How to Receive Writing Feedback | SFF Writers Guide

You’ve just read your story out loud to the group (or had someone else read it on your behalf). The obligatory ten seconds of awkward silence have passed. Now what?

How to Receive Writing Feedback

Stay Silent

Receive feedback silently. Anything you say can and will bias reader reactions. Feedback will be most useful if the reactions are pure. Do not explain anything. Do not share your intent. Otherwise, you are missing out on the chance to get honest reactions.

Do not defend your piece or argue with readers. If they identify an issue that was dealt with earlier or will be later in the piece, do not say so. Note the feedback and feel free not to act on it. 

Sometimes, readers may forget the rules and address questions directly to you. Do not answer these questions. Instead, ask the other members of the group what they thought.

Do not confirm or deny any speculations readers make. Resist the compulsion to share further details or remain silent. As a general rule: if you feel the urge to weigh in while receiving feedback, don’t.

Notes

Authors are encouraged to take notes while receiving feedback. This doesn’t mean you have to use them. But writing down reactions helps you remember feedback and shows the group that you appreciate the feedback being given, even if you don’t agree with it.

Acting on Feedback

When you bring in a piece, be open to revising it. Do not immediately dismiss any and all critiques. The work you bring in should be a work-in-progress, not something that is already published and cannot be altered.

On the other hand, never feel obligated to change anything. As important as it is to be able to accept feedback, it’s important to know when to ignore feedback. The story is yours, after all. Do not let feedback dissuade you from your creative vision or make you question the “essence” of your story. If you strongly disagree with a piece of feedback, note it down in silence and feel free to disregard it later.

Context

Most pieces do not need any context or introduction. They should stand on their own. Do not state your motivations, intents, or feelings about the piece. 

An exception is providing context that the reader would already have. If you are reading a piece from the middle of a book, for example, or the second half of a short story, we encourage you to provide a brief recap before diving into your piece.

Questions after Feedback

Once everyone has shared their feedback, the moderator will ask you if you have any questions for the group or if there was anything you were concerned about that wasn’t addressed. This is your opportunity to ask for feedback on specific elements of the story. It is not an opportunity to explain, defend, or argue.

Did someone miss the point of your story? Do you disagree strongly with a critique? Do you want to respond to something somebody said? Keep it to yourself. If what you have to say cannot be formulated as a question, it is probably not appropriate. 

Disagreements

There will be disagreements. Do not try to resolve them. Do not tell readers who is “right”. It’s very possible that readers will not come to a consensus during discussion. If the group is split on an element of your story, it is up to you to decide how to proceed. 

Receiving Criticism on Problematic Elements

If a reader identifies something you’ve written as problematic, you may feel personally attacked and become defensive. Try to remember that if a reader says a story, for example, deploys problematic racial stereotypes, that does not mean they are accusing you of racism. 

Remember that every reader’s reaction is valid. Do not be dismissive of such concerns. If someone in the group raises a concern, chances are that there will be readers, editors, and agents who have similar reactions to what you’ve written. Whether to act on said feedback is always at your discretion, but like all feedback, you should be open to receiving and contemplating it.

Show Gratitude

Make it clear that you’re thankful for the feedback you’ve received. No one is being paid to be here—we are all supporting each other without necessarily expecting anything in return. There’s no need to explicitly thank readers. Gratitude can be shown by taking notes, nodding, refraining from arguing with feedback, for example. Feedback is valuable and should be appreciated, whether you decide to use it or not. 

The best way to show appreciation is to return the favour. Do your best to provide feedback on other members’ stories. Stay for the whole meeting, when possible. Try to attend even if you don’t have something to share. In general, try to contribute as much to the group as you get out of it.