015 | THOUGHTS | MEDIUM
Seeking Brutally Honest Feedback
After one month of writing on Medium
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Today marks the one-month milestone of this account, although I had been struggling on this platform for some time before creating this account. This account has really brought me to the midst of the Medium community.
One month may not be a long time, so I still consider myself a newbie. I am just starting to learn and improve my skills here, and I am grateful for the incredible support of writers on Medium.
Compared to my experience with blogging in my native language using Google Blogspot, writers on Medium are much more friendly and supportive. They are always focusing on the positive aspects of a fellow writer’s work.
In contrast, the writers in my local blogging community were also supportive, but they were known for providing brutally honest critiques. While their feedback was constructive, it was also straightforward and to the point.
Have you ever read Anne of Avonlea? In the book, Anne usually presents her works to Mr. Harrison, who was known for his brutal but honest critiques. Initially, Anne was angry with him because he instructed her to strike out most of her unnecessary writing, but eventually, she realized the value of his feedback.
Likewise, I have received comparable critiques from my local blogging community, and I believe it has aided me in developing my own unique writing style. Despite the challenge of the language barrier, I am trying to maintain the same style of writing.
I understand that the Medium platform may not function in the same way as other platforms due to the personal commitments of its users. However, I am in dire need of honest feedback to help me plan my writing and move forward. After all, one month and 14 posts should be sufficient to evaluate someone’s progress.
Let me share a secret with you. In our culture, when we have guests for lunch, it is common for our mothers to express doubts about the quality of the food. They might say something like “I just made it quickly, the salt and spicy may not be tasted perfectly.” However, in reality, they have been preparing the food since morning. So, visitors often respond with compliments, enjoying the innocent happiness that comes with the situation.
But this is not what I am looking for — innocent happiness like our mothers. I do not want any false compliments that might make me feel good. Instead, I am looking for honest feedback, no matter how brutal it may be. I will appreciate it greatly.
I initially wanted to mention each of you by name, but I understand that mass-mentioning may go against some people’s preferences. I have noticed that some of you prefer to simply read and have no interest in participating in a conversation, and I respect that. That is also why I chose not to ask for your honest feedback by name.
However, I must admit that I was tempted to mention a few of you who have been the main source of encouragement for me on this journey thus far. I am confident that you wouldn’t mind if I asked for your feedback as personal assistance.
Still, I decided not to do so because I have a feeling of insecurity that I may not have earned the privilege of using our friendship in that way.
If someone is kind enough, or perhaps brave enough, to leave a brutally honest comment, I will provide a breakdown to help you as a reference.
Content
My writing is largely inspired by my personal experiences, memories, and day-to-day incidents. However, I feel like I haven’t fully explored my niche yet, and I’m worried that I might be limiting myself to a certain frame. Have you ever felt the same way? Do you find my content repetitive or boring?
Writing Style
While I enjoy writing in a light and humorous tone, I’m starting to wonder if I’m trapping myself in a particular style. I’m not sure whether I should consider changing my writing style or not.
Publishing Frequency
I try to publish a new post every other day, but I’m not sure if that frequency is too much or too little. Based on your experience, I would appreciate your advice on what frequency might work best.
I acknowledge that experience is the best teacher, and certain things can only be learned with time. But having your feedbacks allow me to gain it early. So, please don’t hesitate to give me your most brutally honest comment yet.
And thank you in advance for your kind corporation in this regard.