There’s nothing quite like positive feedback for your writing efforts. Whether it’s a complimentary letter-to-the-editor published in a magazine that ran your article, a supportive comment from a friend who read something you wrote or a good review of your book, praise is always welcome. Writers and authors thrive on accolades. Second to a desire to write, of course, is the need to be read. A close third is our longing to be understood and validated.
And it doesn’t take much to give us a thrill. Just this week, I received an update from an author who said that one of my books helped her to write a book proposal that sold a publisher on her book idea. A few weeks ago a gentleman contacted me with a question and he said that my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, was incredibly helpful in his journey toward becoming published. And I frequently receive comments from authors who have read some of my articles.
How refreshing it is to know that you are being read. And why should we doubt it? I have thousands of copies of my books circulating among the public. My articles have appeared in hundreds of magazines and newsletters. My work is posted all over the Internet. Why should I doubt that it is being read? Of course, it’s being read. But, hearing directly from someone who tells me how they are using my suggestions or how a certain passage, a certain article or one of my books helped them gives me a glorious boost in confidence and validates my intended purpose.
I remember a while back when a good friend of mine told me that she was having a very prolific period. She is just bursting with article ideas and she said, “Part of the credit goes to you.” She explained. “I read what you wrote about doing a different activity to stir up the creativity in your brain. So I’ve been working on my beaded earrings and that really got me out of a stagnant spot.
It’s true, if you feel blocked—you can’t get an idea and when you do, you can’t drum up the enthusiasm to work on it, try doing something else for a while. I recommend pursuing a creative activity. For me, gardening works or working on a needlework project. Redecorating a room or just a portion of a room is the key for some people. There’s just something about shifting gears and actually experiencing success in another realm that helps to jumpstart the part of your brain that you need functioning in order to perform well when writing.
Of course, this is just one of thousands of useful tips I’ve offered through my articles and books. Now, how can you get feedback for your writing? Here are a few ideas:
• Build a website related to your book or your writing.
• Run a survey among your readers.
• Circulate your own newsletter, you’ll receive feedback from subscribers.
• Hire an editor or publishing professional to evaluate or edit your book.
• Send emails to customers who have bought your book and ask for comments.
• Start a blog.
• Ask friends and random readers to add reviews to your Amazon page.
• Send copies of your latest article to your email list and ask for comments.
• Send your almost finished manuscript to experts for back of book testimonials.
• Get your published book reviewed many times over.
• Join networking organizations related to publishing and/or the theme of your book.
• Participate in discussion groups.
Writers and authors work pretty much in solitude. We reach out through the written word. And we appreciate—in fact, need, feedback/validation. Positive comments encourage and drive us. If you feel all alone out there—as if no one is reading what you write, try some of the tips above to solicit feedback. The more you put yourself out there, the more you will be read and the more response you will receive.