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You blog and someone posts a negative comment; how do you respond? You submit a chapter to a client and they phone to tell you they love it; how do you respond? After reading your submission, a magazine editor says “maybe, with these changes;” how do you respond?
David Zinger who blogs at Slacker Manager has a post called: There is no such thing as positive or negative feedback. He offers 11 points about giving and receiving feedback aimed at managers, but I think they apply to freelance writers as well.
My favorite is: Whether you are giving or receiving feedback it is helpful to remember that feedback often says as much about the person giving it as the person receiving it.
Write well and often,
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1635 days ago
[...] Freelancers and Feedback at The Golden Pencil. [...]
Hi Melissa, starting with a complement is always good… then, with the critique, which I do one item at a time if possible, I provide possible solutions each time… seems to work.
The problem with feedback is that some people get so defensive over constructive criticism that they refuse to hear any more of it.
I like Melissa’s idea. Start off with pleasant thoughts and only after that, offer criticism.
Good luck!
Well said! It’s true that the delivery of criticism is always telling about whoever is doing the criticizing. A good rule of thumb is to always start with what you like about something, then follow up by explaining how it could be improved. I learned that in a poetry workshop but have applied it in every situation where I’ve provided feedback. Well, almost.
-Melissa Donovan
Writing FORWARD
“There is no such thing as positive or negative feedback”
Along these same lines, theres also nothing wrong with people talking about you, virtually.
The only thing worse than people talking about you, even negatively and in disagreement, is NO ONE talking about you!