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To give honest feedback or not?

By louise | Posted: 10 February 2009

Views: 341
I'm a writer and I love feedback, good or bad. The good envelopes me in a Ready Brek glow, and the bad helps me learn from my mistakes.

On here I see some good writers who are making the same mistakes that I used to make when I first struck out. I also see excellent writers and I study their work and learn from them.

But the point I'm trying to make is nice feedback is pointless. If you are serious in your writing, you'll look at all feedback and study why the reviewer had those thoughts. Sometimes, we're too close to our writing to see our own mistakes.

Thoughts on this topic?
All articles on this website by louise are copyright ©louise and should not be reproduced without the author's prior written consent. All opinions are the opinions of their respective authors and are not necessarily the opinions of The Writers' Circle.
Comments 
Carl
10 February 2009
Well, I mostly agree with you. As you say, it depends how serious about writing a writer is. If a writer is serious then he or she should want good and bad feedback - absolutely. To the point of brutality. If a writer just writes as a pastime (and why not, writing should be fun!) then there's nothing wrong with the Ready Brek glow every time...

I think it's usually apparent who takes their work seriously on the site (usually 'older' writers). So critical feedback is very valuable to those writers in particular.
louise
10 February 2009
I hope I don't come across as brutal. I want to give an honest opinion as I hope others would give me.

I'd have thought that if writers put their writing up on a site like this than they'd welcome an honest feedback.

Anyone used a professional critique btw?
ChrissieJo
10 February 2009
A positive feedback about ones writing builds one up, but a fiercely critical one could make one loose confidence. 

When I first started to write, I got an unsympathetic feedback that knocked me for 6! I was out for months and hid behind the curtain of 'writers block' but it was a shock  to learn how tough writing is, even when you are writing for fun. 

What one must try to do is to get the right balance. Do be nice but don't be too polite. Read the work and give an honest comment / critic.
DeUndrae
10 February 2009
Honest feedback should be encouraging, yet it should also teach the writer a lesson. I would like to give awesome feedback, but I know if I comment I would become unsympathetic to the writer. Maybe if I do that critique template for the pieces I could be more encouraging yet teaching the writer.
louise
10 February 2009
Some good answers. Thanks.

I suppose it's a fine divide between fair and harsh - from the reviewee point of view.
TheDarkNarrator340
10 February 2009
This is true about what you say. To be a firm critique is what is necessary in order to become an professional writer and author. The last time you'd went through my work, there was indeed alot of grammer errors. 
My objective last time was to get my point across about the story structure and characters. I wasn't focused too much on the grammer. I know I'm not very good at that. Plus, I was also focusing on the plot of the story as well. 
If you have any time to go back and read up on the next chapter, that would be fine. I'm just wondering if the recent chapters too long for people to read right now.
Mr Richard
11 February 2009
It's a good subhect for debate.Personally I don't like being  overtly critical of other peoples work.I'd rather be the one that gives them a little boost by saying what I like about it.Having said that I don't think I would be offended if someone said something less than complimentary about my own stuff.I would take it on board.I don't think nice feedback is pointless because writing for a lot of people is quite a personal thing that shyly they would like to share-  and encouragement  could mean a lot to them. Honesty,I think should be done with kindness.
louise
11 February 2009
Lots to think about, there. Thanks all.


DarkNarrator, remind me again of the title and I'll have a peek. Thanks.
Gary Jarvis
12 March 2009
I find that personally the best feedback you can receive is one that doesn't say your work is awful but points out its good points and then the things that could be improved. Sometimes with suggestions other times simply with things that were unclear or perhaps made the reading difficult.

I also think though that plenty of feedback is the best thing whether it be good or negative because it not only gives you some guidance on how your work is currently and if you are improving or not but also that someone has taken the time to read your work and then feed back to you on it.

G

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Hi, my name's Louise Wise, and I am a journalist and writer. Eden, my debut novel, was released back in 2008, and my second book, A Proper Charlie, will be out this Christmas (2010). I am currently ... (Read more)