In this episode, I share insights on seeking the right kind of feedback for your writing, drawing from my 14 years of experience on Room’s editorial collective. Discover how to engage with a supportive writing community, polish your work before submission, and navigate the delicate balance between openness to suggestions and maintaining your creative vision. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this episode offers valuable tips to help you shine in literary magazines. Join me as we explore the art of giving and receiving feedback that truly elevates your writing.
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Mentioned in this episode
Liz Lehrman’s Critical Response Process
Matthew Salesses’ Craft in the Real World
Felicia Rose Chavez’s The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop
#109 Write, Publish, Shine Episode Transcript
Welcome, Luminous Writers, to the Write, Publish, and Shine podcast. I am your host, author, and literary magazine editor Rachel Thompson. This podcast explores how to write and share your brilliant writing with the world. In each episode, we delve into specifics on how to polish and prepare your writing for publication and the journey from emerging writer to published author.
Welcome to Episode 109, Luminous Writers. Today, we’re diving into another essential strategy for getting published in literary magazines: “Seek (the Right Kind of) Feedback.” This is part of my 10-part mini-series of episodes that draw from my 14 years of experience on Room’s editorial collective.
Let’s start with a fundamental truth: engaging with a supportive writing community is invaluable. Building relationships within this community provides inspiration, encouragement, and crucially, feedback. But not just any feedback—the right kind of feedback.
Before you submit your work, it’s crucial to share it with trusted peers who can offer honest and constructive criticism. If you don’t have those trusted peers yet, make it a priority to find writers who can read your work and offer mutual support. This step is vital in polishing your work to a publishable standard.
Tip: Stand out from the crowd by gathering feedback you trust, then revising your work thoroughly before submission.
I’m saying this as we are doing our workshop month in my writing course community right now, and I’m watching that beautiful magic happen when people who really get it—who are in it with you, who are also writing and submitting their work—spend time considering what is working and what’s not working in your writing. We use really specific parameters in our workshops, and I would have it no other way.
Ensure you’ve received quality feedback from writers and mentors you trust, then take the time to revise your work well before submission. Rushing this process often leads to unnecessary self-doubt. If you submit unpolished pieces, you can end up in a negative feedback loop where you question your writing’s quality—when the real issue is simply that you haven’t revised it enough.
As an editor, I love working closely with writers to improve their work, especially when they’re open to suggestions. I had a great experience working with poet Jennifer Cox, who said of our process, “I have never had a piece of writing that wasn’t improved by someone else’s opinion.” This openness to feedback is crucial for growth as a writer.
However, it’s important to add a caveat here: working with editors who support your vision for your writing is essential. Fortunately, that seems to have been Jennifer’s experience. When I work with writers, I strive to bring this level of care and understanding to the process.
Tip: A caring and attentive editor can help you achieve your goals