How much feedback should writers get?
Feedback for Writers
I’ve been an Indiana Jones fan since Raiders of the Lost Ark. So I went to see The Dial of Destiny. When the opening credits showed four screenwriters, I knew the movie was going to be a mess even before . . . well.
When you see more than two people with screenwriting credits, it’s always a bad sign. It means no one trusted anyone and everyone stomped all over whatever vision anyone else had and then everyone lobbied for their favorite bits to stay in whether they made sense to the final story or not. Usually a director who thinks they’re a writer is involved, and a couple of nervous producers are casting doubt.
What you need when a story is going wrong is an editor, not a bunch more writers.
Anyway, this isn’t a post about screenwriting. It’s a post about letting people stomp all over your vision.
Best Tips for Getting Feedback for Writers
I’m a big fan of using a beta reader or two to give you feedback on your work. Getting another pair of eyes on your ms is essential to helping you see obvious problems you might have overlooked. It’s notoriously difficult to see the flaws in your own work.
But I cannot count the number of people who have come to me after they sent their work out to four or five or ten beta readers and the accumulated feedback is just . . . a tangled knot of contradiction and confusion.
Readers A and B liked the main character but Readers C and D did not; Readers E and F had a problem with the inciting incident (implausible) but Readers A and D did not; Readers C and F found the ending unearned but A and E thought not a word should be changed whereas Reader B wanted the nuclear bomb to go off after all.
Seeking lots of feedback is like having four people write a screenplay. You’re going to wind up with a tangled knot of confusion when your goal is a strong, engaging story.
A good dev editor can help you make sense of this mass of contradictory feedback, but I would recommend not getting it in the first place. Pick one or two beta readers and go on with your life. You know what story you’re trying to tell. Let a small number of people help you see places where the cracks show. That’s it.
A good developmental editor is skilled at developing feedback for writers.
As a dev editor, I’m happy if you pick me instead or in addition to the one or two beta readers, but in any event do not fall victim to the idea that if one is good, five must be better. It’s not.
Related Reads
How to Create Defensible Edits
As a developmental editor, you need to know how to create defensible edits of a manuscript to help authors put out their best work. Tips for How to Create Defensible Edits When you’re doing a developmental edit—looking at the big-picture overview of a novel—you’ll generally be expected to provide two main services: The editing on…
When Is a Book Ready for Editing?
Both authors and editors have the same question at some point in the book writing / publishing process: When is a book ready for editing? So When IS a Book Ready for Editing? The creative process is not timely and linear, which is why, as an editor, I don’t book edits before an author’s manuscript…
Effective Client Communication for Book Editors
Managing client expectations is necessary for a successful business so here are my tips for effective client communication for book editors. My Top Tip for Effective Client Communication for Book Editors One way to avoid an unhappy client is to communicate all relevant information from the very beginning of your relationship with them. Clearly stated…
Basics of Developmental Editing – Dos and Don’ts
The basics of developmental editing can be shared in a set of do’s and don’ts for editors. Here Are My Basics of Developmental Editing I generally begin any developmental edit with a quick read-through intended just to familiarize myself with the story. I make developmental notes for myself as I perform that first read-through, including…
Using the Five Senses in the Setting of a Book
Here are tips for using the five senses in the setting of a book rather than relying solely on visual descriptions. How to Use the 5 Senses When Writing the Setting of a Book Authors often visualize their stories as if they were movies unreeling in front of them. This is unfortunate because it often…
Basics of a Book Editor Contract
These basics of a book editor contract will help ensure you cover a few important considerations when setting up your editing business. Just the Basics of a Book Editor Contract I’m not going to get into the ins-and-outs of contracts, since I’m not a lawyer and crafting a legally binding contract is best left to…
