Week 4: Receiving Feedback
You had an idea for a story. You started writing it. You crafted it
line by line. You may have spent many late nights or stolen moments
perfecting it. And here it is ready for feedback: The next logical step.
Yes, sending your work out for feedback is hard. But it’s something that
has to be done if you wish to grow as a writer. So you send your story
out…
What is it that you expect to get back?
Many writers expect compliments and praise. They somehow fail to
remember that feedback is about GROWING as a writer. To grow you will
need to receive CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK.
That’s right. All the comments won’t be praise. They will be things that
others think you can change to improve your story. Hopefully they will
be worded with tact, but perhaps not.
Look at the feedback that you receive. Read it over several times. Then
think…
- This is your story. You have total control over it. You are not
REQUIRED to change anything.
- Do NOT try to defend or explain your story. The fact is, you won’t be
around to explain it each time it’s read. It has to stand-alone. If it
doesn’t. Re-write it so it will. Don’t waste time arguing.
- Not everyone will fall in love with your story. Some people won’t like
it just because it isn’t the type story they prefer to read. Accept
that.
- DO NOT take feedback personally. The feedback is not comments on YOU,
but your writing. Try to learn from the comments.
- Constructive comments are where you learn. It is a great FREE writing
school that you can tap. Embrace it. Your writing will improve.
- Take all the feedback you receive and compare them. Is there something
that is mentioned frequently? If so, perhaps you should pay closer
attention to that area of your work. Maybe a re-write is in order. But
the final choice is yours.
- It is common courtesy to thank those who took their valuable time to
give you feedback. It will help to promote a relationship between
writers and will make it easier to give and receive feedback in the
future.
Time To Receive
Post a short piece of your work to the board.
Give feedback to your class members as they post their own works.
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