Learn from others as you develop your own.
An antique car mechanic just gave me a lesson in powerful writing.
I’d asked him to check the 1930 Model A Ford because something was wrong with the engine. Otherwise, I thought, the car was just fine. After some engine tuning, the mechanic took a test drive.
Everything else, he told me, wasn’t quite right. The steering was loose. The brakes could be tighter, as could some adjustment points on the front suspension.
He understood that because I’d not driven many Model A’s, I was used to this one. But compared to one set to factory specs, it fell far short.
But he also gave me some good news. I could easily do the work myself. He even showed me how. The difference, he said, would be amazing.
That’s like what happens when you show your writing to a seasoned editor.
Though a critique, you learn to see where your writing falls short. But even better, a solid critique offers instruction on how to identify problems, then fix them yourself.
Apply those principles to your full manuscript. Then do even better on your next project as you use your self-editing experience.
