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Example of a Bad Editorial or Copy Critique

The Value in the Editorial or Copy Critique

Example of a Bad Editorial or Copy Critique

The Value in the Editorial or Copy Critique

If you're a novelist writing your first novel (or 20th!) or a marketer writing marketing copy, you can receive much value from a good editorial or copy critique (not like the one in the photo above!). 

Working on improving your writing skills with each new project allows you to tell better stories and grab a reader's attention with more emotion and persuasion.

Our skills improve gradually the more we write, especially if we're reading books on the writing craft and documents similar to the ones we're writing. But with an editorial or copy critique, those skills can improve exponentially because we're getting feedback on our work.

An editorial or copy critique can…

Help improve skills.

One of the most important benefits of a critique is that they can help us improve our writing skills. There is a lot of value in getting feedback on our writing. Not only can it help us figure out where our strengths and weaknesses are, but it also teaches us how to write a stronger story. Being able to write a strong story can lead to better results, either making the editorial process easier or getting our prospects to take our desired action.

Each piece fits into the "sales puzzle". Getting readers or prospects to buy from you the first time is connected to the probability that they will buy from you again. If the buyer likes your work, it's likely that the buyer will want more. If the work is weak, it's unlikely that you'll make another sale with that individual.

Point out weaknesses.

A critique that points out weaknesses allows us to improve in those areas. Maybe the beginning is strong, but the middle needs more tension.

A critique, of course, is based on one person's opinion, but hopefully that person has a lot of experience in the type of document you've written. It can also point out frequent writing mistakes we make that we don't realize (i.e., changing tense or POV character) and provide suggestions on how to fix them.

Highlight the strengths.

Understanding our strengths and actually feeling confident about them can help keep us moving forward, so a great critique highlights a writer's strengths and offers suggestions on keeping it up. Which leads us to another important benefit…

Provide encouragement.

We're so quick to get discouraged and go through self-doubt, that it's really helpful to know when we're on the right track. We need someone who can tell us we can do it. That we can learn and improve our skills. Encourage us and remind us that it's not something we have to be born with. With practice and study, we really can learn it and improve our skills.

For another helpful article on critiques, read How to Take an Editor's Critique Like a Pro. If you're ready for a critique, get in touch with me. I'd love to help.

Best regards,

Jody Calkins

Jody Calkins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Photo Credit: Laura Ritchie

Jody Calkins
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