tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post3151865592334791581..comments2023-06-30T14:35:38.366+01:00Comments on Burrowers, Books & Balderdash: Writing Wednesday: Constructive CriticismHart Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-75123032247953578912011-03-31T07:34:15.360+01:002011-03-31T07:34:15.360+01:00I've been a teacher in Germany for 16 years, a...I've been a teacher in Germany for 16 years, and I've found that I can give direct criticism to my students with absolutely no worries. <br /><br />I've also been involved in writers' groups for a few years. Writers can be touchy. It's always important to find out what type of critique the writer is used to. I've found with most of the writers I've become close to, I don't have to hold anything back. I don't have to begin by digging up something nice to say (if there's nothing nice to say). And that's what I want as well. Recently I sent a short story to my mother (a writer) for a critique. She hated it, and now I'm writing a better story. And that's the aim, right?I Must Be Offhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12148155129334288438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-87065254821103262552011-03-31T01:17:05.534+01:002011-03-31T01:17:05.534+01:00@ jennymilch- I suppose that would be an interesti...@ jennymilch- I suppose that would be an interesting approach to the world of hard knocks! I don't know, perhaps I will refrain from providing feedback to her for a while. I'll wait until she's more receptive. :DShaharizan Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917164925694287209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-18527159848676313722011-03-31T01:15:27.951+01:002011-03-31T01:15:27.951+01:00@Hannah- You must be a teacher also! :) I also g...@Hannah- You must be a teacher also! :) I also give the compliment sandwich and I try to make it as meaningful as possible. I think next time I will just try the validation approach that Hart suggested and then maybe ease into the areas that could be improved.Shaharizan Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917164925694287209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-55071205230595973512011-03-31T01:13:17.310+01:002011-03-31T01:13:17.310+01:00@Cruella- I am not familiar with the Jacqueline Ho...@Cruella- I am not familiar with the Jacqueline Howett debacle. I will have to google that. Oh wait, it's on Twitter? I'm not too good with Twitter either but will search for it. Thanks, hon.Shaharizan Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917164925694287209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-75508879199289187962011-03-31T01:11:54.092+01:002011-03-31T01:11:54.092+01:00@ Hart- I didn't think that maybe what she wa...@ Hart- I didn't think that maybe what she wanted was validation opposed to actual feedback. I did compliment her on all the aspects I found to be highly effective in relaying the topic. However, if someone asks for feedback, I give them both the warm and the cool. :D<br /><br />Thanks for the compliment. I'm happy that the comments I gave you were specific and meaningful. :)Shaharizan Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917164925694287209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-35073185258885341692011-03-31T01:09:01.877+01:002011-03-31T01:09:01.877+01:00@Tundiel- Thanks, I spoke with another teacher wh...@Tundiel- Thanks, I spoke with another teacher who is a good friend of the individual I gave feedback to and she agreed that perhaps Ms. T. just wasn't ready to hear how to improve the presentation.Shaharizan Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02917164925694287209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-31614787890982745692011-03-31T00:19:14.498+01:002011-03-31T00:19:14.498+01:00Makes me think that your friend should write a nov...Makes me think that your friend should write a novel, Chary ;) S/he wouldn't get your nice, supportive bracketing of the room-for-improvement stuff AND they might create a better product.<br /><br />Maybe s/he *does* already think they can write a novel.<br /><br />And not edit it :)Jenny Milchmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04410805792044518458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-91180015289912220862011-03-30T16:14:34.738+01:002011-03-30T16:14:34.738+01:00I like to give the compliment sandwich. Two awesom...I like to give the compliment sandwich. Two awesome things and one thing that needs to be improved. Seriously, we all have plenty of room for improvement. No one is perfect and if you ASK for help, take what you get. You don't don't have to take all the advice but you can't get mad when you asked for it.Hannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-50654972536049867242011-03-30T15:49:27.421+01:002011-03-30T15:49:27.421+01:00Excellent point, Chary. This plays really well int...Excellent point, Chary. This plays really well into the "Jacqueline Howett debacle" that's been going viral on the interwebs lately (so well, in fact, that I am going to tweet it with that hashtag. I'm trying really hard to fall in love with Twitter *sigh*). Handling constructive criticism is SO important.Cruella Colletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11422848273167338884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-5181830488734696702011-03-30T14:54:59.091+01:002011-03-30T14:54:59.091+01:00erm... that should say GIVING end... giving feedba...erm... that should say GIVING end... giving feedback to a peer who THINKS their work is done but it isn't... lots easier to then accept yours might also have blind spots...Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-7729580946849483892011-03-30T14:53:40.945+01:002011-03-30T14:53:40.945+01:00It's so hard when someone asks for feedback, b...It's so hard when someone asks for feedback, but what they really want is validation. You know what I think the VERY best thing is for learning to accept criticism? Being on the receiving end--I think my peer review requirements in grad school was where I finally learned to TAKE it.<br /><br />I've gotten feedback from you a couple time, and I think you are SUBLIME--instead of telling me EXACTLY what to say, you tell me what isn't clear so I can fix it in my own words. Every time I think "I bet Chary's a great teacher'. Some people just aren't ready yet.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936402483709284852.post-59354962527756909072011-03-30T12:54:53.929+01:002011-03-30T12:54:53.929+01:00I think your comments were fine, but your friend&#...I think your comments were fine, but your friend's attitude sucks. I mean, if you are going to ask for feedback, you should be prepared for the negative as well as the positive. While I love the positive feedback that I get, it is the negative feedback that I need in order to improve, so I always welcome it.<br /><br />I don't think you could have phrased it any better. You friend obviosuly has issues.Amber T. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01087021598115958337noreply@blogger.com