Toxic Feedback

From veteran teacher and acclaimed author Joni B. Cole comes a revised and expanded edition of her popular writing guide Toxic Feedback. Successful writers know that feedback is often the difference between writing and not writing, and between writing and writing well. But feedback mismanaged is more likely to leave the writer confused, intimidated, or even deflated. This book not only detoxifies the feedback process with humor, but it also shows writers and feedback providers how to make the most of this powerful resource at every stage of the writing and publishing process. This new edition includes a second preface, four new chapters, updates throughout the original material, and several additional exercises. Cole also includes new and previous interviews with authors such as Khaled Hosseini, Juan Morales, Grace Paley, Jodi Picoult, and Matthew Salesses. Toxic Feedback remains essential reading for all writers, critique groups, MFA programs, and teachers of writing at every level.

Joni B. Cole teaches creative writing and is a frequent speaker at academic programs, conferences, and social-service organizations across the country. She is the author of seven books, including Good Naked: How to Write More, Write Better, and Be Happier, Revised and Expanded Edition and Toxic Feedback: Helping Writers Survive and Thrive, Revised and Expanded Edition (both from UNM Press). She is a contributor to The Writer and the host of the podcast Author, Can I Ask You?