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Ten Ways to Give Writing Feedback to Boost Your Success
Writing a book? Website? Promotional Materials?
Want to up level your already quality writing?
Whatever we write, we need to share it with our peers or professionals for feedback before we present it to our paying audience.
Getting writing feedback offers many benefits. Even though you know your topic well, you may have some old writing sins lurking in your copy. While a bit scary, if you can put your ego aside, you’ll get valuable ideas from others to make your writing more clear and inspiring. You will learn how to identify your writing strengths and weaknesses, and you will develop your own writing style and voice.
You can exchange feedback with your peers via email or you can join a writing or book group such as the one I offer at LinkedIn, or get individual or group coaching. Remember, your writing must be easy to understand or it won’t get read or sell.
10 Parts to Give Feedback On
- Does the opening grab your attention? How? Is it clear? Is it engaging?
- What syntax needs editing? (grammar) Are tenses consistent?
- Does it use action verbs rather than linking (to be) verbs? Do the verbs advance the story and tighten the writing?
- Does your piece show, not tell? Do you use senses of sight, sound, emotions, and touch? Does it engage rather than tell? Do you use creative non-fiction techniques such as dialogue?
- Do you have redundancies that slow your writing down?
- Does your writing use adjectives and adverbs too much?
- Is it factually accurate?
- Is it coherent? Does it flow and sound natural? Is it easy to understand?
- Are the dialogues believable? Does it have enough dialogue? (think creative non-fiction).
- Does the ending sum up or compel your reader to want to keep reading or take action?
3 Rules of Giving the Oreo Cookie Method Feedback
Over 25 years as a book coach, I’ve used this Oreo Cookie Method. You’ll develop bravery and confidence if you use this wisely with a trusted writing coach or peers. And, you’ll get great writing results that help you sell later.
1. First, give one general statement of the copy’s strength and what grabbed you.
Include one positive before you launch into correction mode. In any writing feedback group, you want to encourage new writers and make it safe to expose their mistakes.
2. Second, give more specific feedback in parentheses next to the sentence error.
Or, give specific feedback on what to leave out and what to keep as “gold.” Or, anything else that will make the writing better. We all want this one to keep our writing readable. Only readable copy helps you get readers and sales later on.
3. Last, Conclude with a positive and encouragement.
If you want to strengthen your writing before your audience sees it, take some time to get some writing feedback. Pros and emerging writers need it. Do this before you get your final line edit. Now, make me smile and give me a comment!
Want ongoing free help? Commit to Judy’s LinkedIn book group
Remember, any journey is easier and faster with a partner. Choose the path that suits you.
Published on December 5, 2011 at 1:20 PM by Judy Cullins
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One Response to “Ten Ways to Give Writing Feedback to Boost Your Success”
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Judy, you are a continual delight with each email you send out! Over time, I have received, and acted on, many of your free instructions while writing my just completed novel! I look forward to joining one or more of your LI groups in the near future. Whatever prosperity you are enjoying today from your writings, you richly deserve! We need more like you to light up our world (sigh)!
Chris Pirkey
Author of 'Ryland's Promise' (soon to be offered on Amazon)
Comment by Chris Pirkey on December 19, 2011 at 10:36 am