Polish & share · Tip 76 of 82 · 4 min read
Giving and Getting Feedback
How to help a friend's story shine, and how to listen when it's your turn.
Feedback means telling a writer what worked in their story and what could be even better. Every author has people who read their drafts and help them improve. You can be that person for a friend, and they can do it for you.
Giving feedback: be specific and kind
"It's good" is nice to hear, but it doesn't help much. Tell the writer exactly which bit you enjoyed and why. Then ask a question or make one small suggestion.
Okay 😐
It was good. The middle was boring.
Wow! 🤩
I laughed when the robot tried to eat soup! In the middle I got a bit lost. Where did the robot go after the kitchen?
Try the sandwich
- Start with a star: one thing you really liked.
- Add a wish: one thing you wished you could see more of, or one question you had.
- Finish with a star: another thing that worked well.
Getting feedback: listen first
When someone talks about your story, try not to explain or argue straight away. Just listen and say thank you. If a reader is confused, that's useful to know, even if it all makes sense inside your head.
You don't have to change everything people suggest. It's your story! But if two or three readers say the same thing, it's worth a closer look.