I have been a member of many writing groups, and I am often shocked at how hard it is to get an honest opinion out of some people. I enjoy analyzing other people’s work because it gives me insight into what I look for in other people’s writing (and where I might be falling short). Thank you for contributing to my guest blogger month.

To the readers who maybe hadn’t thought of this, you can also get the experience to be a better editor “on the cheap” through literary magazines, newspaper publishers, and even volunteer experience (writing or compiling a newsletter for a nonprofit organization, for example, or through university classes in publishing, editing, or creative writing). Many small literary magazines are produced under the auspices of community colleges or universities, after all.

It might even be that the romance (or sci-fi or Wester or…) e-book you’ve just read comes from a small press seeking readers or editors. You never know where a critiquing opportunity–and an opportunity to grow as a writer–might pop up if you just keep your eyes peeled!

Leighs last blog post..The Music of Words and Other Matters

These are all great reasons for writers to become better critics! Your second and third reasons are wonderful lessons for every writer to learn, because they help provide a balanced view of our abilities. It certainly helps to know that we’re neither the worst nor the best writer in the world. The former gives us confidence and helps us not become discouraged, and the latter helps keep our egos in check.

Thanks for sharing your insight!
Jeanne

Write better by critiquing more. Kat Shann offers five ways she has benefited from critiquing other’s writing. Although the author is focused on fiction, seeing the benefits articulated shows that it’s appropriate for non-fiction, too….