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Feedback is the #1 thing that's made me grow as a freelance writer. But it's hard to take (especially in the early days.)
Here's how to take it onboard and make your writing 10x better
Here's how to take it onboard and make your writing 10x better
1/ Actively ask for feedback. Some content managers take your writing and do their own edits just before publishing. Ask if it's possible to see the edits they've made (tracked changes in GDocs is good here). Win-win for both sides: the more you learn, the more you improve.
2/ Clarify suggestions you don't understand. Never accept the changes, nor resolve comments, without understanding what they actually mean. If you do, you'll probably get the same feedback over and over again (not good for anyone.)
3/ If you get lots of individual edits on small things like grammar, make a DIY style guide for that client. E.g. capitalize headings or "don't overload em-dashes." (Guilty)
4/ Most important: Don't take feedback personally. It can feel like a personal attack when editors rip your writing apart. Clients can be blunt with their changes, too.
5/ Learn to separate your work and your writing. Your editor is there to make you better... not put you down. (If they do, find a new one.)
6/ Wanna hear more about this? My conversation with @tomwhtley talked about giving and receiving feedback in-depth, both from the client and freelancer side.
(Exclusive to Peak Freelance members
) https://www.peakfreelance.com/membership
(Exclusive to Peak Freelance members
) https://www.peakfreelance.com/membership
Superb quote I just read in Purple Cow from @ThisIsSethsBlog that fits perfectly here:
“You do not equal the project. Criticism of the project is not criticism of you. [...] It’s people who have projects that are never criticized who ultimately fail.”
“You do not equal the project. Criticism of the project is not criticism of you. [...] It’s people who have projects that are never criticized who ultimately fail.”
