Great thoughts. I avoided feedback for the first 5 or more years of writing; I was too afraid - which I think is not uncommon amongst beginners. Don't be afraid to get your stuff in others' hands (and as Caitlin points out, reading others' work, which is also critical). The benefits far outweigh the pains. I second most of the thoughts in your piece and below- classes have been the easiest ways for me to find folks willing to trade.
Thanks so much for reading! Yes, there's the excruciating period when the feedback is tough, but now I wouldn't dream of submitting something important without feedback first. We all have areas we miss and can be made better!
I found an awesome person through your Nonfiction Book Proposal class! We’ve been meeting over Zoom for close to a year now, and those meetings have been so helpful as we both work on our proposals.
This post also makes me think of how I can create more community in my negotiation classes. I’m always telling people to share information-- others in the class would be good candidates for sharing!
Great thoughts. I avoided feedback for the first 5 or more years of writing; I was too afraid - which I think is not uncommon amongst beginners. Don't be afraid to get your stuff in others' hands (and as Caitlin points out, reading others' work, which is also critical). The benefits far outweigh the pains. I second most of the thoughts in your piece and below- classes have been the easiest ways for me to find folks willing to trade.
Thanks so much for reading! Yes, there's the excruciating period when the feedback is tough, but now I wouldn't dream of submitting something important without feedback first. We all have areas we miss and can be made better!
I found an awesome person through your Nonfiction Book Proposal class! We’ve been meeting over Zoom for close to a year now, and those meetings have been so helpful as we both work on our proposals.
This post also makes me think of how I can create more community in my negotiation classes. I’m always telling people to share information-- others in the class would be good candidates for sharing!
Oh, I'm SO GLAD you two have kept it up! I would love if you two would email me and tell me where you're at in the process.
And yes, I love that takeaway—some places uses Slack groups, others have email threads or group chats, but a rising tide lifts all ships, ya know?