You're facing criticism on your writing style. How can you handle it effectively under time constraints?
Facing criticism can be tough, especially when it's about your writing style. It's personal and can sometimes feel like an attack on your creativity. But remember, feedback is a crucial part of growth. When you're under time constraints, it's even more important to handle criticism efficiently. This article will guide you through the process of dealing with critiques of your writing style promptly and constructively, ensuring that you not only maintain your confidence but also enhance your skills.
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Angelique LetiziaFounder & CEO of Starr Films Director | Writer | Producer | EP✨ Author BLACKOUT (Speculative Fiction Series) | Writer…
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Jade A.Gamified Education | English for Marketing | Make the Grade with Jade | 300-hour TEFL-Certified ESL Teacher & Gaming…
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Ashwini Singh, LLMAuthor | Academic ⚖️ | Affiliate (ACFESA)
When criticism lands in your lap, your first reaction might be to get defensive. Take a deep breath and stay calm. Understand that critiques are not personal attacks but opportunities for improvement. Resist the urge to respond immediately, especially if you're feeling heated. Give yourself a moment to process the feedback. This pause is essential to approach the critique with a clear mind and prevents rash reactions that you might regret later.
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Have you ever created content and heard someone respond with: “This isn’t your best work…and it’s due tomorrow.”? Two inherent problems (negative feedback and time constraints) are likely to destroy your confidence and make your heart race. Not only do you have to improve your writing, you have to do it quickly. To tamp down your panic, detach your fears from the outcome. The more you dwell on these obstacles, the less time and mental clarity you’ll have to overcome them. Recognize that you are able to handle these challenges. They seem overwhelming now, but choosing to move through your reservations about completing the project sufficiently and on time will help you focus your energy productively. Tranquility leads to quality.
To effectively handle criticism, you must first understand what's being said. Read through the comments carefully, seeking to grasp the core of the critique. Are they commenting on your grammar, your style, or the clarity of your writing? By pinpointing the exact issue, you can address it directly without wasting time on irrelevant aspects. This focused approach helps you make the most of the feedback, even when time is not on your side.
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Nobody likes criticism, yet it is an important way for us to improve our writing, to make sure our audience keeps reading our writing! Understand the feedback provided by the stakeholders, the Editors, and once you know what they are looking for, you can better improve upon their comments and feedback. Else you may just be going in circle, doing something that requires further changes. Ask, Understand, and Act on the feedback!
If the critique isn't clear, don't hesitate to ask for clarification. This shows that you're engaged and willing to learn, not just dismissive of criticism. Inquiring further can help you get to the heart of the issue quickly, which is vital when working against the clock. It also ensures that any changes you make are truly in response to the feedback, rather than based on misunderstandings.
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Asking questions helps you understand the specific concerns and perspectives behind the feedback, allowing you to address them effectively. By seeking clarification, you can turn potentially vague or harsh criticism into actionable insights. This not only improves your writing but also demonstrates your willingness to learn and adapt, which can strengthen your professional relationships and build your reputation as a writer open to constructive feedback.
Take a step back and reflect on the criticism honestly. Consider whether there's truth to what's been said and how it aligns with your perception of your work. This self-reflection should be swift but thorough, as it's the foundation for any improvements you'll make. Honest reflection allows you to sift through feedback effectively, retaining what's useful and discarding what's not.
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Receiving feedback can be challenging, especially when it touches on aspects of our work that we cherish. However, viewing criticism as a valuable tool rather than a personal attack is key to growth. Constructive criticism offers insights into how others perceive our writing. By objectively analyzing this feedback, we can identify patterns and recurring themes that point to specific strengths and weaknesses. Embracing this process requires humility and openness, allowing us to refine our skills. Remember, constructive criticism aims to help us become better writers, and honest reflection on this feedback can transform our work from good to great.
Once you've understood and reflected on the criticism, start making adjustments. Prioritize changes that will have the most significant impact on improving your writing. If you're pressed for time, focus on quick fixes that can be implemented immediately, and make a note of more extensive revisions for later. This ensures that your writing improves continuously, even when immediate deadlines loom.
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This depends on the nature of the work -- if the writing is for a particular client, then the revisions will have to be made pretty much in their entirety. If it's your own written work for your personal brand, then you should exercise discretion with regard to which revisions you adopt.
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If you are pressed for time, make time for the minor adjustments. Editors may provide Track Changes edits in Google Docs, and usually those changes are more of sentence structure or grammar or other issues that they already edited in the document. I just need to Click Accept Changes, and voila, the issue is fixed. For comments that require further extensive rewrite, I will just keep it for a larger chunk of time. This way, I felt accomplished, and more motivated to see my "To-Revise" list becomes smaller and smaller.
After making necessary adjustments, it's time to move forward. Dwelling on criticism won't help you meet deadlines or improve your writing. Apply what you've learned and keep writing. Remember that every piece of writing is a new opportunity to showcase your skills and apply your growing knowledge. By moving forward with confidence and a willingness to evolve, you'll handle criticism under time constraints with grace and efficiency.
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One thing I’ve find helpful to move forward after receiving criticism is keeping in mind that criticism is a crucial part of the growth process. Stay positive, learn from the feedback, and keep refining your skills. Your dedication will pay off in the long run. Reminder: Every writer faces criticism! It comes with the job. Take it as an opportunity to enhance your craft. Keep moving forward with confidence and determination.
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Writing is a marathon. Your single article is not going to be a big Make It or Break It moment in your writing career. Unless you make it a major bumps in the road. Just Keep Swimming (referencing Finding Nemo here), or in this case, Just Keep Writing!
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