Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

[The following is only a glimpse of the topic … not a transcription. Also, this episode is about six minutes long.] The last couple of podcast episodes have focused how to affirm the writer in your life who has asked for input—and how to err on the side of encouragement. As a continuation of this discussion, I’d like to share with you an idea for how you can ask for input from individuals or groups. First, decide what level of input you truly want. Then ask the person or group to bless your piece, assess your piece, or press your piece. This bless, assess, or press idea originates with the National Writing Project for teachers, which I heard about from my friend Kris. Here's the basic idea. Bless If you want the reader to bless your work, you want encouragement for what is working, but not necessarily feedback on what’s not working. You ask for "bless" when you truly want your reviewer to only affirm, affirm, affirm. Assess When you ask the person to assess your work, you ask for assess one specific prob