Reviews for Toxic Feedback: Helping Writers Survive and Thrive

The average rating for Toxic Feedback: Helping Writers Survive and Thrive based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-01-31 00:00:00 Brian Claeys I have always thought of myself as "thicked skinned" when it comes to receiving feedback on my writing (and to be put more generally, life). And while it was easy to sort of brush off criticism, I never imagined there was a proactive way to manage that feedback (even that which I might have labeled as the worst or useless feedback) into improving my writing whether it was creative pieces or things I was assigned at work. This book has given me a whole new perspective, and even more importantly, the tools to channel all feedback into productive and useful responses that give me a fresh and different angle on my work. One of the elements I found the most useful in the book was the clear and concise models for not only receiving but also giving feedback. Another great element is the fantastic examples of published authors who have experienced feedback that almost kept from them writing. There are examples from authors such as Khaled Hosseini who wrote the Kite Runner, which was almost never published and an interview with American poet laureate Ted Kooser (to name a few). Finally, as someone who attends writing workshops, I have highly recommend this book to all my peers. Joni lays out tips and ideas for successful writing groups including how to respond proactively to group members' work and how to maintain a professional but comfortable environment where people are not afraid to share their work. It has helped me enormously in my participation in writing groups. Toxic Feedback will remain a book I turn to over and over again. If I am down on my writing I will re-read Jodi Picoult or Sarah Stewart Taylor's experiences. Whenever I don't feel particularly appreciative of a certain response or if I a not sure how to approach another person's work. This book is such a great tool, anyone who has even ever thought about writing should have it on their shelf, right next to William Strunk, Jr.'s "The Elements of Style".

Review # 2 was written on 2014-03-21 00:00:00 James Farrell I have a (fetish? Addiction?) need for books about the writing process, and by writing process, I mean from blank page to publishing contract. I picked this book up both as a writer wanting to get more from the feedback I'm given, as well as some ideas of how to be a better critique-r. I found plenty of both, even after years of writing and being a member of some pretty awesome writing groups. There was not so much of the specific editing "how-to" (for that I recommend Bell's "The Artful Edit") but there WAS a plethora of advice, anecdotes, and interviews. I've got a few good ideas for improving my critiques of others, especially now as I sit down with the stack if next week's writers' group submissions. A definite recommend.