Summary

The website content discusses the importance of feedback and editing in the writing process, emphasizing the value of constructive criticism, reader responses, and editorial suggestions for improving articles and enhancing the writing community.

Abstract

The author reflects on the profound impact of feedback received from an editor, Julia E Hubbel, who wrote an article in response to their own piece about the concept of a "dad-bod." This experience was so meaningful that it almost led the author to consider retirement from writing, as it encapsulated the essence of why they write. The author, who is also an editor and owner of the "Dad-Bods" publication, shares the challenges and responsibilities of providing editorial feedback to submitted articles, especially when the writers have impressive backgrounds. The writing process is detailed, from the initial inspiration to the selection of images and the iterative process of drafting and editing. The author acknowledges the help received from various editors and expresses a commitment to providing constructive editorial suggestions to contributors, aiming to foster a culture of continuous improvement and mutual support within the writing community.

Opinions

The author values constructive criticism and editorial feedback as essential tools for enhancing an article's quality.
Reader responses are seen as important and should be welcomed and acknowledged by writers.
Despite being an editor, the author initially felt intimidated to provide feedback to writers with notable resumes.
The author describes a personal writing process that involves choosing a title and subtitle, selecting an image, and iteratively revising the draft.
The author emphasizes the importance of editors taking an active role in editing to help writers improve, even though it can be challenging.
The author pledges to offer editorial suggestions to submissions while respecting the writer's voice and final decisions.
Engagement with readers and other writers through comments and responses is encouraged to foster a sense of community and improvement.
The author desires feedback on their own submissions to other publications, viewing it as an opportunity for growth, regardless of differing opinions.

Feedback, responses, and editorial suggestions.

Editors Should Edit, Readers Should Comment, Writers Should Listen

How an article about my article made me want to retire on the spot

Photo by Hannah Grace via Unsplash Free Images

An editor should give feedback to a writer who submits to their publication. It should come by way of constructive criticism, praise for content or style, or editorial suggestions designed to make the article better.

THE perfect example, in my opinion, of feedback on an article came from Julia E Hubbel. It won’t get better for me than this, folks. Thanks, again, Julia.

She wrote an article called “Profile of a Dad” and published it in a publication called Age of Awareness. She was responding to an article I wrote called My Definition of a Dad-Bod is Probably Not What You Think, which I published in my own publication, Dad-Bods.

The article I wrote was me basically baring my soul in a hopefully cathartic expression of my life’s quandaries. It took a long time to write, and several different versions.

When Julia wrote her article about my article, I was stunned and, yes, extremely pleased by her poignant words. As a writer, I almost retired right then and there. I will never feel that good again. The feeling I got when I read the article was intoxicating and overwhelming. It was why I wanted to write.

Not all feedback will come your way from an article written about your article. But a response from a reader should always be welcome. And you should reply to them.

What is an editor’s job?

I am editor and owner of my own publication, Dad-Bods. And I want desperately to comment on and “edit” some of the stories that have been submitted.

It’s not that they were badly written, or filled with grammatical errors. I just saw some things I thought would make the stories better. The problem was, I was mostly too fearful to make the suggestions.

Why, you may ask? You are the editor of your own publication, man! If they submit, they should expect some comments or edits. Ball up, dude!

My response: I know, but some of these writers have such incredible resumes and writing histories, who am I to tell them how to make their stories better?

Let me enlighten you as to how I write

When I first started writing for Medium in January of this year, I was an extremely raw writer and had no idea what my “voice” was. I have gotten better, but am still unsure of my “voice.” Mainly, because I don’t know what that means.

In the past, when I sat down to write, I just “wrote.” In fact, most times, that’s what I do. Like now. I had an inspiration today while reading through Medium, so I opened my “New Story” page and started to fill in the space.

I came up with the title first, because that was the idea that popped into my little brain.

Next, I wrote the subtitle, because that was the direction I wanted to go with the story.

Third, I went to Pexels and looked for an appropriate free image. I couldn’t find a free one that really “hit” me and which “fit” my idea of this story, so I chose a “close” fit. I could have looked at some other free sites, but I wanted to get to the writin’ part.

All three of these steps help me to write the story. I like to have them in place before I start to write. I have read that some writers prefer to outline their stories and start writing before they even consider a working title and picture.

To each his own. Whatever works, right?

After my article’s first draft is finished, I will re-read it numerous times, make some changes, possibly change the title, then probably go picture hunting on other free sites. The image you see at the top of my story is probably not the first one I chose (it’s not).

When I think my story is finished and ready to submit, then and only then, do I consider where to submit. Only once have I ever just “submitted” a story into the Medium ether-world. And that was because I didn’t know what I was doing. Every other story I submitted to a specific Publication.

Submission decisions and publications and feedback

My first and favorite pub is MuddyUm. Why? Because it was my first, and we know how everybody remembers their first. The editor and owner, Susan Brearley, gave me my “big break.” She was also my first editor, and I will always be thankful for her.

Sherry McGuinn, Julia E Hubbel, Kelly Eden, Kristi Keller (and her pen name alter ego) and Marie T Smith have also been very helpful and encouraging. There are others, as well. Please forgive me if I don’t mention your names.

I received a lot of feed back on my first article from Susan Brearley that made the article better. I also received a lot of suggestions from Sherry McGuinn the editor of Rogues’ Gallery, on an article I submitted to her.

And I have appreciated every single bit of help, advice, response, edit suggestions, and comments I have been given.

Since January, I have published other articles in several other publications and rarely have I gotten much feedback, much less suggestions to make it better. And I don’t fault any of them. I mean, what can they say about perfection?

As an editor and a writer, I can honestly say, there is no “perfection.” Obvious, right. We all know that.

Then why the ever-lovin’ hell is it so difficult to “edit?”

I recently received a great article from Johnny Villarreal called The Greatest Nutritional Principle for Weight Loss That No One is Talking About. I asked him if I could make some suggestions about the title and some minor sentence structure issues. He was more than happy to take my suggestions and make the changes.

If you notice when you hover the cursor over the above title, you’ll see the original title in the URL. Unfortunately, I screwed it up and lost the article while I was editing it. He was understanding enough to re-submit and we got it published in Dad-Bods.

Making those suggestions was difficult. I want everyone to have a fantastic, finished submission so I can just publish it. Johnny’s was fantastic, full of great information. All of the articles submitted to Dad-Bods have been great, in my opinion. But none have been perfect.

Certainly not my own. Certainly not the one you are reading . . .this one

My pledge

I have decided that I will begin making editorial suggestions as needed from this point forward. I won’t “force” someone to make the changes I suggest or else not get published. No way. Well, not unless it just. . .isn’t. . .right.

I hope you, as my writers and future “submitters,” will take these editorial suggestions in the spirit in which they are meant. All will be made with only the best of intentions. If you don’t like them, tell me.

What are those intentions? To help make us ALL better writers.

Please don’t get your feelings hurt. But I think it’s time for editors to edit!

And I hope, in the future, when I submit my articles to your publications, you will provide me with as much feedback as you can. Whether it be grammatical, sentence structure, narration issues, passive/active voice issues, whatever, I hope you will let me know. I may not agree with you, but that’s okay. I probably will, though.

Comments and Responses from Readers and Editors

You know what else would be nice? A comment from the readers and editors. Yes, a comment. Did you like the article? Did you agree or disagree? Did it hit a soft spot? Did you connect? I promise, I will respond back.

Having interaction with the readers in this forum, since they (we) are almost all writers ourselves, will only make us better.

After all, we write to be read. A writer can’t ask for more than that. . .well, except maybe to be paid.