How to improve your writing with feedback

You know a piece of writing is good when it makes a connection with you. You shiver with recognition, or smile, or feel compelled to read on. Good writing delivers a little hit of dopamine to the reader.

You know a piece of writing isn’t so good when you find yourself drifting off, or having to reread it because you don’t understand. It feels difficult, or hard going, or just not quite clear enough. Weak writing loses the connection between the writer and the reader.

Asking for help with your writing

Sometimes it’s hard to judge your own writing. You can get too close to it or you lose sight of what’s really important. Not knowing whether it’s good enough can become a big stumbling block on the way to publication. You can do all the work, but still not send it out into the world because you’re just not sure about it.

It really helps if someone can help you see it through fresh eyes.

Having a writing buddy is a great idea. When we last worked together we did a lot of pair writing, regularly reading each others’ blogs and often finishing the last bit when the blog author had run out of steam. It’s lovely that we’ve started doing that again now, and we really recommend the practice if you want to up your writing game.

So, sharing the writing load and getting feedback is valuable. But giving feedback can sometimes be difficult. This might help.

Good questions to ask

The best feedback is specific and actionable. What you really want to know from your test reader is this:

Which bits connected with you?

Where did I lose you?

You want to know where the little jolts of recognition hit - the good bits where the writing connected.

You want to know where the reader drifted off - the parts where the writing is not clear enough, or it drags.

This kind of feedback shows you what’s resonating (so you can do more of it.) And you’ll see where you’re losing a reader’s attention (and be able to improve it.)

Specific feedback is easy to give

It’s much easier to give this kind of specific feedback than to answer a more general ‘what do think of it?’ type brief.

And reading purely with a ‘what’s connecting with me?’ focus helps the person giving the feedback too. Reading critically with an eye on how the writing is making you feel will help improve your own writing. You’ll become more aware of what works and what doesn’t, what connects and what misses the mark.

Do try it, and let us know how you get on.

Good luck with your content creation and writing.