Unit 1 - Lesson 3: Using Feedback
An Introduction
Craft:
For this first part of the lesson, we'll be learning about how you can use critique's and feedback to level-up your writing and to understand how you write better. This video was put out by the YouTube channel Reedsy.
Some guiding questions to think about as you watch:
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How do you choose what feedback to implement?
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What mix of critique and feedback works for you? Are you more likely to like feedback if you also hear what you've done right in your piece?
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Do you struggle with taking feedback or is it already an important part of your writing process?
Think about these questions and try to answer them as you watch! The video is linked to the right of this text!
Connect:
Now we'll be talking about what you just watched and adding on some new knowledge!
How can you make sure you implement the right feedback for your piece? Here are some easy steps to follow:
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Identify the most important parts of your piece. The characters, pacing, images, or rhythm. After that, take a look at your feedback.
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If your feedback aligns with both your goals and the important parts of your piece, it's a good indicator that it will most likely end up being helpful. If the feedback doesn't, then it's a good indicator that the feedback wouldn't help this particular piece.
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Making a list of your goals and the current status of your piece is smart. Jot down at least two goals, such as "I want to write a compelling story about childhood friends", and at least one remark about the plot, characters, and pacing. This can be warped for poetry or other mediums.
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This list is now your own feedback guide, ensuring that each piece of feedback you take helps you further your growth!
Create:
This is the final step in this lesson. Now you get to put what you learned into practice!
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Take a piece that you've either already had critiqued or one that you'd like to have critiqued. If it's already critiqued, continue on, but if it's not—try to find a partner that would be willing to read through and give you feedback
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Then, use your list to look at the feedback you've been given. Try to get a balance between rejecting and accepting feedback. Some feedback might not fit your vision or feelings for the piece, while a different comment might fit the bill perfectly!
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After that, show the improved piece to whoever critiqued the original draft. Ask them if they can see the improvements you made. If they can, you're on the right track!
More lessons here