Goodreads asked Janet Ambrosi Wertman:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Janet Ambrosi Wertman Find (and join) a critique group! Most people understand the benefits of beta readers, but regular groups allows you to go even deeper. I cannot overstate the value of having people read your work and give you feedback - or of how you hone your own craft by identifying what works and doesn't for others. Yes, yes, beta readers do this too - but their comments tend to be more global and comments can get lost. There is beauty and power in the granular comments! For example, last week, my excerpt included a sentence that I knew was too modern, that I intended wanted to come back to but didn't want to delay my whole submission over: "If you fail, he will come after you with guns blazing." One of the group members made the brilliant comment that I should consider using a Biblical reference rather than one based on weaponry. After giving it some thought, I changed the sentence to "If you fail, he will come after you like Simeon and Levi avenging Dinah." BOOM! That one change was worth the whole week - and there were so many more!

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