Workshopping

You can re-read and self-edit and pick through your own work til the cows come home, but nothing: NOTHING beats a fresh pair of eyes gazing over your words. (Especially if those eyes are all-hawk-like and attached to an honest mouth.)

Image via CopyBlogger

So I’m throwing out many thanks to the folks who have read my stuff for me over the past week or so. I know people are often WAY busy what with work and having lives and  all the quality programming on modern television…

So I’m really grateful that folks can take the time to look over my words and point out anything they might see that needs wrangling. Be it advice on correcting a word here and there, or suggesting I might need to embark on a complete re-write, the feedback from the people who’ve taken the time to read my things has been invaluable. An outside observer can help you to clarify your images (after all, you wrote it, so you know what you are trying to describe – it may not be as clear to someone who is coming from a different perspective) and point out all those little errors that slip by.

Image via ProNovelEditors

If you can wrangle other folk into looking over your work for you, it will only benefit the stories you are trying to tell. If you don’t have a group of folk that you actually studied writing with like I do, people you can pressure (ha!) into reading your stuff with promises of cookies and also great dollops of guilt, then look around for a local writers group. Reach out on your blog. Post about it on Facebook. You would be surprised at how many kind folk (fools!) are happy to offer their help.

Thanks to all those who have read my junk, and if anyone wants to volunteer, let me know below! I’ve got a bunch of stuff that needs a good going-over.