How to Give Helpful Feedback

General Guidelines

There are a lot of ways to give feedback on something you’ve read, including some really terrible ones. Please avoid these!

But what should you say?

No matter where a story is in the process of being written, here are a few general guidelines the almost always apply:

  • Focus on what IS on the page, not what you wish would be on the page
  • Only offer suggestions after you confirm the writer is open to them
    • “Are you looking for ideas or want to brainstorm?”
  • If something is good, makes you smile, makes you feel something, say something. Writers need encouragement.
    • “This made me laugh out loud!”
    • “Beautiful prose. I love this sentence.”
    • “He/She/They are my favorite character.”
    • “The monsters were so scary I now sleep with the lights on.”

Stages of Writing

There are four major stages a piece can be at and it’s most helpful to tailor your feedback depending where in the process it is.

  • Unfinished Draft – this is where the vast majority of stories are
  • First Draft – OMG, there’s a fully finished story. This is a big deal. Truly.
  • Mid Draft(s) – More polished and probably looking for feedback on finer details
  • Late Draft – Either already querying or will be soon. This is where the grammar goblins, typos, and poor punctuation are ruthlessly hunted down and eliminated.

Process

  1. Read the story completely
  2. Make a list of unresolved questions and concerns
    • I like to note my questions/concerns as I read and then tick off the ones that are answered by the end
  3. Read the story a second time. As you read, note the following:
    1. What did you like? Beautiful prose. Humor. High drama. Subtle dialogue.
    2. What could be improved? Inconsistencies, such as changes in hair or eye color. If you were confused – and if possibly, why you were confused.
  4. If you’re writing up a full report, consider the different aspects that combine to make up the art and craft of a story (below).

Focus Areas

  • Structure – How is the story laid out?
    • Linear, chronological, flash-forwards/-backs, frame story, figure 8, other
  • Plot – Summarize the main events of the story
    • Distill the plot into a paragraph or three
    • Is your understanding what the writer intended?
      • If not, why is there a disconnect – poor reading on your part (missed key elements), unclear writing, a combination of the two?
  • Pacing – Fast, slow, jumpy. Line level pacing such as keeping sentences, words short during fight scenes
  • Rate of Revelation – Mysteries are presented and solved in a timely manner, based on their significance.
    • Story level mysteries have little hints throughout so they’re not forgotten. Reader has enough info. Writer isn’t needlessly obfuscating info to artificially create tension (It doesn’t! It just causes frustration.)
  • POV – 1st, 2nd, 3rd close, 3rd omniscient. One POV character or multiple.
    • Head hopping? Consistency of POV voice. Different POV voices differentiated enough for readers to know who’s head they’re in
  • Distance – Linked with POV. How is distance working to the story’s advantage? Is it consistent? If not, how are transitions handled?
  • Character
    • Emotions – What are the emotions? Too much, too little? Appropriate? If not, why not? Emotions conflict with Motives/Agenda for super bonus points!
    • Motives/Agenda – Every POV character should have these, even if it’s just for Vonnegut’s glass of water. If secondary characters have conflicting/incompatible ones, super bonus points!
    • Actions – Logical in scene – if not, explained through Emotions and/or Motives/Agenda.
  • Dialogue – Could it stand alone? Flow. Realistic. Consistent. On-the-nose vs. too hidden.
  • Description – What do people and places look like? How do feelings feel? How are sensations perceived? Metaphors run amuck! Look out for cliques.
  • Word Choice – Only for later drafts. ‘Happy’ to ‘glad’. Style issues. Repeated words/phrases.
  • Other – Craft issues, formatting issues, nit-pickery. Again, only for later drafts.
  • Reader Response – Non-craft related comments. Would you buy this book? Would you buy more books by this writer? Why? Why not?
  • Overall – Make sure to mention what’s going well! Be encouraging, but don’t falsely flatter.