In two weeks I begin working at a writing center. I've been studying different strategies for helping a variety of writers (whether for school assignments or not). I was wondering if anyone who has experience working editing written works could give any advice.
Thanks in advance,
Dave
Don't make me do stuff.
Tell the truth
what age group?
Thanks for reminding me about that Mike. Anywhere from 18+ because we have graduate students and people who do leisure writing. The writing center is open to the entire college.
Last edited by dduckett; 01-26-2007 at 05:58 PM.
Don't make me do stuff.
I teach English at a secondary (high) school, and the best way to criticise someone's work is to use the 'sandwich' technique of positive comment, negative comment, positive comment, eg:
You have captured the character's voice very well and the dialogue is realistic and smooth. However, some of the plot developments don't make logical sense - make sure you keep a timeline of events to refer to as you write.
Remember that unless they are all planning to become published writers (and lots of people just want to write for enjoyment and personal achievement) you shouldn't critique their work to pieces as it will simply demoralise them.
I would have thought though that the center itself should be able to provide some training - have you asked?
The center provides training, in fact, I'm in the training class this entire semester. I wanted to hear from others with experience teaching others. Thanks for the input aspiring.
Don't make me do stuff.
Do not surgercoat every single comment, that is one of the worst things to do. It makes the critiquer sound indecisive.
"You have some problems here with the usage of 'you're' vs. 'your', but on another note your style is wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing."
I know what Aspiring is saying, but if a student comes into a writing center to get something critiqued by a stranger, they don't come for endless compliments.
At least that's what I've been taught when I've had to copy-edit for the newspaper.
Last edited by Guardianwolf; 01-27-2007 at 12:59 PM.
That's not what aspiring said."You have some problems here with the usage of 'you're' vs. 'your', but on another note your style is wonderful and I wouldn't change a thing."
To write is human, to edit is divine.
The point still stands if you ask me, an onlooker.
But you should obviously give good feedback too, as much as you can., without it sounding like what you said.
Don't judge a book by it's cover; that's what the blurb is for.
Anyone got change for a paradigm shift?
Of course give good feedback, I'm just saying to not sugarcoat everything.
If I insulted anyone, apologies. It's hard to express tone on the internet.
Last edited by Guardianwolf; 01-27-2007 at 01:57 PM.
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