What is your most helpful tip for giving great feedback to aspiring writers?

As an editor, giving feedback is one of the most crucial parts of my job, and it's something I enjoy. However, I've also been on the other side and have received feedback; I know as a writer that it can feel like a risk sharing your work with others. If you are in the position to give a writer feedback, it's essential that you do so in a respectful, honest, and balanced manner with an aim to help the writer improve. Point out when a writer does something well, but also offer (polite) constructive criticism on ways the writer can improve their craft. I think new editors are sometimes afraid of coming across as harsh, which is understandable, but it's entirely possible to critique someone in a kind way. Personally, I've seen my writing grow the most when I implement constructive feedback, and I've also seen other writers improve when they're willing to do the same. Writers need feedback to get better. You can provide the best possible commentary and help writers grow when you give candid, balanced responses that respect the writer's work and aim to help them succeed.

For me, the most important aspect of giving feedback to an aspiring writer is to find the balance between encouragement and feedback on how to improve. Too much encouragement and they won't feel the need to make their work better. Too much feedback on improving it and they feel defeated. In my informal coaching of writers, I find that focusing on "advice" rather than "feedback" is the key. I ask questions to encourage them to figure out how they can grow rather than what they are doing wrong. The goal is to inspire them to keep going, not give up. One question that I always ask myself when giving advice is, "Will what I am sharing help them take a next step or be an obstacle to their progress?"

Read great writing--like a writer. We normally read for pleasure or to learn something, but reading like a writer means reading for craft. Instead of focusing on content, read to understand how the book is written. Every piece of writing follows a form of some kind (this can be a genre, like sci-fi or memoir) and the writer applies their style to the form (like how Stephen King writes horror novels differently than Dean Koontz). Sometimes they innovate on the form, too. So, take your favorite writer and ask yourself: What do you like about their writing? What form or style is the writer using? For example, I really admire Todd Herman's self-help book, "The Alter Ego Effect." I noticed that he writes a lot of stories with dialogue (using conventions of fiction writing) and carries an extended metaphor of superheroes to teach his ideas--and that happens throughout the entire book. He also creates his own proper nouns to teach his proprietary usages, like the "Heroic Self." I also like how he breaks up the chapters with bold headings for sub-sections when the narrative shifts, which keeps me visually engaged. Keep a list of the writing conventions and styles you like and practice them. Decide which ones you want to emulate in your writing. And when you're reading something you don't enjoy, ask yourself: What don't you like about the writing? Those might be things to avoid so you don't write a book you wouldn't enjoy reading,

My most helpful tip for giving feedback to aspiring writers is to approach the process with empathy and a focus on growth. Begin by acknowledging the strengths of their work-this builds confidence and encourages them to keep improving. When addressing areas for improvement, be specific and constructive. Frame your feedback in a way that offers solutions, such as suggesting alternative phrasing or approaches. It's also essential to tailor your feedback to the writer's goals; ask them what they hope to achieve with their work. Finally, remember that feedback is a dialogue, not a one-way street. Encourage writers to ask questions and view the process as collaborative.

Let everyone know what you do. I was years into my writing career and I still had people ask, "Oh, when did you start doing that?" or "Is that a hobby?" or "Did you always enjoy writing for fun?" People don't realize that writing can be more than a hobby, and people can make a living doing it. But you have to be bold and show off what you do, don't be shy about "offending" people on your social media accounts by posting self-promotional bits, and certainly let people know this is your career and you're just as proud as any other business owner out there.

I've found that truly impactful feedback includes a balance of praise with actionable insights. For example, when I mentor writers, I first highlight what they did well, such as writing a compelling hook. Recognizing their strengths helps with their confidence and sets them up for a little bit of critiquing. I then move into the areas that need improvement. But I'm careful with how I phrase this feedback. Instead of saying that a portion of the writing is weak, I might recommend specific edits. I also encourage them to ask follow-up questions, which helps it feel more like a conversation.

Aspiring writers can stumble at various stages of their creative process. The first stage is "Can I write?" Tip: If you don't think you can, the doubt itself would not be there. The desire backs the doubt, so it means you want to, if you want to, you would learn it up if you have a gap, and then you would become a good writer. "What will others think of my writings? Tip: Start by thinking that others will laugh at your writing. But as you persevere, you will find people who believe in it. "What is the next stage in the writing process?" Tip: "Keep learning; there is no age where you need to stop learning. So keep going; keep improving. Becoming a writer is as hard as becoming an astronaut. A good education or a good hand is not enough. Knowing how to improvise oneself every moment and being ready for it is what will ultimately work." "Will my book sell?" Tip: This is a fear, and it's good to be scared, but not acting is not a possibility. Depending on your abilities, a small step each day could go a long way. Other tips: 1. Empty and fill your cup at least once in a day, and it could be on any topic. 2. Write what comes to mind; don't worry what people think. 3. Listen better. 4. Study characters around you more often. 5. Find your favorite characters from life even if you are not writing about them. 6. Talk to yourself every day for 15 minutes. 7. Be thick skinned. Remember the woods would be very silent if only the best birds sang.?

As a content writer with experience crafting over 1,000 articles, I believe the most effective feedback combines specific praise with actionable suggestions. When reviewing my colleague's first draft of a short story, instead of saying "the dialogue needs work," I highlighted a particularly strong conversation between two characters and suggested ways to bring that same authenticity to other scenes. This balanced approach helped maintain her confidence while providing clear direction for improvement. I aim to be constructive rather than critical, focusing on how writers can build upon their existing strengths to enhance their work.

My most helpful tip for giving great feedback to aspiring writers is to focus on being constructive and encouraging. It's important to point out what's working in their writing first, like strong character development or engaging dialogue, so they feel confident and motivated. Then, gently offer suggestions for improvement, like how to strengthen a specific scene or clarify a plot point, without overwhelming them. One thing I always try to do is be specific - instead of saying, "This part needs work," I provide actionable feedback, like, "The pacing feels slow here; consider tightening up the dialogue to maintain tension." When you focus on the story's potential and showing how to elevate it, you not only help the writer improve but also nurture their confidence and creativity. A balance of praise and thoughtful, practical advice is key to creating a supportive environment for growth.

My most helpful tip for giving great feedback to aspiring writers is to focus on both the strengths and areas for improvement. Start by highlighting what works well-whether it's their storytelling, character development, or writing style. This builds confidence and shows that you're paying attention to the positive aspects of their work. For example, you might say, "I really enjoyed how you created tension in the opening scene, it grabbed my attention." Then, gently point out areas that could use improvement, like structure or pacing. Instead of just saying, "This part feels slow," you could suggest, "Maybe you could tighten up this section by focusing on the most important details." The key is to be specific, supportive, and constructive so they know exactly what to work on without feeling discouraged.

One of the most helpful tips I can offer for giving feedback to aspiring writers is to focus on clarity and understanding the audience. In my construction management days, effectively communicating complex project details was crucial. Translating that skill to writing, I advise breaking down feedback into actionable sections that writers can easily digest and apply, just as I did with project teams. I emphasize the importance of specificity. When ensuring quality in construction, precise feedback on design flaws led to improvements. Similarly, in writing, point out specific strengths and areas for improvement. If a writer excels in dialogue but struggles with pacing, highlight that so they're encouraged to improve specific skills. I also recommend leveraging diverse experiences to enrich feedback. My transition from network engineering to writing involved constant adaptation to new styles and techniques. Encourage writers to draw upon varied experiences and insights, much like I did when incorporating technical precision into storytelling, aiding their growth and versatility.

To provide effective feedback to aspiring writers, focus on being specific and actionable. Rather than making vague comments like "This needs improvement," identify precise areas that require change and explain why they are unclear. Use examples to illustrate your points, and offer concrete suggestions for improvement. This method helps writers understand their work better and empowers them to enhance their skills.

As a former film and television writer and producer, turned consumer products entrepreneur, I find myself engaged in storytelling once again -- more directly with my partnership in a TikTok marketing agency. I have started working with live-selling personalities to educate them on emotionally connecting with the audience, beyond just selling. One of the best tactics for this is the concept of "setups" and "payoffs." Oftentimes this is the deciding factor in whether you look at a piece of storytelling entertainment (e.g. movie, TV, book) and decide whether it was just entertaining or whether it was really good and you want to share and talk about it. Linear storytelling speaks at you, but setups and payoffs throughout a story engage the brain. And, engaging the brain into trying to figure things out, causing surprise, paying off an unfulfilled expectation, etc. is how you write to emotionally connect with the reader's (or viewer's) brain.

When giving feedback to aspiring writers, I focus on data-driven insights from my digital marketing experiences. Just like in A/B testing where results can surprise, feedback should challenge assumptions. For example, contrary to expectations in a past campaign, a green call-to-action button outperformed a red one by 21%. Encourage writers to consider unconventional approaches and validate their choices with evidence. Additionally, in my work analyzing competitor backlinks, identifying common patterns was crucial for strategic breakthroughs. Similarly, I advise writers to analyze successful content within their niche to understand what resonates with audiences. Suggest ways they can collaborate or emulate aspects of high-performing work, much like leveraging lesser-known blogs for impactful SEO results. By providing references to proven strategies, you frame feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than just critique.As someone who has led successful digital strategies for over 40 clients at The Guerrilla Agency, I understand the intricacies of content critique. One vital tip is to encourage specificity in storytelling. For instance, when I conducted an A/B test changing a call-to-action button, it revealed that assumptions could lead to unexpected results. Similarly, specificity in feedback for writers can unveil overlooked strengths or weaknesses in their work. Additionally, encourage writers to explore data-driven insights. In a project where competitor backlink analysis increased organic traffic by 30%, the precise matching of content to audience interest was key. Point out which parts of their writing resonate with data-backed audience preferences, prompting them to align their narrative with what readers engage with most. Lastly, use structured data for enhancing visibility. Implementing FAQ schema, as I did to boost voice search results, helps aspiring writers understand the power of formatting and structure. Explain how organizing content effectively can lift a story's reach and accessibility in today's digital landscape, driving home the importance of well-thought-out structure.

It's essential to nurture writers by providing constructive feedback tied to audience engagement and conversion metrics. Start by understanding the target audience to shape the content's tone and structure effectively. Emphasize the value proposition, ensuring that writers focus on insights and benefits relevant to the readers while aligning their work with overall marketing strategies.