Feedback: Why it Matters - article

Author Learning Center — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 15:37:00 GMT

Current Revision posted to Peer Reviews by Author Learning Center on 9/12/2018 3:37:00 PM

The old adage of “strength in numbers” holds true for authors. Feedback will undoubtedly strengthen a book, which is why successful authors seek feedback at every stage of book development. It will help the author create a book that is clear, rich, and more enjoyable for readers. No one wants to hear that their writing needs work, but collecting and adapting to feedback will make you a stronger writer and help you transform your book into a masterpiece that’s worthy of publishing.

Objectivity

One problem that authors experience when they go to edit is that they’re too familiar with their work to see it objectively. A writer spends hours immersed in the weeds of their book while planning, outlining, writing, and rewriting. This repeated exposure can keep authors from seeing the big-picture flaws in their books. Feedback from trusted teachers, editors, peers, and beta readers can help authors gain new and fresh perspective. Often, this feedback will uncover big issues and inconsistencies that the writer didn’t notice.

Expertise

Another problem is that authors often have good ideas but lack the knowledge and experience they need to write solid, well-executed books. Their books are riddled with repetition, unnecessary descriptions, inactive verbs, and bland nouns. The structure may not be drawing in the reader the way the author wishes, or the characterization may need some tweaking. Their manuscripts may be full of misspellings, grammar errors, and incorrect punctuation. But writers aren’t always editors, so just because you lack some of the knowledge doesn’t mean you can’t write a book. Opening up to editorial feedback will go a long way in helping authors achieve professional grade work.

Credibility

Seeking feedback can also bring credibility to your work. When you listen to the suggestions of publishing professionals or get feedback from successful published authors, you are receiving expert advice and connecting yourself to the wider publishing network. Getting professionals and mentors on your team may lead to endorsements and reviews in the future. Many readers get their recommendations from their favorite authors or editors, because they have learned to trust those professionals and their opinions. Getting this feedback and fostering these relationships can go a long way in gaining credibility for yourself as an author.

Ultimately, feedback will make you a better writer. It will help you to think of your book from a potential reader’s perspective and look at it from the point of view of a consumer rather than a writer. Seeking reactions to your product is a means of improvement, and it will eventually help you compete in bigger arenas. It can only help you get better. Without a feedback, your book might languish in the bargain bin at the bookstore. With it, you may achieve international acclaim.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Feedback: Why it Matters - article

Molly Blaisdell — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:27:56 GMT

Revision 4 posted to Peer Reviews by Molly Blaisdell on 6/7/2017 9:27:56 AM

Successful authors seek feedback at every stage of book development. Why? The old adage that “there is strength in numbers” holds true for authors. Feedback will strengthen a book. It will help the author create a definitive vision. It will also help the author create a unique work with an original point of view. No one wants to hear that their work is bland, unprofessional, derivative and boring from a reviewer. Collecting and adapting to feedback will help you transform your book into a master work.

One problem that authors experience is that they grow too familiar with their work. Writing is a solitary pursuit. It takes hours of work to churn out the necessary pages to create a book. After creating the first draft, an author must struggle through many rewrites. This repeated exposure can keep authors from seeing the flaws in their books. Feedback from others teachers, editors, peers and readers will help authors gain new perspective. The language may be stilted. The description may drag on too long. The story may seem incomplete with missing necessary details. Feedback can open an author’s eyes.

"Getting publishing professionals on your team may lead to endorsements and reviews in the future."

Another problem is that authors often have good ideas but lack the knowledge they need to write well executed books. Their books may be riddled with repetition, inactive verbs, and bland nouns. The structure may not be drawing in the reader the way the author wishes. The characterization also may need some tweaking. Perhaps you have tried to create a story that is populated with too many characters. The setting may not be distinctive enough to give readers a sense of place. Opening up to editorial feedback will help authors achieve professional grade work.

Seeking feedback can bring credibility to your work. When you listen to the suggestions of publishing pros, you are connecting to expert advice and the wider publishing network. Getting publishing professionals on your team may lead to endorsements and reviews in the future. Some readers even watch for the books of their favorite editors. They have learned to trust those books as definitive and exciting works. You want to create that kind of association with your book.

Feedback will make you a better writer. It might help you to think of your book as a product. Seeking reactions to your product is a means of improvement. It will help you compete in bigger arenas. Without a feedback, your book might languish in the bargain bin at the bookstore. With it, you may achieve international acclaim. It’s worth seeking.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Feedback: Why it Matters - article

Molly Blaisdell — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:27:32 GMT

Revision 3 posted to Peer Reviews by Molly Blaisdell on 6/7/2017 9:27:32 AM

"Getting publishing professionals on your team may lead to endorsements and reviews in the future."

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Feedback: Why it Matters - article

Molly Blaisdell — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 09:51:31 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Peer Reviews by Molly Blaisdell on 3/4/2017 9:51:31 AM

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction

Feedback: Why it Matters - Article

Molly Blaisdell — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Peer Reviews by Molly Blaisdell on 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction