Grind
Writers Group
Giving
and getting feedback
Getting feedback
If
you’re going to read a piece, bring half a dozen paper printouts.
Some people do not do well hearing things read aloud; they need to follow in
print.
1. Do not argue and
justify why you wrote this or did that. That takes up way too much time,
then others don’t get a chance to read.
2. Keep the introduction
to the piece you’re going to read short. If it’s not somehow obvious that it’s
a poem or short story etc., say that. If it’s part of a larger work, give a
brief synopsis. Did I say brief? What’s important is to stop talking and
start reading.
3. Before you read, ask
some specific question(s) you actually have about your work: “I’d like to know
if you think character X is believable,” – “Have I used too much dialect?” –
“Does the ending seem realistic?” – “Does this excerpt make you want to hear more?” Otherwise you
may get general comments (“That was good”) that are not very helpful.
4. Basically you need to
be quiet during feedback, unless there’s specifically something you don’t
understand. It’s not a discussion time.
5. Instead: just listen and make notes. If you feel someone has misinterpreted something you wrote: that
probably means you need to re-write and clarify.
6. If 5 people say
they thought the action was taking place on another
planet and it wasn’t – you need to fix that. This is exactly why you want
feedback. Fresh eyes.
7. Do not
interrupt. And when they are finished, say thanks you but don’t talk -- just look for the
next person to start their feedback.
8. Use a grain of salt.
Feedback is only one person’s opinion (unless 10 people say the same
thing).
9. You may find it
useful to ask someone else to read your work out loud or even several someones.
It’s amazing what you notice when someone else reads your work out.
It may not be the way it sounded in your head – but you need to know
that.
10. You don’t have to
change anything based on feedback. It’s your piece. Some people may
simply not like or get your style. You may be writing an experimental
piece or writing in a genre and they may be unfamiliar with its conventions. (It
may be okay to explain some of that--but not at any length!)
11. Revise the piece,
then bring it to read again and see if the reactions have changed. You
may need to do this several times.
12. Keep in mind others
want time to read their piece and get feedback.
13. If people note down
copy-edits on your manuscript, be thankful. They are helping you look the
best you can on paper to an editor.
14. Read #1 again. It was
#5 at first but I moved it to #1 position because it’s that important.
Very important: if you've emailed a piece to someone (or given them your paper M.S.) and they've taken the time to proof and read it, take the time to send them a thank-you. It's very time-consuming to read a piece for feedback and provide thoughtful written feedback.
Giving
feedback
It's very brave of someone to read their
work ever, anywhere—and especially to a group of other writers. So when someone
finishes reading, show your admiration by tapping your
fingers on the table. You don't even have to like the piece to do that.
1. Feedback should be
fairly brief—and helpful; supportive.
2. Do not talk about your work and your similar or
experiences and your life as it seems to relate to the reader’s piece yada yada
yada. This is about them and their work. Don’t launch into anecdotes. Keep it
about their piece, period.
3. Make sure the person
has given you a couple of specific questions they’d like you to answer about
the piece they're reading. General feedback is not very helpful. So stop them
and say, “What is it you’d like us to look for?”
4. You want to send them
away enthusiastic about continuing to write – and possibly with practical
suggestions about how they might improve that piece of writing. However, it’s
not your job to rewrite their story: you may not be able to solve internal
manuscript problems, but that’s okay. Sometimes just being aware of the issues
is useful.
5. If you think what
someone has read is complete crap, keep that to yourself. Harsh negative
critique doesn’t help people keep writing. And by keeping writing their writing
will improve. This does not mean you have to praise work you think is awful.
But if that’s the only way you know how to say it, then know there’s someone
else who will be able to say it less damagingly.
6. If there were places
where you stopped reading because you were distracted, or puzzling something
out that wasn’t clear, or even becoming bored – put a star in that place in the
manuscript – and explain to them later what was going on. The last thing any writer wants is for a
reader to stop reading and be in their own head, so we want to know about anything that interrupts the
flow.
7. If it’s not a genre
you’re comfortable with, don’t feel you have to say anything.
8. If the person
receiving feedback starts to argue with you, or provide justifications about why
they wrote this or did that – hold your hand up and ask them to just take
notes, knowing that yours is just one opinion.
9. The idea is not to get into an extended dialogue
because other people want to read and receive feedback as well. You can always
talk the merits of this genre or that literary device after the meeting,
together.
10. Yes, do write your
copy-edit suggestions on the manuscript if you notice typos, transpos, spelling
errors, formatting errors, inconsistencies, anything like that. Copy editing is not nit-picking; it’s saving
the person from sending an embarrassing manuscript full of errors to editors
who will be distracted by errors because
most of them have previously been copy editors.
11. If there are way too
many, perhaps offer to copy-edit the piece at another time.
12. Read #2 again.
©2014 Margo Lamont
Something you'd like to add?
Please email your suggestions, your pet peeves about giving or getting feedback to: grindwriters@gmail.com
If I use any of your suggestions they'll become part of my piece and my copyright.
