Don’t tune out others’ critiques.
For decades, I attended writers conferences and reviewed people’s writing. Only once did I ever find a story without places I thought the writer could improve.
Fortunately, I offered these critiques in a teaching environment. In theory, people had come to learn how to make their writing better.
But human nature also played a part. What they hoped to … Continue reading
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, … Continue reading
How do you encourage needed criticism?
Their names don’t appear in the masthead. They work as volunteers. But without them, the magazine I produce would miss its potential.
They serve as my proofreaders, but they do much more than catch typos. They alert me to awkward phrases or unclear passages. They tell me when I overuse words. They ask tough questions.
Most of the time, I … Continue reading