Taking Feedback and Giving Feedback
Before you start asking for advice make sure that you are ready to accept it. That means taking your ego and preconceptions about what makes your text/writing great and putting them aside.
The job of the beta reader is to let the writer know what about their text is not easily comprehensible to the average reader, is not clearly linked to the main narrative themes, is not congruent with the internal logic, or to point out grammar or formatting choices that make the text difficult to read.
Do not disregard your beta readers feedback because it does not reflect your own understanding of the text or your intentions. The beta readers feedback gives you the outside perspective you need to understand where those intentions are not coming across.
Always be grateful that people have taken the time to read your work, even if you don’t agree with their thoughts or opinions.
As I have said before: Not all feedback is useful or valid.
- You shouldn’t write X stories because they’re bad
- You shouldn’t have X type of person in your story because it disagrees with my ethical/moral/religious/cultural beliefs
- You are bad at writing and you should just give up
- No one will want to read your work
All of this advice is useless, it is not critique it is criticism, ignorance, or flat out bullying.
However, feedback such as
- I didn’t understand why x character did that? It seemed out of character
- It didn’t make sense when x thing happened. Where did it suggest this was possible?
- Where was this happening?
- Who was talking in this scene? I couldn’t tell
These are only a few examples, but this type of critique will give you insight into where your text is failing.
Just as taking feedback requires putting aside your ego and preconceptions so does giving feedback. If you know you don’t like a specific genre do not try to beta read that genre because you will always carry an implicit bias which will shade your opinions of the text. This means even when you have good intentions say “No” because ultimately you will help your friend or colleague better if you give them no feedback rather than discouraging feedback. Instead just encourage them and give them emotional support.
Don’t take to heart criticism or hurtful comments if you should be unlucky enough to receive them, you will receive a lot of rejection if you choose writing as a career. Ultimately, your text will find its audience it might just be that that one person wasn’t a part of it. Good luck!