“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man (woman), I did away with childish things.”
Paul the Apostle, I Corinthians 13:11 (NASB)
Writing–child’s play?
When we entered the writing journey, regardless of age, much like children, we had more to learn than we ever imagined. As I broached the world of writing, people often comment on how well I wrote. All good. Except–I had no clue about the industry or how much I didn’t know.
Ever feel clueless? Ever feel stuck at the same level of writing?
No matter how long we write, we all have more to learn. For one thing, the industry, readers, and trends keep changing. About the time we figure out how to write well, something flips, and we must go back to square one and learn all over again.
How do we keep up with it all?
The Value of Feedback
When we get involved with other writers, not only do they look for commas, periods and quotation marks. They provide valuable feedback on every aspect of writing. Does the plot flow? Do my words make sense?
Experience raises the value of feedback. Although we often write what we know, sometimes we need another person’s expertise. True, we can go to “experts” and ask questions, although they sometimes want compensation for their time. If you have multiple groups, you may have the expert (or at least one who knows more than you do) in a group.
When I wrote my first novel (Out of the Dungeon), I happened to have a nurse in one of my groups. She happened to work in ER earlier in her life. Her priceless feedback made my opening chapters authentic. Attending “critique” groups may feel a bit daunting, but take advantage of one and see how much your skills improve.
Not every writing group operates the same, so if you attend one and it doesn’t fit, find another. With today’s technology, you can find online writing groups. I prefer meeting in person, which is why Radical Writers has two groups that meet monthly. I also participate with some others online, read books and articles, listen to podcasts… You get the picture.
We may take the first steps of writing like a child, but we must grow in our writing and let feedback help us improve in so many ways.
Your Turn
In the comments, share your experiences with writing groups. Do you see the value of feedback? What do you like most? What do you want to see in a group that you may not have?