I’ve been looking for comments lately on my short form fiction in an effort to improve my writing. I have also been reading the work of other writers on wordpress and leaving them feedback. But when it comes to feedback, what are the rules of etiquette. I am the last person who wants to offend a writer by criticizing their work, but if they’re posting it, isn’t that what they’re asking for? Isn’t that part of what feedback is? If I want to suggest changes to their writing, should I just keep my mouth shut because it might offend them?
How to GIVE feedback when you’re asked:
There’s a difference between critique and criticism, and it’s important to understand the difference.
- Criticism passes judgement — Critique poses questions
- Criticism finds fault — Critique uncovers opportunity
- Criticism is personal — Critique is objective
- Criticism is vague — Critique is concrete
- Criticism tears down — Critique builds up
- Criticism is ego-centric — Critique is altruistic
- Criticism is adversarial — Critique is cooperative
- Criticism belittles the designer — Critique improves the design
This is a great list for understanding how to frame your feedback. Rather than saying “your idea is shit,” for example (although why would we say that!?), we could say, “It’s hard for me to understand the idea because the sentences are really long and winding. Can you try again with shorter sentences to unpack the idea more?”
Their guiding principle for giving feedback is that “critique should not serve the purpose of boosting the ego or the agenda of anyone in the meeting.”
When you give another writer feedback, you’re helping them to build up the essay. Consider yourself a collaborator and a coach that’s helping shape and tease out the best of their ideas. What questions can you ask that will help them clarify their ideas? How can they better explain things? Where do they need to give further stories and examples? What could be simplified or seems confusing to you?
This quality of feedback is immensely helpful, and when I get it from fellow editors, I am grateful.
Looking for Criticism?
How to ask for feedback (as a writer).
Be direct about the type of feedback you want. As a writer, it’s your job to proactively say exactly what you’re looking for with a review of your essay. It works really well if you are very clear about what feedback you’re looking for.
For example, here are some types of feedback you might be looking for:
- Idea-based feedback: what do you think of the idea? Should I keep pursuing it? Is it a good direction?
- Structural / developmental: does it make sense? Is it organized well? Should the ideas be re-arranged or sequenced differently?
- Copyediting/proofreading: More fine-tuned, looking for lots of little errors and any last-minute typos.
If you’re looking for idea-based feedback, you might tell someone, “Hey, I have a draft with a bunch of typos in it, it’s not polished, but I want a gut-check that the idea is on the right track. Mind taking a look (and ignoring the typos) and letting me know if you think the overall direction is interesting?”
Because there are so many types of editing and feedback, it’s hard to know whether you want another person to tell them your ideas on the right track — or to nit-pick through the commas and the punctuation.
You have to tell people what you want.
As a writer, it’s our job to give guidance to what we want. For me, this includes sending early drafts to friends that say, “Hey friend! I’m working on a piece and this is a super rough draft. I don’t need any heavy criticism just yet, but I’d love some words of encouragement and if you could tell me if you think this essay has some good pieces in it.”
I also love asking, when I’m ready, for people to “rip it up, tear it apart, let me know how it stands up to critique.”
What about you?
When have you asked for feedback? When have you received useful feedback on your writing? What works, and what hasn’t worked? Are you nervous about sharing your writing?
Good advice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on poetry, photos and musings oh my!.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very worthwhile. I replied via WordPress.Douglas Winslow Cooper, Ph.D.Writer, book coach, care-giver, tutor, retired physicist264 East Drive, Walden, NY 12586 USA; phone: 845 778 4204WRITING PARTNER SITE: http://writeyourbookwithme.comBLOG SITE: http://douglaswinslowcooper.blogspot.comAMAZON: http://amazon.com/author/douglaswinslowcooper
LikeLiked by 1 person
Soliciting and giving criticism are tough. Michele’s point about the scope of the critique is right on: big picture, text, nits? It’s why we have editors, copy editors, proofreaders…each especially skilled and each with a specific focus. I used to solicit advice from one brilliant woman, hoping for the big picture, but instead getting the nits picked. I should have been clearer, but perhaps she gave me only what she could or only what she wanted.
Yes, if you ask for advice, you risk getting offended. The advisor needs to be polite, and the advisee needs to be thick-skinned. If we cannot be honest, we are wasting each other’s time. If we cannot be polite, we are inflicting unnecessary pain.
Thanks to Michele and Holly for their insights.
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is quite good. It’s a little confusing, though, when you frame the word “criticism” in wholly negative and destructive terms, then go on to say, “If you are looking for some healthy criticism on your writing, you can seek the help of some beta-readers who might be able to give you some helpful feedback.” By your definition (bullet points), how can there be such a thing as healthy or constructive criticism?
Pssst…I see an opportunity here to talk about plurals and possessives…
But back to the point: I rarely offer critique unless it’s requested. Few writers are as interested in critique as they say they are, but admitting that what they want is praise, validation, and unconditional love is seen as insecure or egotistical or silly. The truth is, we all want and need those things, but they’re not always constructive. They can even backfire, if they’re dishonest.
If asked, or if the writing is posted publicly in a context where critique is expected (not a blog or a book), I try to be specific and honest. I rarely bother at all if I feel it won’t be welcomed or useful. Life’s too short for that.
When I ask, I mean it – and if I don’t give specific areas of concern, it’s because everything is fair game and I’ll take what I can get from readers who offer critique within their own personal comfort zones. Some prefer to focus on punctuation, while others see the big picture and ask questions about my overall logic.
I love that you’ve stressed how it’s up to the author to ASK for the type of feedback they want and need, though. There’s nothing more fun than spending hours on grammatical edits only to find out they’ve already fixed those, and just want to know if their protagonist is likable enough. It would be good if authors would at least say what times of feedback they don’t need, in such cases, rather than to be told after the fact.
When I post something, I may or may not be seeking critique. But at the point where the work is publicly posted, I’ve given it to readers – it is theirs to read, to skim, to critique, or to enjoy. I very much hope they read and enjoy, and consider critique a gift, if it’s at all constructive. It means they spent a few precious minutes of their finite lives helping me to improve my writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holly,
thank you so much for your advice and your comment. I reread the post and you were completely right, it was totally confusing. So I removed that paragraph entirely 🙂
I posted this after making a few of my own mistakes on commenting and asking for feedback. I had to go and do a little research to learn exactly what the correct form of commenting was. There’s nothing worse than offending a writer you are a fan of and even respect. I’ve certainly learned my lesson. Thanks for all of your insight, your comment is truly appreciated 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, never fear if you’re visiting my blog, Michelle. There are only two forms of “incorrect commenting,” in my book, but I’m old-school: (1) not commenting at all; (2) personally attacking others. Anything else is fine by me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, you’re awesome! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person