Feedback and edits are necessary to make you a better writer. But sometimes they can sting just a little bit, right? You work so hard on your project or article and you expect it to be wonderful and everyone to love it. But it's not. And that can sometimes be hard to swallow. If you're receiving feedback or edits on your writing, here are just a few tips to remember: 1) Separate yourself from your writing. For a long time, my identity was wrapped up solely in my writing, how much people liked it, and all the good feedback I received from it. If someone didn't like my writing or thought there were ways it could be improved, I took it far too personally. Word of advice: Don't take constructive criticism personally. Keeping this in mind will help you go far. 2) Embrace humility. Sometimes it can just be downright hard to admit that we may be wrong about something we wrote. We don't like to admit that our wording may sound weird or come across wrong. And so we'd rather just keep it how it is because that's clearly the right way. Right? Wrong. Cause none of us are perfect. And it takes humility to admit that. So embrace humility, accept constructive advice with grace, and take advice. Taking advice is how you grow. 3) Know that you don't have to take every suggestion given to you. Taking advice grows you as a writer, but sometimes there are just opinions. Because everyone has an opinion and not everyone will agree. So sometimes it is okay to graciously thank your editor for their advice and still not take every bit of it. Word of caution: don't use this to reject every piece of advice you are given. Use this when you're merely being given a suggestion. Then use your discretion and pray about whether you should take it or not. Happy writing! As a writer, I am always asking friends to give me feedback on my writing and help me with areas I could improve on or things that just sound wrong. Oftentimes, I go to my friends who I trust as writers and know what they're doing. Of course, there are also countless times when I am the one being asked to give feedback on a friend's writing. Yet because I've been on both ends of this exchange, I've learned a thing or two about giving feedback, but also receiving feedback. This week I want to talk a little bit about giving feedback, but next week we will pick back up on how to graciously receive feedback. Ready? Here are tips to remember when giving feedback: 1) Highlight the good. Sometimes when editing or giving feedback on someone's article, we can become focused on what needs changed and highlight only what could be improved. Highlighting the good and the parts that you love about the piece you're editing not only encourages the writer, but keeps your focus where it should be--helping the writer grow and know what works and what doesn't. 2) Give constructive criticism in an encouraging way. There is a way to give feedback and there is a way to not give feedback. Whether it's constructive criticism or not. A good rule to go by is to think of how you would like to receive feedback. Would you want someone to be negative about everything you're writing? When giving constructive feedback, always give it how you would like to receive it. 3) Ask clarifying questions. If something about a piece that you are editing confuses you, don't just automatically assume it should be changed and tell the writer to do so. Ask questions to help you understand what the writer is trying to get across in their writing. After you understand, give feedback on how the writer may be able to change the sentences to make them clearer or easier to understand. 4) Celebrate with them. Typically if someone is asking you to edit a piece for them it's because they plan on sharing it somewhere. When they share it or get it accepted, celebrate with them! Just like you would want someone to celebrate with you. :) It was my goal to get this post up before the end of the day, but considering I only have about 50 minutes left in this day, I better keep it short. :) Today I wanted to let all you young writers out there know about a program that changed my life. Once registration officially opens, I will be sharing more, but for now I wanted to share with you how you can go ahead and get started! The Young Writer is a website launched by Brett Harris and Jaquelle Crowe (the two best writing coaches in the world, just saying), to guide young writers into young authors and into their next steps. Visit The Young Writer TODAY to begin growing closer to your dreams as a writer. Take the WriterScore assessment (which is awesome, by the way), to determine exactly where you are right now in your writing journey. Then be on the lookout in the coming weeks for me to share more about joining the Young Writer's Workshop (the program that changed my entire writing journey) once registration opens. :) But don't wait, go visit The Young Writer today! Announcing the winner of the book giveaway!! If you read my post last week, we were doing a giveaway of Amy Elaine Martinez's new book, Becoming a Victory Girl! And tonight I am announcing the winner... Joanna!! Joanna, you are our winner! If you commented on my last post and your name is Joanna, please send me an email asap with your mailing address so that I can get Amy's book sent out to you. :) Thank you so much! Hi, friends! Today I have a super fun and encouraging interview put together for you with author Amy Elaine Martinez. I hope you will be encouraged by the wisdom and encouragement that she shares. Now go ahead and sit back and we'll get started... Bella: Welcome to my blog, Amy! Would you please start off by sharing with us a little bit about yourself and your writing background? Amy: My name is Amy Elaine Martinez. I'm a southern girl who loves sweet tea and wearing cowboy boots with a sassy top of course. I'm originally from Oklahoma City, OK, but I moved to beautiful, dry Colorado in 1994 to marry my husband. Fun fact: We met and got engaged in 3 weeks, sounds crazy, but we're still going strong 24 years later! I'm a boy-mom to two grown boys, 21 and 19. Recently, I became a mother-in-law...I finally got a girl! I've been in women's ministry, both on staff at a big church and a small church plant...and now on my own as Founder of BeLoved Lumière Devotional. I'm a teacher at heart. Bible study is my jam! My writing background: I have a degree in Sociology, with an emphasis in social work, from Oklahoma Baptist University, but I probably should have been an English or History major. When my son got married in 2015, I wrote a book for my daughter-in-love as a gift and a countdown to their wedding. Every time someone saw it, they said, “You should get that published...” The next summer, I went to a large Christian writer's conference and started pursuing my dream. I've always loved writing and while leading Bible studies and women's retreats, I found myself writing devotionals for many events. Eventually, with a lot of sweet encouragement, I decided to start a weekly online devotional. So, while I'm new on the writing scene, I've been writing for years. Bella: What did your publishing journey look like for your brand new book Becoming a Victory Girl: Staking Your Claim in the Kingdom? Amy: Wow! This was a bittersweet journey. The truth is I knew I wanted to make my devotional series Becoming a Victory Girl into a book for several months, but was honestly too scared to figure out how ‘self-publishing’ worked and make it happen. Then, one day, a dear friend, who is more of a speaker than a writer, achieved my dream of having a book before I did. It was like a wake-up call. I was devastated. That's really hard to admit, but I was. I was so very excited for my friend; she's an amazing woman of God, yet at the same time, I was really disappointed in myself. So, what's a disappointed girl to do? I didn't tell a soul and just did it...all by myself! I decided to make my dream come true! And, in just a few short weeks, Becoming a Victory Girl: Staking Your Claim in The Kingdom (the book) was born! It was a real, tangible, hold-it-in-your-hands book. I learned a whole lot and I certainly wouldn't call it easy, but I'm really pleased with my new book and I love the cover. Bella: What was the inspiration behind your book? Why was the message important to you? Amy: Becoming a Victory Girl was inspired by a conversation God started with me on a plane ride home from Oklahoma. He started talking to me about land and territory and destiny on the plane. I looked out the window and saw the land, you know, those plots of land you see when you are landing. I was struck by the image of the land with its territorial and boundary lines. I had just spent several weeks in the ICU with my sister who almost died from a very rare blood disorder. Praise God, she was miraculously healed, but I was weary from the hard-fought battle. I heard the Lord say, “Take the land!” I didn't know what in the world that meant, but over the next several months of spending time with Him, I walked away with a much richer understanding and better picture of what He was trying to speak to me. We've each been given a place of influence, it's our spiritual territory. Becoming a Victory Girl sums up what it means to stake your claim in the Kingdom of God and walk in your God-given destiny through victorious living. This book is written for the woman who is weary from Life's battles and ready to take back what the enemy has stolen! Bella: On the topic of writing, what is the most important piece of advice that you would give to any new writer just starting out? Amy: I think the most important advice I would give is the same that I have received... You have a unique voice and a God-given story. No one can tell your story and if you don't tell it, nobody else will. Don't compare yourself to others; cling to the beauty of your own story and the fact that you've been chosen to write it and tell it. Bella: What is the most important piece of writing advice that has ever been given to you? Amy: On a technical note, staying true to your voice and message is a vital part of any compelling piece. One way to stay focused and en pointe is to have a picture of the person you are writing to on your desk. Whether that's a real person, or just a fictional character you have in your mind, if you can keep writing to her and for her, your message will be consistent and speak right to the heart of the reader. It's also good for a little comedy relief to have a picture of an unknown person, your imaginary friend, on your desk. Every writer needs that on the days when the words just won't come. A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. Proverbs 17:22 (TPT) Bella: How does being a Christian shape the way you write and the things you write about? Amy: For me, being a Christian shapes everything I write. It's like the woman who loves much because she's been forgiven much. I can't help myself but to tell how knowing Jesus has changed my life. I was a wreck when I wasn't following Him. He loved me through my ugly choices. One of the main reasons I write is to give hope to women who don't believe they can change. We're all one bad choice from disaster, but with Jesus there is hope. I'm not who I used to be thanks to Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. If I can change, they can too. Bella: To end with a fun question, if you could invent any ice cream flavor in the world, what would it be? Amy: I LOVE this question. We've always told our kids they had NO CHANCE of not liking ice cream...we are an ice cream loving family. I'm not gonna lie, this isn't totally original, but I'd invent something like I had on a San Diego pier not too long ago. It would be called, “Sandy, Salty Beach,” with a vanilla base, crushed graham crackers, toasted coconut flakes, mini dark chocolate chips, a frozen peanut butter strip running throughout, and a pinch of sea salt! All my favorites in one! Bella: Thank you so much for joining us today, Amy, and sharing your beautiful story! <3 Becoming A Victory Girl giveaway! Amy was gracious enough to give a book away here today! So one of you is going to have the fantastic opportunity to win her new book! All you have to do to be entered into the drawing for the giveaway is comment below answering the question if you could invent any ice cream flavor, what would it be? That's it! Fun, right? Start commenting! Giveaway winner announced next Friday! |
About this page:
This page of my blog is dedicated specifically to writers. I've been writing for over half of my life. I live and breathe writing. Because of that, I'm passionate about helping other writers grow, develop, and succeed. This section of my blog will include blog posts dedicated to writing, encouragement, and resources. Feel free to read through some posts and my contact form is always open if you ever have any questions or need encouragement! ♥ Archives
April 2018
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