep breaths to recover from the impact.
This is what it can be like to receive feedback. Whether it’s a work project, a creative project, or input on how you show up as a person, feedback can be jarring, painful and downright destructive. As a coach of the creative process, I have seen how feedback can devastate people and shut down their creative dreams. One man, probably in his seventies, showed up in a writing group I was leading. He had received negative feedback on his writing twenty-five years earlier. It had taken all that time to work up the courage to come back to his writing. It was sad but I was glad to see that his writing urge refused to be dampened.
Feedback is a necessary part of growing as a writer or artist, so it’s best to become graceful at receiving feedback. Here are a few steps that will help to &ndash gulp &ndash take feedback and use it to encourage you instead of deflating you.
First, get really good at asking for feedback from the right sources. Give yourself a chance to get feedback that is constructive and kind. Seek trusted writing buddies, writing mentors, or teachers whom you know have your best interests in mind. Spouses, parents and children may not be objective enough to give useful comments. They may not want to hurt your feelings, or they may be insensitive to your feelings. A spouse or a friend may have no clue about what makes a good story and they just don’t have the skills to comment. No matter who you choose, make sure to include this vital second step.
You may not know that you can design the feedback process. You can! Know that when you ask for comments, the giver’s ego may get a little puffed up. Here’s their chance to be right, to know, and to point out all the things that are wrong with your short story or essay. It can be like someone getting the weed wacker out to tidy up the sidewalk and then the rush of power surges over into destroying the whole yard. Know what kind of comments will best serve your growth and ask for it. You may want the comments in written form. Having it written down will make it easier to assess the feedback later, which is the next step.
Give yourself time to integrate the emotions and thoughts that the feedback will provoke. I suggest setting the feedback aside until at least the next day. No matter how much you want to hear commentary, it can still affect you emotionally. You may be in denial, you may want to argue, you may be hurt or frustrated that you still have a lot of work to do. Give yourself time to let all the emotion settle in. Then, when you feel more objective, take a look at the feedback. You’ll want a clear mind to be able to discern what is useful, which is the next critical phase.
You’ve gotten a response and now you need to discern what will improve your project or performance. Being as objective as you can, look at the feedback and ask this simple question: “What’s true?” Keep your primary objective in mind and use that as a guidepost for whether the feedback you have gotten will be used or discarded. Another question to ask is “What can I learn here?” Notice if you become defensive, since that’s not the wisest approach to doing your best. Make notes as you go back through the feedback and decide how you want to move forward with it.
Commentary is an essential part of the writing process, and if you’re interested in improving your writing, you should be seeking feedback. Getting kind and constructive comments is key to becoming a good writer. Use my steps to receive comments gracefully. Soon you’ll love the feedback process and will be asking for it even more often! Feedback is a part of creativity, so don’t let it burst your bubble.
Practically Perfect Proofreading And Other Editing Myths
One of the difficulties a writer faces is reviewing their work in an attempt to locate all errors. There are generally two forces that work against a writer who attempts to ensure their work is error-free.
1. Being too close to the work you have difficulty concentrating on the writing.
2. You know what you want to say so it is possible you read over mistakes simply because your mind only sees your impression of the article.
In order to be effective in proofreading your own material you have to work hard at reading every word…
Refuse to speed through simply because you know what the writing says.
Consider each word, then each phrase and then the context of the thought.
Does the article flow or are there phrases that bog it down?
Check punctuation and grammar.
Look at the headline and make sure it is correct.
Do the above all over again.
Most often the best personal proofing requires multiple readings and ongoing edits. The key to the entire process is discipline &ndash personal and professional discipline.
Check and recheck the facts in your story and when possible allow another set of eyes to proofread your writing. They will likely see things that you missed.
There is another myth that is closely linked to proofreading and that is the myth of the perfect story. Anything we write will either have a shelf life because styles and accepted practices change or we have missed something in the arena of consistency, grammar, spelling or word use.
If we keep a piece of writing under lock and key until such time as we think it’s perfect we will likely find that the article will never see publication. You can go over your article with a fine tooth comb and you are likely to see some error when it is finally published.
Writing should be taken seriously, yet not so seriously that the stress of word crafting removes the joy that caused you to become a writer in the first place.
The best advice may be to simply write your story first and worry about fixing any problems afterward. If you stop writing in the midst of your story in order to correct trouble spots you are likely to lose the spontaneity of the storyline. This can ultimately have a detrimental effect on the overall reading satisfaction of the consumer.
If you have to be a perfectionist wait until the story is complete and then get out your red pen and make a few alterations.