Although feedback is often feared and avoided, it is an essential tool for revising your draft and improving your writing skills. By the time you have invested considerable time and effort into your writing project, you may find yourself so immersed in your work that you struggle to maintain the objectivity needed to critically assess what you’ve created. Additionally, we often don’t realise what we don’t know. To truly benefit from feedback, it’s essential to understand the various types of feedback and the potential strategies for implementing them. Having navigated both sides of the feedback process—receiving and providing constructive criticism—I’ve learned that a strategic approach to feedback is essential for elevating a manuscript and improving your skills in the process. This article explores three essential feedback sources and how to use them effectively throughout the writing process.
Sources of feedback
Understanding the purpose and limitations of different types of feedback (at specific stages of the writing process) is a crucial first step. Let’s focus on three main types of feedback you might encounter in a non-academic context: writing groups, beta readers, and professional editors.
Writing groups
While you are still working on your manuscript, joining a writing group might offer a supportive environment for sharing work, networking, and receiving feedback. A sense of community can be beneficial for maintaining motivation and holding yourself accountable. That said, group dynamics and the quality of feedback you receive can vary significantly depending skills and experience of the group members. You will likely benefit from joining a writing group early in the process, especially while you are working on the first complete draft of your manuscript and need accountability and motivation.
If you’re interested in a writing group, you can find suitable writing forums online or look for local alternatives in your community if you prefer a more traditional setting. Ideally, a writing group facilitates an active and respectful exchange of feedback throughout the writing process. Remember that the potential of such groups comes from their diverse perspectives, so both contributing and receiving input will be equally important.
Pros: many options (online and offline), sense of community, accountability and motivation, regular feedback, no costs
Cons: potentially group dynamics and biases, mostly peer feedback
Beta readers
Beta readers can be another source of feedback for you to consider. Suitable beta readers offer feedback on the overall readability of your manuscript from the perspective of your target audience. They can identify plot holes, contradictions, and areas for improving reader engagement that you might have missed. A small group of carefully selected beta readers can be a great way to gauge how your book will be received by the target audience. However, beta readers are usually not professional editors or critics. As such, it makes sense to consider their feedback alongside other forms of evaluation and critique.
Once you have self-edited your manuscript, you can begin reaching out to potential beta readers before proceeding to professional editing. While you don’t need a specific number of beta readers, a small group of three to five trustworthy people from your target audience might be a good idea. You could seek out beta readers from diverse backgrounds to ensure the group’s perspective is well-rounded.
Pros: insights from target audience, cost-effective
Cons: potentially inconsistent feedback and delays
Professional editors
When considering the various types of feedback or consolidating input from different sources, it’s important to understand the differences between peer support and professional writing support, as each serves a specific purpose. Once you have self-edited your work and implemented any helpful peer feedback, the next step is to seek professional editing.
A qualified professional editor with relevant experience will take a systematic approach to your manuscript, offering comprehensive feedback and targeted suggestions. Depending on the level of editing needed, you may leave not only with an improved manuscript, but with a better understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses.
Conducting thorough research, planning effectively, and setting clear expectations are essential steps you can take in your search for an editor. Ensure that a potential editor has relevant (and verifiable) qualifications and experience. If possible, it would be advisable to obtain a sample of the editor’s work, as this will give you a better impression of their editing style. It can also help the editor identify the type of editing you need, as well as the expected cost and timeframe.
Another important, yet often overlooked, aspect within your control is the preparation of your manuscript for professional editing. To ensure clear communication of your expectations and preferences, it’s important to research tips for working with an editor.
Pros: expertise, objective feedback, comprehensive review
Cons: potential waiting times, higher cost
A few things to keep in mind
Once you can distinguish between various sources of feedback, as well as between constructive criticism and personal opinions, it becomes equally important to develop strategies for feedback implementation. Though your personal preferences may be a decisive factor here, three essential steps for processing feedback include active listening, identifying patterns, and selective implementation.
Try to be open to constructive criticism while discerning the credibility and authority of the source, rather than becoming defensive. A key benefit of receiving feedback from multiple sources is that it enables you to analyse (problematic) patterns in your writing.
One potential disadvantage of using multiple feedback sources is that you may receive conflicting opinions. In those cases, you can focus on aligning previously identified patterns with your overall goals to prioritise which revisions to implement.