Making the Most of SWC Feedback

After receiving feedback from a consultant at the Stone Writing Center (SWC), keep the feedback in mind as you revise. As you do so, you might feel a bit stumped as you start making changes to your essay. Maybe you are struggling to implement the suggested changes, or maybe you received a lot of feedback and are too intimidated to tackle it. Those are not uncommon feelings, but there are ways to move beyond them.

Take Your Time

Take some time to digest what the consultant discussed with you. Think about reading feedback like watching a popular show. There might be a strong urge to binge-watch a new show, which may have some benefits. Watching a show in a shorter timeframe means you may not forget important story points in between episodes, but the details could get foggy quickly.

In contrast, shows you watch slowly remain clearer for longer because you have time to reflect on what happens, and you process and retain more information. Similarly, you will get more out of each session if you take time to think about what you discussed with the consultant and apply it to your essay before jumping into another session. If you go directly into another session, you might forget aspects of earlier feedback.

Also, taking some time to try and apply the feedback from a session will help you figure out if you fully understand what you discussed or if you want to follow up on anything.

Find Patterns

When SWC consultants offer feedback on the finer details of writing, such as grammar or punctuation, they point out one or two specific examples from your paper. Typically, those are not the only areas to be edited. Look for similar instances elsewhere in your writing.

Talk to a consultant about how to find and/or fix areas if you are struggling to do so on your own. The SWC has plenty of helpful handouts for your reference, but consultants also cover multiple suggestions in a session.

When you go through your writing to apply feedback, look for anything you or the consultant did not address, and send any follow-up questions you may have.

Remember Revising is a Process

Do not be intimidated by a list of suggestions on how to strengthen your writing or by a suggestion to change something major. Many writers find themselves in that position, and while it can be disheartening, it is important to keep your chin up.

Take a few minutes to look over the feedback and, if possible, remove yourself from it. Pretend it is feedback on someone else’s paper to avoid feeling overwhelmed. After you read through the feedback, step away from your writing for at least a few minutes or more to clear your mind. Take a moment to do something you enjoy as a reward for making your way through this vulnerable part of the writing process.

When you return to your writing and feedback, you can make a list of the comments, arranging them based on what is most important to you. If you’re unsure how to prioritize your changes, ask your consultant to go over your list with you to focus on the most important things. Now you have a to-do list, and as you would with any other to-do list, you can tackle one item at a time. Focus only on the topic you are currently revising, and scratch it off once you are done. That way, you can reward yourself for each completed task and have a physical representation of the progress you make.