Critiquing Friends’ Writing: Why It’s Always a Tough Call
How can we critique our friends without making them feel bad? I have little respect for those among online writers who are too lazy to research the medical information they present to their online audience. It isn’t enough to spot some keywords and create sensational titles out of them in order to increase page views and up your pay, think of the poor unsuspecting patients who may use your terrible information, think of the quality you post before its published.
Glaring kindergarten mistakes
Think of the many glaring kindergarten mistakes you come across every day while reading, think of the wrong grammar, the poor sentence construction and every day self eulogizing, think of the wrong spellings and those entries that are shorter that the author’s own profile. How do you react when the author is a very good friend, how do you react when he or she is a sweet soul that has done everything to promote your writing?
Some writers are simply incorrigible
Many of us find ourselves in this quandary. Some may take criticism very positively while many others will never notice it however much you try and are simply incorrigible. Some writers will even abuse you downright while others will quit writing altogether. How can we be honest with our friends and right them when they go wrong? How can we tell them politely how incensing their writing is?
Some writers need a complete makeover
There are some writers online who really would do with a return to grammar school, there are those who real need a complete makeover, yet for fear of discouraging them or losing their friendship, we have to ignore their glaring mistakes and leave something like, good entry, nice share or interesting for lack of something better to say.
Sensational titles based on key words are killing would be credible sites
Online sources of information are the best used currently and sites are doing everything to earn and maintain credibility in order to earn repeat visits. Writers who post sensational titles without quality to match the same are killing this hard earned credibility. How can we help them take online writing a little more seriously?
Making nonsense of all the keywords
Somebody picks a hot topic like cancer or anemia or infertility and literally urinates on it. Another completely makes nonsense of a keyword such as mesothelioma while another one constantly paraphrases radio news! What injustice are these writers doing to the sites on which they post? Why are they driving many other genuine writers into oblivion by merely cutting and pasting poorly researched entries and passing them on as their own?
An advocate of quality writing
I have for a long time been an advocate of good writing. I have admonished online writers to up their quality time and again but some have even called me names for merely pointing out the obvious. I make mistakes too, I screw it up at times, but when somebody points it out, when a friend corrects me, I find myself fixing my writing in order to make it better. When shall we strive to write better, when shall we take criticism positively and improve our work?
Don’t mess with important medical information
Some forms of writing are excusable. You can mess with poetry as much as you want, you can mess with those recipes for all you care or even short stories. Whatever happens, don’t mess with medical information. I know you want views; I know how much you need the money but please don’t give jumbled information that can impact negatively on a patient’s life!
Kindly research any medical information you publish. Use any books and or credible websites at your disposal for an unsuspecting patient may use your article and escort himself or herself to the grave. Constantly urinating on important medical information for your own selfish end should be punishable whether it’s online or offline!
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August 8th, 2010 at 3:37 am
I agree with you in that sense. When I write medical articles I try to be as accurate as possible in all my research. Yes, I have grammar mistakes myself but I always try to fix them before posting. I don’t always catch all of them but I try. And people should embrace constructive criticism for it will make you a better writer, or even artist for that matter. Embrace constructive, ignore the negative.
August 8th, 2010 at 3:54 am
Great Share.
August 8th, 2010 at 4:42 am
Actually it does make a lot of sense , especially for medical writings. I love criticism! I’ll be honest I am not producing my finest work here. I actually reserve that for few unlucky clients that i manage to tangle in my web of writing, AND THAT IS ONE POWERFUL WEB
But i actually take the pain to make it a bit better. Those who know me can vouch that I don’t ever bother to read or correct mistakes of my leisure work or things i do with some ‘hidden’ agendas. Apparent is not always apparent but you actually made a good point , when you present fact or medical writings some one could actually act on your writings! So people puleezz !!
i wanted to say good entry , but i think you might take that in the wrong sense now
August 8th, 2010 at 4:57 am
I don’t write medical articles here; only in factoidz. Well, only three so far. They’re pretty strict about writing there, so it means I’m not allowed to defecate in any of them. All of us have our fair shares of mistakes here and there, a basic reminder that we may be made in the image of God, but we’re not Him. Only by accepting criticism from others could amendment be done. A great article to all writers, I’ll say.
August 8th, 2010 at 5:36 am
I totally agree with you, Silaho.
August 8th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Not only the health articles, a lot of different articles which Triond publishes are utter non-sense. Saddest part is those articles get listed on Popular Articles category very often. It’s true that Health related article needs good research. Whenever I write health articles I sincerely try to do this.
August 8th, 2010 at 8:35 am
fine post,thnx
August 8th, 2010 at 8:56 am
My problem is often typing one word but grammatically its the wrong one, since its still a word spell check does not pick it up. I did this recently on my article about stuffing animals or stuffing yourself with animals.. thanks for reminding me to fix it now.
I dont think I have ever written a health article.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:03 am
I agree with you Shilaho, that’s why till date I have not written any health articles, because if I write them my own styles, I may mislead readers, I cannot take them as jokes, and if I want to share them, I will have to copy and paste them which is not allowed. I must write something which I really familiar with, not merely just to publish something.
August 8th, 2010 at 11:45 am
I agree, I think everyone should be aware that’s it’s best to do their own research before using any medical advise they find here.
August 8th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I agree, as I do write about medical conditions, but I always research my information and speak with professionals about how I feel and think about certain sicknesses and the medicine used to “fix” the problem. (If I dare to use that word)
I would appreciated more citiquing so that truly knew how my readers felt about my ideas, thoughts and advice.
Awesome article you have put before us.
August 8th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I agree. I feel I have to bite my tongue much of the time. I have also done personal critiquing only to have the suggestions ignored. That is the most frustrating.
August 8th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
What a fantastic post and i hope this goes to the hot content list! Any writing that is full of mistakes is horrible but when you read a medical post, it can be embarrassing and look very amateur.
I like to post medical posts, but i make sure i research what i am posting.
Emmie
August 8th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Great article.
I try to comment and offer critique as politely and positively as possible no matter if it was written by a friend of mine or not. I think that no damage can be done that way. And if someone cannot digest a polite critique, then he/she should not write, friend or not (that is my opinion).
August 8th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Thanks for pointing out this issue, friend. A lot of people are really worth critiquing here in triond (including me at some points in grammar).
As for health articles, I make sure that my research is credible and also take time to look at the herbs myself ’cause I’m concentrating on natural remedies.
August 8th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
A great post. Writers should always make it a point to cite their sources. For those who want to improve on their writing, they should not take critiquing personally. You also need to look at the source of the person offering the criticism. Is this person knowledgable and experienced in their field?
August 8th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
Maybe the best way I think…. is to send her a message …. clear it out…make some corrections….Explain why….
A heartful criticism I should say…not a hurtful…. Then maybe from there… (the one you’re correcting) god!!! It could be me….hehe….Can make a justifying corrections and an arguments (If there’s any) to make a point for him/herself….
NIce one Shilaho…. I’d like you to do it for a student like me…
August 8th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Great topic – I don’t know how those articles get through on Triond, I have had articles declined because I quoted a Bible verse or had names that Spell check doesn’t recognize.
It really is not right that a well researched article makes the same amount as another that is nonsense words strung together with keywords. These are con artists, taking advantage of cyber editors. The reason they write medical articles is because Healthmad pays more than the other sites.
Thanks for bringing attention to this problem.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
I agree with you. For some topics, doing research is a must. Giving and receiving comments are both difficult but essential. If a person is serious in writing, he / she has to overcome the unhappy emotion that a comment brings forth, make use of that comment to have self-improvement.
August 8th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Keyword urination!!! Love it. Very well said, my friend. If I see something that is just plain wrong, I always point it out. I also have no fear in voicing an opposing opinion. If someone wants nice share from me, they are friends with the wrong person.
August 9th, 2010 at 5:09 am
Hats off to you Shilano for sharing your thoughts about proper handling of medical articles. I agree with your views.
August 9th, 2010 at 8:03 am
I can agree with you that is why it is very hard to publish a medical article. I also publish at Factoidz and I find it tough there coz you got to provide REAL not opinionated infos. Good share.
August 11th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Well, Leo I for one have my poetry to mess about with, but you are right about the medical stuff, I have found my self saying best check with your doc, before trying any of these new Ideas…. from some of these articles, so yes call it if you see it, no matter who…. if its wrong its wrong cheers.
August 12th, 2010 at 9:09 am
People should always check medical info. Writers have a responsibility to check their information but readers should always get a second opinion online and offline.