by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Feedback is important for writers, but the timing of it is equally important. I think the best times for us to get the feedback may also change as we continue with our writing career.
When I was first starting out, I was desperate for feedback on my work-in-progress. I wanted to know right away what I needed to improve. I think that’s mostly because I just didn’t have a lot of writing time and I didn’t want to keep doing something wrong to the point where the edits would be awful.
That’s when I joined a couple of critique groups. One of them only met monthly, which was tough on me (at that point, I felt I could use daily feedback). The other was weekly, which was better.
But after finishing my first book, I felt less of a need for immediate feedback. In fact, I found that the critique groups weren’t really giving me what I needed anymore. I’ve always used the analogy of playing tennis and having a hard time finding a compatible partner: either they’re much better than you are and it’s frustrating, or they’re much worse than you are (equally frustrating).
For a while, I just worked solo and didn’t get feedback until it was time to send the manuscript to an editor. Now that’s feedback, ha. I learned that the editorial letters I’d get always seemed scary and overwhelming at first, but then seemed much more manageable the following day. It also helped to make myself a step-by-step list of tasks to complete to break it all down.
Then, I discovered some of my readers were really invested in my stories…to the point that they were happy to be beta readers. Now I send my stories to them as soon as they’re done and before sending them to my editor. Frequently, they have excellent suggestions for changes and improvements. After I make those, I send the book off to my freelance editor. This method has been working well for me for several years now.
Additionally, I read my reviews. Sometimes they sting a bit, but again…readers have amazing suggestions for improvement quite frequently. The bad reviews can really help.
For further reading and thoughts on leaving critique groups, see Kathryn Craft’s “Leaving a Writer’s Group: 5 Reasons it May Be Time” and Lisa Bubert’s post, “Knowing When to Fly: Leaving Your Critique Group.” For thoughts on the importance of beta readers, see Barbara Linn Probst’s post “Beta Readers: Who, When, Why, and So What?”
I’m curious if anyone else has had a similar process in seeking feedback. Did you need it more frequently (or, really, immediately) when you were first starting out? Has your need for critiques levelled off a bit? What’s your current process for getting feedback?
Thoughts on Getting Feedback on Our Writing: Share on XPhoto credit: Henka69 on Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND
I was with a critique group for a while in the beginning, but like you I found it frustrating. (Plus they were all literary snobs, which didn’t help.) I usually force my husband to read through before my editor sees it. Of course, the last time my editor saw a book was 6-7 years ago. LOL!
It can be rough going if you’re a genre writer and you’re with lit fic folks! Sorry that happened to you. :(
What a great topic for a post, Elizabeth! I have learned that I get the most from feedback when I send my work out to my beta readers. I like to wait until they’ve read the whole manuscript, and then I consider the whole story based on what they say. That seems to really help me focus on the story, rather than on just one scene or character, so that when I’m revising, I can do it more effectively (well, at least it works for me).
Betas are great! I totally agree with you…they give global thoughts on the story that can really help.
Hi Elizabeth
Great post, as always
I love, love, love beta readers. They are my writing saviours.
I also read reviews, and while I love the good ones, I learn more from the critical ones.
Feedback helps me grow as a writer.
Mike Martin
Author of the Award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series
I feel the same way, Mike! Beta readers have helped me so much with my books. And the critical reviews are the ones I really take note of!
I love my beta readers :) Their feedback and support is invaluable. My hubby also reads and gives feedback. He’s got a great eye for detail and always has wonderful suggestions.
It’s nice to have a beta in the family! You’re very fortunate. :)
I did a nook chapter by chapter on Wattpad and allowed readers to “stir the soup” so to speak. It was a great experience. Readers are smart. They may not always know the technical jargon, but they know what works and doesn’t.
Same with reviews. They can sting, but I’d rather know to pick the spinach out of my teeth before I smile again.
book, not nook
So true…they know what makes a good story.
And I laughed out loud at your analogy! They *are* the spinach between our teeth. :)
Hi Elizabeth – your approach, once assimilated, is obviously the right one – I’d hate to be critiqued when people don’t really realise where my writing comes from … one needs an understanding – both by the writer, and by the early readers. Beta readers are a blessing to have with their feedback ‘on tap’ so to speak … cheers Hilary
You’re so right. I think that your thoughts also play into another important publishing area–making sure our book is categorized into the correct genre and has a cover and book description that accurately show the type of work we’ve produced.
The first critique group I was a member of was the best. I learned so much from having other writers give feedback, even though almost all of them were as green as I was. I was sad when it broke up. (The best writer in the group got a publishing contract, the others didn’t have the perseverance to keep up with it.)
I tried a few more, but basically have relied on beta readers over the past few years. I’ve never been able to afford an editor, so my betas are really important to me.
Recently, I decided to facilitate a critique group as a way of giving back to those just starting out. I’m finding that I have to beg them to mark up my pages. They’re grateful for my critiques, but they haven’t learned to do the critiquing yet. I keep telling them that, as readers, they should be able to identify what gives them a problem. I don’t think they have enough confidence to do that.
Since I’m starting a new series, I think I’m going to have to bite the bullet on cost and at least get a manuscript review, if not a developmental edit, from a professional on the current WIP. I’m at the point where I need an expert to tell me what I’m missing.
I did the same thing recently, Elise–paid for a developmental edit. I haven’t had one for ages, but with a new series, I thought it was for the best. Sounds like you have some fantastic betas! Hope your crit group gains the confidence to critique.