Monday, September 29, 2008

Peer Review in Writing

I do not hesitate to say that all writers love their writing and because they love their writing they produce some good write-up for their audience to read. Anyways, however good is the write-up, writers are expected to have some message from the readers. May be good, bad or ugly, but they are sure to get some reviews. It is obvious that readers when they read, they look from their own perspective and the writers when they write, they tend to write from their own perspective. But, true writers write from their reader’s perspective and live in their characters. However, this is an issue of subjective discussion and opinion would entirely differ from reader to reader and from writer to writer.

There would be some readers who would proclaim writer's work as piece of rubbish, non-standard, anti-social, anti-national or whatsoever it may be. There would be some readers who would applaud and appreciate the courageous, bold, emphatic writing bringing truth out. These are two kinds of rave reviews writers are ought to get on their work. These are again based on the wish of the writers to choose the subject to discuss in their writings. Yet, whatever writers write, they truly adore their writings and to be the subject of criticism and ridicule is at time not digestible for them.

The question is, being a writer, how can you save yourself from the criticism. No, you can not, and its better you start accepting criticism and understanding the message of your readers or else there will be a time when there will be no message for you. It is true that only when you are read, you have messages. It is also true that you are writing because you are being read and you are writing for your readers. My friend, ‘Roy Arsenal’ rightly once said, “if you want to write your own thing better buy a diary from the market and write but if you are writing for an audience understand them and write for them."

This challenge always bothers writers. What is the way out? Love your writing but do not hesitate to share with your peer and friends who can lend some input and peer review in to your work. It is better to be ridiculed and criticized and shape and reshape your write-up before you produce that to your audience. A true and honest peer review is always good for your writing. The bigger challenge is to find a good and competent peer, who will review your work. But, whoever you are handing out your work, they will have at least their own angle to look into it. At least that input will help you a lot.

As a writer many people wants to try out writing many different things. To some extent you can be good in writing one specialize areas of writing but you need not be good at all things altogether. This depends on the choice of your writing. Some are good in writing poetry, story, report, extempore, essay and many other forms of writing but none can be perfect in all sorts. Yes, but no harm in trying your hands as a writer. Well, you can fall on your peer to give you a good and critical advice to bring out a good second draft.

Yes! I am hoping my story to come out good because I have got a brilliant piece of unbiased review from my friend ‘Roy Arsenal’. This is my first try to write a story.