Never wack your fellow writer!
As a writer and teacher, I love sharing things I’m learning with my students.
I teach my students the purpose of writing: communication.
My students learn to give and receive feedback, improving their communication skills. Are they helping their reader understand? Sharing with friends is a great way to find out.
When we give feedback, I use an analogy I learned from the Flourish Writer’s community. I use the suits of a deck of cards to describe four kinds of feedback.
- Heart: “I love this!” It feels good, but it really isn’t much help to the writer. Why? How can I know what is working?
2. Diamond: “I like this part because_______________________.” This feedback is precious. It shows me that I am doing something effective. I can continue using this sort of technique in my work.
3. Spade: This is constructive feedback stated with words of kindness. It may sound like,
“Maybe you could make this clearer by________________.”
“I was a little confused when___________________.”
I wonder ____________________.”
This feedback gives the writer something to work with. They can pick up their figurative shovels and get busy with editing and revising.
4. Club: Never, never wack your fellow writer on the head with unkind criticism. We are here to build one another up. At this, my students laugh. They understand how the golden rule applies to writing.
Are you a homeschool parent? Try this out on your kids.
Are you a writer? Let’s build one another up. I hope, with my writing, to glorify God. If I can help you do the same, He is pleased with the way we use our talents.
When we edify one another, everyone wins!
