Tip: Looking for a safe, supportive place to get feedback on your work? We're always keen to offer our thoughts and suggestions in Writers'
Cafe.
I know how daunting it can be to seek feedback on your writing, especially if you're already struggling with self-doubt. The first time I stood up and read a piece of writing out in front of a workshop group, my knees were shaking.
You might be worried that people will be negative or critical, or that you simply won't cope with feedback. Maybe you're concerned that someone else's opinion will cloud your clear vision for your piece.
But the truth is that feedback is essential if you want to improve as a writer.
That feedback can come in all kinds of ways ... and it's important to figure out what's going to be most helpful to you.
I'd recommend that you:
1. Think Carefully About Who to Approach for
Feedback
Who in your life could give you useful feedback on your writing? You want someone who'll say more than "I enjoyed it" ... but not someone who's going to be unnecessarily harsh and critical.
Some people find that their partner or a close family member is great
at giving supportive feedback ... but if they aren't a writer (or keen reader), then they might not be able to offer much in the way of suggestions.
2. Try Out a Writing Group / Workshop Group
I've been a member of a number of different writing groups (sometimes
called workshop groups or writers' circles) over the years. They've offered fantastic, thoughtful feedback and were hugely helpful when I was getting started with creative writing.
Some groups aren't so brilliant, and I've heard a few horror stories from writers who've been part of groups that didn't work so well: things like ego-driven leaders who tear down other people's work, or members
who refuse to hear a negative word about their piece.
Do try out any local or online groups that sound like they could be a good fit for you ... but don't stay in a group that's making you feel discouraged about your writing.
3. Ask for the Type of Feedback You
Want
Whenever you share a piece of writing for feedback, whether that's with a single person or with a group, it's a good idea to think about what kind of feedback you want.
You might be looking for "feedback on how the characters come across" or "suggestions for how I could
shorten this chapter".
It's also a good idea to let people know what stage you're at, e.g. if someone tells me their piece is a "first draft", I won't be giving the kind of nit-picky feedback that I'd offer if it was "almost ready to go".
4. If Possible, Get Feedback
from More than One Person
Ideally, you want to get feedback from more than one person: I think three is a great number to aim for, then it's clear if a consensus is emerging. If you ask just one person for feedback, what you receive is going to be coloured by that individual's preferences, experiences, and so on.
(If you're working with a paid editor, one person is probably enough: they know how to be objective and it'd likely be expensive to hire two or more editors.)
5. Remind Yourself About the Shared Goal of Feedback
It's probably never going to feel completely comfortable to seek feedback ... but I find it helps to remind myself that as the writer, I have the same goal as the person offering feedback. We both want my piece of writing to be as strong as it can be.
Keeping that aim in mind can make it easier to accept feedback about areas that need to be changed or tweaked. No
one's saying you're a bad writer ... quite the opposite. They're saying that what you have is good and worth offering feedback on to make it even better.
Putting your work out there isn't easy ... but it could make a dramatic difference to how fast you improve as a writer.
