Getting feedback on your work as a writer is a given. Being able to process it into the next draft is harder. In this blog, I’m going to break down what you’re looking for when you get that feedback and how to add it moving forward.
Tip 1: Forced Opinions
When we’ve asked someone to give their feedback, whether it’s professionally or as a buddy, being able to pick out what their opinion is can be hard. What the hardest part can be is determining whether they’re pushing their ideas onto our own work. Asking us questions to then make our decisions is just what we need. Telling us “do this” a certain way can be more about them pushing their ideas onto our work than helping us make our own choices.
Tip 2: Left-Field Thinking
Have you ever had that note that kind of stuns you because it comes from so left-field it just doesn’t compute? It may be a one-off comment and that’s where it gets tricky. Having more than one person read your work is really useful because if more than one person gives a similar note, then it’s one to take on board. Being able to process whether the comment fits with your work needs to be your choice.
Tip 3: Slating The Lot
As a writer, it does come with the territory at some point we will have to process someone reading your work and slating the whole thing. It can be really demoralising after all the hard work you put in. It does happen. Being able to take the comments with a pinch of salt comes with practice. You know your story inside and out.
However, if someone tells you something is insulting/discriminating then this is a point to listen to. You may not have meant that part to come across like that. It may be you’re being accurate of the time period. Just take care to balance it or change that section. Insulting your readers won’t win you brownie points.
Tip 4: Respectful?
Depending on who you ask, they might not be as respectful of what the writer has achieved. Being able to process that can be difficult. Take their comments with a pinch of salt. You know your work and hopefully your worth too. If you get feedback that has a flavour of insulting the actual effort you put in as a writer, ignore it as much as you can.
Being a writer can be a hard, lonely road. Not letting someone else’s well meant opinions that come across as back-handed can make it harder. Trust your judgement. The only one who knows your work the best is you.
Happy writing!