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
-
Minimum Viable Tasks
If I want to give myself a break, normally I will take Friday afternoon off. But recently I took a Monday afternoon off and I loved it. I’m always very busy on Mondays but it occurred to me that I could reduce the stress of that day if I just focused on the main things…
-
The Power of Friction
Freelance editors typically want to get as many potential clients into their net as possible, in the hopes that this will result in a consistent income stream. I understand this, but it’s a great way to waste your time weeding out the people who will never turn into good clients, including those who aren’t the…
-
Beta Reading as Training for Developmental Editing
Many self-publishing authors look for beta readers to give them perspective on their novels before they go to a professional editor for further help. An author doesn’t need a developmental editor to say the whole storyline is implausible and they yawned from beginning to end. Any reader of fiction can probably relay that information. Doing…
-
How to Beta Read and Critique
Two ways newer editors get experience with developmental editing/story editing is through beta reading and critique partnering. Beta reading is giving a basic reader reaction to someone’s manuscript. Critique partners are writers who trade their manuscripts and give each other feedback. Basic Rules for Beta Reading and Critiquing 1. All feedback should be constructive and…
-
Helping Clients Understand the Differences Between Beta Reading and Developmental Editing
Authors often use beta readers to give them feedback on their work and I think this can be a great way for them to get a sense of a reader’s experience of the novel. But unpaid beta readers often flake out and never provide feedback. This is the number one complaint I hear from authors…
-
Your Real Skills Are Never Outdated
Once upon a time, ten key by touch was one of the most sought-after skills I possessed. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, it’s basically being able to quickly enter numerical data into a computer. I’m sure there are still jobs where it’s a helpful skill to have, but…
