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Who reads your work and gives you feedback?
Who do you ask to look over your work? I wrote and rewrote my first chapter before I turned off my inner editor and just got on with a few more chapters. They're nowhere near done at the mo, and won't be until I do a second draft. But I've gone back over my first one a few times and polished it a little. (It's very short, about 200 words, so didn't take long). I'd like to get feedback on that first chapter, to see if my writing flows, if the tone works, etc. But my husband isn't a reader in general, and would just say 'that's good' or 'it could be better' and that would be that. No constructive criticism. My 12 year old daughter read it and said she loved it, but then she would say that!
As it's my first attempt, I feel I would benefit from some feedback at this stage, so that I don't continue in the same style and tone if it doesn't work. But I'm not sure who best to ask. I figured most people here would have people that they ask for feedback, and might have some suggestions of who would be best to ask.
As it's my first attempt, I feel I would benefit from some feedback at this stage, so that I don't continue in the same style and tone if it doesn't work. But I'm not sure who best to ask. I figured most people here would have people that they ask for feedback, and might have some suggestions of who would be best to ask.
Comments
I don't have anyone;* I trust my instincts. Like your daughter, mine is always brimming with positivity, but that's daughters for you!
What works for some writers is a reciprocal arrangement. There are plenty of writing sites where people are willing to give feedback - Goodreads, for example. I have sometimes done it as a favour for people, but it can become tedious if their work demands a lot of editing and you need to spell out what doesn't work.
*example of semi-colon!
I often wonder if I'm too harsh and cringe when I click 'send' but, without fail, the recipients appreciate being taken seriously. Friends and family do not usually offer good feedback.
My husband is a good critic, and of course poetry isn't that long so it's not too much of a bind to ask him. He is very blunt - 'not charming', bit clunky at the end, i don't understand that bit... i like this, prefer it to yes, it's great.
My daughter used to help.
Sometimes my son will read something I've written and occasionally REALLY likes it. in fact asked if he could show one of his friends a while ago, but I can't recall which poem it was... Other times he's not so keen...
I'm lucky in that they are well-read and read with a degree of proper criticism.
Other than that I have a whole plethora of poet friends who are only too keen to crit anything I post on FB, which can be a great help.
Also, people here, also a great help. Except when they all disagree, which has happened, in which case I either go with the one that agrees with me, or he one that has pointed out s flaw I was trying to ignore, or realise that although nothing is quite wrong, nothing is quite right either, and it needs an overhaul.
Tiny Nell, thank you for that semi-colon demo
(See, I'm not just a pretty face!)
My Tenerife daughter reads mine, and has learned with me to criticise positively. Now we have to do it my email and Skype, which isn't nearly as good as unravelling knots over a glass of wine.
This morning I read Chapter 1 of my novel to my small, very select (