You're facing criticism on your writing style. How can you handle it effectively under time constraints?

Have you ever created content and heard someone respond with: “This isn’t your best work…and it’s due tomorrow.”? Two inherent problems (negative feedback and time constraints) are likely to destroy your confidence and make your heart race. Not only do you have to improve your writing, you have to do it quickly. To tamp down your panic, detach your fears from the outcome. The more you dwell on these obstacles, the less time and mental clarity you’ll have to overcome them. Recognize that you are able to handle these challenges. They seem overwhelming now, but choosing to move through your reservations about completing the project sufficiently and on time will help you focus your energy productively. Tranquility leads to quality.

I've worked with a number of editors, and find that it is good to pay attention to their comments. Sometimes they just have a question, which I can answer quickly, or if I have an error, I can correct quickly. Generally speaking though, I try to do thorough and detailed background on whatever story I'm working on, interview the people most helpful and pertinent to the story, and try to find the unique perspective revealed by my research. All this while working with publications that I respect and enjoy. This usually has good results.

Nobody likes criticism, yet it is an important way for us to improve our writing, to make sure our audience keeps reading our writing! Understand the feedback provided by the stakeholders, the Editors, and once you know what they are looking for, you can better improve upon their comments and feedback. Else you may just be going in circle, doing something that requires further changes. Ask, Understand, and Act on the feedback!

Asking questions helps you understand the specific concerns and perspectives behind the feedback, allowing you to address them effectively. By seeking clarification, you can turn potentially vague or harsh criticism into actionable insights. This not only improves your writing but also demonstrates your willingness to learn and adapt, which can strengthen your professional relationships and build your reputation as a writer open to constructive feedback.

Receiving feedback can be challenging, especially when it touches on aspects of our work that we cherish. However, viewing criticism as a valuable tool rather than a personal attack is key to growth. Constructive criticism offers insights into how others perceive our writing. By objectively analyzing this feedback, we can identify patterns and recurring themes that point to specific strengths and weaknesses. Embracing this process requires humility and openness, allowing us to refine our skills. Remember, constructive criticism aims to help us become better writers, and honest reflection on this feedback can transform our work from good to great.

When you finish writing something and 'release' it into the world, it isn't "yours" anymore. It will be percieved and interpreted by others. Keep in mind, that the criticism isn't about you as a person, it's about the writing itself.

If you are pressed for time, make time for the minor adjustments. Editors may provide Track Changes edits in Google Docs, and usually those changes are more of sentence structure or grammar or other issues that they already edited in the document. I just need to Click Accept Changes, and voila, the issue is fixed. For comments that require further extensive rewrite, I will just keep it for a larger chunk of time. This way, I felt accomplished, and more motivated to see my "To-Revise" list becomes smaller and smaller.

One thing I’ve find helpful to move forward after receiving criticism is keeping in mind that criticism is a crucial part of the growth process. Stay positive, learn from the feedback, and keep refining your skills. Your dedication will pay off in the long run. Reminder: Every writer faces criticism! It comes with the job. Take it as an opportunity to enhance your craft. Keep moving forward with confidence and determination.

Writing is a marathon. Your single article is not going to be a big Make It or Break It moment in your writing career. Unless you make it a major bumps in the road. Just Keep Swimming (referencing Finding Nemo here), or in this case, Just Keep Writing!