How to Use Feedback to Improve Your Column Writing

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Writing a column, in my experience, can feel incredibly fulfilling. I pour my thoughts onto the page, create strong arguments, and really polish my words until they shine. But let me tell you, without a “mirror” to see my work through, real growth just isn’t possible. For us columnists, that mirror is feedback. It’s the absolute game-changer that transforms a good column into a truly great one, takes a simple opinion and turns it into something widely impactful. And yet, so many of us, myself included at times, struggle with not just getting feedback, but actually using it effectively. This isn’t about collecting compliments or just enduring criticism; it’s about a smart, repeated process of making things better that truly elevates your craft.

Let me share with you my definitive guide on how I’ve learned to use feedback to dramatically improve my column writing. We’re going to go beyond the surface and dive into practical strategies, real-world examples, and a shift in mindset that will help you turn every bit of input into a stepping stone towards mastery.

My Feedback Compass: Navigating the Types and What I Value

Before I can really use feedback, I first need to understand its different forms and how I can apply them. Not all feedback is created equal, and knowing its type helps me interpret it and decide what to do next.

  • Editorial Feedback (My Master Sculptor): This is the feedback I get from professional editors – the people responsible for the publication’s overall quality, its voice, and how it connects with readers. It’s usually super comprehensive, covering structure, clarity, argumentation, factual accuracy, tone, and whether I’m sticking to the publication’s style.
    • What I Value: It’s invaluable. Editors are like gatekeepers and quality controllers. Their insights come from understanding the market, journalistic principles, and the specific publication’s vibe.
    • How I Action It: An editor might tell me, “Your intro is too broad; readers need to know your specific angle within the first two sentences.” My action isn’t just to cut words, but to rethink how quickly I’m getting my unique thesis statement or hook out there. Maybe I combine my anecdote with my core argument to immediately ground the reader.
  • Peer Feedback (My Collaborative Calibrator): This is input from other writers, especially those who write similar columns or are active in my niche. They understand the challenges of writing and can offer incredibly nuanced perspectives.
    • What I Value: It’s empathetic and often very practical. Peers can spot things I’ve missed, suggest different ways to phrase things, or even hint at entirely new angles based on their own writing experiences.
    • How I Action It: A fellow columnist might say, “Your conclusion feels a bit preachy. Have you considered ending with a thought-provoking question or a call to action that empowers the reader, rather than instructs them?” This isn’t a direct order to rewrite, but an invitation for me to explore alternative, more impactful ways to close.
  • Audience Feedback (My Market Thermometer): These are the comments, shares, direct messages, and even the lack of engagement from my actual readers. This includes comments sections, social media, and analytics (like bounce rates, how long people stay on the page).
    • What I Value: It gives me direct insight into how readers are receiving my work. This feedback shows me what resonates, what confuses, and what just falls flat. It’s the ultimate validation or indictment of my column’s impact.
    • How I Action It: If multiple readers comment, “I got lost in the jargon halfway through,” my action isn’t to dumb down my topic, but to really think about where I might have used overly technical language without enough explanation or a simpler way of putting it. Maybe a quick definition footnote or a comparative analogy would work better. On the flip side, if a specific phrasing or anecdote is repeatedly praised, I know I’ve found a strong rhetorical tool to use again!
  • Self-Reflection (My Internal Editor): After that initial burst of writing, I make sure to revisit my column with fresh eyes before I even think about external feedback. This is about stepping back and critically evaluating my own work.
    • What I Value: It’s essential foundational work. I catch obvious errors, improve the flow, and strengthen my arguments before I even send it out. It also trains my critical eye for future writing.
    • How I Action It: I might reread my column and realize my third paragraph duplicates a point I already made in the first. My immediate action is to eliminate that redundancy, making sure each paragraph adds new value or moves the argument forward.

My Art of Asking for Effective Feedback

Simply asking “What do you think?” rarely gets me the useful insights I need. To get the most out of feedback, I have to be precise and intentional with my requests.

  1. I Define My Goals: Before I send my column out, I identify specific areas where I want input. Am I struggling with my opening? Unsure if my argument is clear? Worried about my tone?
    • What I Avoid: “Read my column and tell me what you think.”
    • What I Ask Instead: “I’m concerned my introduction doesn’t grab the reader quickly enough. Does it effectively set the stage for my argument? Also, I’m trying to balance conviction with not sounding overly aggressive – how does the tone land for you?”
  2. I Provide Context: I tell the person giving feedback about the column’s purpose, its target audience, and any limitations or intentions I had.
    • My Example: “This column is for a general audience, not experts, so I tried to avoid dense academic language. My aim is to provoke thought on [topic] without alienating readers who might initially disagree.”
  3. I Specify the Kind of Feedback I Need: I don’t just ask for general comments. I request specific types of critiques.
    • My Example Phrases: “Could you highlight any sections where the logic seems to break down or isn’t well supported?” “Is there any part where you felt disconnected or bored?” “Are my examples compelling and relevant?” “Does the conclusion provide a satisfying sense of closure and impact?”
  4. I Set Clear Deadlines (Politely): I respect people’s time. A gentle reminder about when I need the feedback helps them prioritize.

  5. I Use a Structured Approach (for myself): If I’m using a peer, I might give them a simple rubric or a few questions to consider as they read. This isn’t telling them what to do, but guiding their focus, making sure I get the specific insights I need.

Receiving Feedback: My Growth Mindset Ritual

This is often the hardest part, for me anyway. My columns are extensions of me, and criticism can feel personal. However, a growth mindset turns what might feel like attacks into opportunities.

  1. I Detach Emotionally, Engage Intellectually: Before I open feedback, I take a deep breath. I remind myself this isn’t about my worth as a person, but about making a piece of writing better. I approach it like a detective investigating a problem, not like a patient receiving a troubling diagnosis.

  2. I Listen Actively, I Don’t Defend: When I get verbal feedback, I practice active listening. I nod, make eye contact, and summarize their points to make sure I understand. I resist the urge to explain away every critique. My first reaction is often defensive; I override it.

    • What I Avoid: “Yes, but I wrote it that way because…”
    • What I Say Instead: “So, if I understand correctly, you found the transition between paragraph two and three a bit abrupt, which made it hard to follow the flow of the argument?”
  3. I Ask Clarifying Questions: I don’t assume I understand. Vague feedback like “It just doesn’t work” isn’t helpful. I dig deeper.
    • My Query: “When you say ‘it doesn’t work,’ could you point to a specific sentence or paragraph where you felt that most strongly? What effect did it have on you as a reader?”
    • My Query: “You mentioned the tone felt a bit ‘off.’ Could you give me an example of a phrase or sentiment that contributed to that feeling?”
  4. I Look for Patterns, Not Isolated Incidents: One person’s opinion is just that. But if multiple readers point out the same issue – be it confusing language, a weak argument, or an unengaging intro – that’s a pattern, and it demands my attention. I prioritize recurring issues.

  5. I Separate the “What” from the “How”: I focus on what the feedback identifies as a problem, not necessarily how the person suggests I fix it. They’re pointing out a symptom; I’m the one who needs to diagnose and cure the underlying cause.

    • My Example: Feedback: “You should add more statistics here.” I analyze why they feel that. Maybe my argument is too abstract or lacks concrete evidence. My solution might be stats, but it could also be a compelling anecdote, an expert quote, or a real-world example, depending on my column’s intent.

Actioning Feedback: My Iterative Loop of Mastery

This is where the magic really happens for me. Turning feedback into actionable steps is a skill I’ve developed through intentional practice.

  1. I Prioritize and Categorize: Not all feedback is equally important or urgent.
    • Critical (Must Fix): Factual errors, major logical flaws, misinterpretations of data, egregious stylistic errors that hurt credibility or readability. Editorial directives often fall here.
    • Important (Should Fix): Clarity issues, weak transitions, unconvincing arguments, tone problems, missed opportunities for impact.
    • Suggestive (Consider): Alternative phrasing, different example choices, minor structural tweaks that don’t fundamentally change the column but might improve it.
    • Subjective (I Evaluate Carefully): “I just don’t like this word,” or “I think you should take a completely different stance.” These are personal preferences. If they align with my goal or a pattern, I consider them. Otherwise, I acknowledge and move on.
  2. I Translate Feedback into Specific Writing Tasks: Vague feedback needs to be transformed into concrete actions.
    • Feedback: “It’s hard to follow your main point.”
    • My Actionable Tasks:
      • Revisit the first two paragraphs: Is the thesis statement explicit?
      • Check each paragraph: Does a clear topic sentence introduce its main idea?
      • Review transitions: Do phrases like “however,” “consequently,” “additionally” clearly connect ideas?
      • Simplify complex sentences to improve readability.
      • Map out my argument: Is there a clear logical progression from point A to point B to point C?
  3. I Don’t Be Afraid to Discard Feedback (Wisely): Not all feedback is good feedback, and not all good feedback applies to my vision for the column. If a piece of feedback fundamentally contradicts my core message, audience, or purpose, and I have a strong, well-reasoned defense, it’s fine for me to respectfully decline to implement it.
    • My Example: If my column is intentionally provocative and someone suggests softening my stance, I really consider if it dulls my unique voice. My decision might be to maintain the challenging tone while making sure it’s not just aggressive for aggression’s sake.
  4. I Implement, Review, Repeat: I make the changes, then I reread my column with fresh eyes. Did the change address the issue? Did it accidentally create new problems? Sometimes, fixing one area impacts another. This repeated loop is how my columns evolve from good to exceptional.

  5. I Track My Progress (for Self-Improvement): I keep a document where I list common feedback I receive and how I addressed it. This personal feedback log shows me my recurring weaknesses, allowing me to proactively focus on them in future columns.

    • My Example Entries:
      • “Too many passive voice constructions (fix: active voice audit).”
      • “Introductions too slow (fix: immediately state thesis; hook with a question/bold claim).”
      • “Lack of concrete examples (fix: brainstorm 3 real-world applications for each abstract point).”

My Advanced Feedback Strategies: Beyond the Basics

To truly master the feedback loop, I also consider these more sophisticated approaches.

  1. A/B Testing (Subtly): If I have platforms that allow it, I occasionally test different headlines or introductory paragraphs to see which generates more engagement. This is a form of scaled audience feedback.

  2. The “Reverse Engineer” Method: When I read a highly successful column by another writer, I don’t just admire it. I actively break it down. How does the author open? How do they transition? How do they use evidence? What’s their unique voice? I compare my own writing techniques to theirs. This isn’t plagiarism; it’s learning best practices and reverse engineering the excellence that got positive “feedback” (success).

  3. The “Cold Reader” Test: I get someone who knows nothing about my topic to read my column. If they can grasp the core idea and argument, I’ve likely succeeded in clarity and accessibility.

    • My Actionable Insight: If my cold reader gets lost or confused, it flags areas where background knowledge is implicitly assumed, or concepts are poorly explained.
  4. I Embrace the “Kill My Darlings” Mentality: Sometimes, the feedback will point to a beloved phrase, paragraph, or even an entire section that, while well-written, actually detracts from the column’s overall impact or clarity. The ability to ruthlessly cut content, even when it’s good, for the sake of the whole, is a hallmark of a professional columnist.

My Feedback Ecosystem: Building My Support System

I don’t have to navigate this alone. I make sure to cultivate a diverse “feedback ecosystem.”

  • I Find My Trusted Readers: This is a small group of people whose judgment I respect, who are willing to be honest (but kind), and who understand my writing goals. This could be fellow writers, academics, or even highly intelligent friends.
  • I Seek an Editor (Formal or Informal): If I don’t have a professional editor, I consider hiring one freelance for key pieces, or I find a writing partner who will act as a mutual editor.
  • I Engage with My Audience: I don’t just publish and run. I respond to comments, ask for opinions, and track engagement metrics. This creates a dialogue, making my audience feel invested and more likely to offer valuable input.

My Conclusion: The Unending Ascent of the Columnist

Using feedback isn’t a one-time event for me; it’s a constant cycle of learning, adapting, and refining. It’s the engine of growth for any serious columnist. I embrace the discomfort of critique, translate it into actionable improvements, and then I watch as my columns not only resonate more deeply but also solidify my voice and authority. The journey to becoming a truly impactful columnist is an ongoing ascent, fueled by the insights I gain from every piece of feedback.