3 ways giving writing feedback improves your craft
While I am a big advocate for getting feedback on your writing, I also encourage you to give feedback on others’ writing.
Why? Because reading is crucial to the writing process. While writing is like the physical training required for a marathon, reading is the healthy diet that maintains your health.
Reading helps us understand what works in a text but critically analysing what we read can improve our objectivity, problem-solving skills and writing technique.
“There’s no better teacher for writing than reading… Get a library card. That’s the best investment.”
~ Alisa Valdes
3 benefits of giving writing feedback
Problem-solving skills
Writing is all about solving problems.
How can I say this clearly? How can I bring characters to life? How can I tie all the plot elements together for the climax? What am I trying to say, here?
We may ask ourselves these questions as we write; whether it’s a blog post, a feature article, a novel or a short story, problem-solving underpins them all.
What better way to understand the problems we face in our own writing than to see how other writers overcome them? When you read a scene or a paragraph, try to pinpoint what works and what doesn’t. We can often come at other people’s writing more objectively than we do with our own. This means we are able to take a step back and see how a piece could work better with a few little tweaks. Problem-solving in this way improves our own craft and trains the brain to look at our writing objectively.
2. Improves technique
When we critically read a text, we are present and engaged. We become aware of the techniques the writer has used to tell their story. This means we can break it down into practical steps that can be applied to our own writing. We notice things we like and why we like them. We notice the things that don’t work for us and why. Reading critically requires more from us than an emotional response. Saying, I love it, or I hate it, means we miss the opportunity to see what is happening on the page from a craft and technique perspective.
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”
~ Stephen King
3. Develop objectivity
Writers are often their own worst critics. One of the benefits of reading others’ work critically and providing constructive feedback is that you will learn to read your own work this way, too. When you can look at your work objectively, you can see it through a reader’s eyes and it will become clear what works and what doesn’t. This means you can improve the text, and that’s what we all want, right?
“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.”
~ Ray Bradbury
HOW do you give a writer constructive feedback?
So I’ve shared the benefits of giving writing feedback but how do you give constructive feedback?
Read over the text carefully. Often on the first viewing we are swept up in the content or the emotional experience and so objectivity may not come easily. Read it several times, slow down and pay particular attention to what you’re reading.
Identify the strengths. The good ‘ol sandwich approach works best here. Identify something working well, something that wasn’t and then give further positive feedback.
Identify areas for development. It’s important to focus on the writing and not the content, here. Try not to get too wrapped up in what the writer is saying but HOW they say it. Be specific. “I don’t like this part,” is not helpful feedback. Instead you could say:
I didn’t feel connected to the character at that moment because…
The character’s actions didn’t seem consistent with their personality because…
The opening paragraph doesn’t have a clear hook. You could start here instead…
This point isn’t explained clearly…
The lengthy description took me out of the story at this point
Be kind. As writers, we often feel vulnerable when we share our work. We don’t create things completely separate from us, there is a personal element to it, it’s a part of us. And it comes as no surprise that some writers become defensive when feedback isn’t delivered in a compassionate or constructive way.
Want to get writing feedback and learn how to critique the work of others?
Want to join a writing group, participate in group writing critiques, deepen your craft and connect with like-minded writers? Join the Therapist’s Writing Circle.
I offer 1:1 gentle coaching and mentoring services for therapists and helping professionals who write. If you want to dip your toes into the world of writing (either fiction or non-fiction) but you don’t yet feel ready to join a writing group, Get in touch today to book in a discovery call to see what option will suit you.
