I love the idea of reader circuits. You’re right that the feedback you get on a published piece is usually high-level, rarely granular. To allow myself additional iterations on a piece, I’ll revise and republish my essays. (I override the post and leave the old version up as a nested page.) That way, revision doesn’t stand in the way of publishing, and I can return to the piece after months, with fresh eyes, to tear it up. That practice has helped me solidify my style and spot my weaknesses.
But what do we do if we don't have any honest friends? jk I think...
...thanks for the inspiration...they say it takes a village and I have definitely found the more eyes and minds touch my ideas the more thoughtful/polished/balanced they become...the work is never done...
...on the AI front I haven't experimented yet, but getting THE MACHINE to help criticise content by using different voices and mindsets could be a useful way to do this if you got no one around...or you could just do what I do and show the computer to your dog...if the dog licks it I have comedy gold...if the dog turns on me instead it is back to the old writing board...I've found it helps to always cover your computer in peanut butter for this editing approach...
THE MACHINE. Charlie Becker experimented with teaching ChatGPT how to give CRIBS feedback. Curious if he actively uses it or finds it useful.
If you're into dogs & peanut-butter-style approaches -- check out 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsman by Salvador Dali. (Spiders and voodoo are part of his creator checklist)
You are definitely the best writer on Substack. From your last couple posts, with such detailed views of your writing process, I'm beginning to see why.
I love this deconstructed series, Michael. Curious though - since this process hinges on having editors in the first place, how do you go about finding them?
Thanks Sairam! Write of Passage has been helpful in finding people to exchange drafts with. You don't need to have a process that involves so many people (10-15 is the exception). In a typical week, I'm usually only exchanging with 1-3 people. Sometimes it's spontaneous, but it does help to have at least one standing call each week.
Congrats on your racquetball dub!
I love the idea of reader circuits. You’re right that the feedback you get on a published piece is usually high-level, rarely granular. To allow myself additional iterations on a piece, I’ll revise and republish my essays. (I override the post and leave the old version up as a nested page.) That way, revision doesn’t stand in the way of publishing, and I can return to the piece after months, with fresh eyes, to tear it up. That practice has helped me solidify my style and spot my weaknesses.
Love the approach of editing old work. It's always good to periodically purge the archive, and revive the best ideas.
But what do we do if we don't have any honest friends? jk I think...
...thanks for the inspiration...they say it takes a village and I have definitely found the more eyes and minds touch my ideas the more thoughtful/polished/balanced they become...the work is never done...
...on the AI front I haven't experimented yet, but getting THE MACHINE to help criticise content by using different voices and mindsets could be a useful way to do this if you got no one around...or you could just do what I do and show the computer to your dog...if the dog licks it I have comedy gold...if the dog turns on me instead it is back to the old writing board...I've found it helps to always cover your computer in peanut butter for this editing approach...
THE MACHINE. Charlie Becker experimented with teaching ChatGPT how to give CRIBS feedback. Curious if he actively uses it or finds it useful.
If you're into dogs & peanut-butter-style approaches -- check out 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsman by Salvador Dali. (Spiders and voodoo are part of his creator checklist)
You are definitely the best writer on Substack. From your last couple posts, with such detailed views of your writing process, I'm beginning to see why.
I love this deconstructed series, Michael. Curious though - since this process hinges on having editors in the first place, how do you go about finding them?
Thanks Sairam! Write of Passage has been helpful in finding people to exchange drafts with. You don't need to have a process that involves so many people (10-15 is the exception). In a typical week, I'm usually only exchanging with 1-3 people. Sometimes it's spontaneous, but it does help to have at least one standing call each week.