I’m Surprised Many Writers Are Sleeping on This Free Resource

You need to open a separate file for it

My heart beats as I drive the cursor towards the draft.

To click or not to click? I dread reading the private note the editor may have left on my latest article. I change my mind.

I ignore the draft, and I get back to typing another one. I tell myself it’s still morning, and I don’t want a rejection, a real probability, to dampen my mood for the rest of the day.

I’ll come back to that feedback when I’m satisfied I’ve done enough for the day.

Often, that’s my attitude about the feedback I receive on my articles from editors.

But as promised, after a few hours, I return to those drafts. And if there’s any advice, any tip, any suggestion, I note it. Occasionally, I even take a screenshot. Later, I’ll transfer the contents onto a Word file.

I treat the feedback like a pot of gold dust.

Don’t just nod and dismiss the occasional feedback

Sometimes, the rejections hurt so badly we want nothing to do with the accompanying feedback. At least I didn’t.

But as bad as they hurt, they could be just as helpful. Read through and see how it applies to your work before you hit dismiss out of anger.

Also, instead of sulking at the feedback, try to look at it in a completely different light.

Top-notch editorial services (often for free)

Like many, I started writing with zero experience. And I certainly couldn’t afford the services of an editor to look over my work, at least not at the start.

It meant the crumbs of feedback I received on my work were all the editorial feedback I got.

But I wasn’t disappointed; I was determined to work with that.

Many of the editors on this platform and beyond have a big heart, and you can enjoy some of the goodness.

Looking back, getting those incredible tips for free was a steal. As they kept coming, I opened a Word file for them.

Yes, some may be article-specific, but I guarantee you many have a broader application than the rejected draft. Learn to savor those pieces of feedback. How?

You can convert them into the teeth of a fine-tooth comb by which to run some of your articles. Yes, you can make a mini checklist out of those remarks.

Here are some tips I’ve gathered from the feedback I’ve received over the months.

1. Can you tweak the headline to arouse more curiosity?

2. Can you make the subheading more positive?

3. Can you include some actionable takeaways for the readers to not feel left out of the conversation?

4. Can you try to end your work on a more positive note?

5. Could you circle your conclusion back to the intro?

They may seem fundamental, but some are conspicuously missing from many articles I read. Not to say that’s criminal, anyway. Just saying. Me, I didn’t even know about them when I started.

But I’ve now got a simple checklist to help make my work better. Did I mention I got them for free?

A kick to your backside that gets you on the right track

For many writers, the feedback may be the kick in the backside that gets them running.

My friend Neeramitra Reddy puts a gigantic chunk of his rising writing stock down to the editorial feedback he received.

Did some of it hurt him at the start? You bet he cried a cup full. But while he lifted metals in the gym, he also knuckled down behind his Mac.

Thinking you’re already trotting on the right path, with the finish line within reach? You could use some editorial feedback to get you off that high horse.

Final words

I know many writers who learned things the hard way. They taught themselves by micro-analyzing their work. They crunched numbers, set ambitious word goals, conquered their fears. They flat out worked their butts off.

Yes, many of these tips are non-negotiable; they’re still excellent suggestions many will point you at when you ask them how to become a better writer.

But if you want to take your writing more seriously, you’ll always need editorial feedback along the way. Sadly, it’s impossible to receive feedback on all of your work. Or even some of your drafts.

I’ve already expressed my displeasure at that, but no editor owes me any feedback, so there’s precious little I can do.

While I’m reluctant to drop names, dozens of other incredibly supportive editors on this platform offer great feedback that could turn your writing fortunes around.

You may have to keep an inventory of those pieces of advice for reference.

Even if you outgrow them someday, you can always pass them down to someone who asks for your help.