Feedback Good For Writer’s Soul

Columnists don’t write in a vacuum – though perhaps we’d meet deadlines more promptly if we did. Then again there’s no air in a vacuum, so that might complicate things, but I digress (something columnists do – a lot). In my six-plus years of columnizing in this space, I’ve amassed hundreds of emails, letters, cards and voicemails from readers. That reader feedback is invaluable. It lets me know the thoughts that flow out of my head, through my fingertips, and into newsprint have resonated somewhere. My words made someone laugh, ticked someone off, or prompted memories of similar life experiences. Recently, I was invited to speak to a local civic group and was asked “How do you choose the topics for your Front Porch column?”/ Cindy Hval , SR Front Porch. More here.

Also by Cindy : Library exhibit puts science, technolgy at patrons’ fingertips

Question: Are you more likely to send and email about a story that made you smile— or one that made you mad?