Today, Fable and the Verbivore have a candid conversation about the complications of requesting feedback and serving as a beta reader based on a real world experience we shared together.

Navigating the feedback process can be vulnerable, especially when we’re first sharing our words and when the work is especially close to us. From first hand experience, we share some truths about figuring out how to work effectively, what our unique process is for sharing and gathering feedback, and taking into account where someone is at on their writing journey when reviewing their words.

In this episode, we discuss - as writers - internally checking in, analyzing ourselves and our work, and getting honest about what we’re actually looking for from our beta readers while also clearly communicating those things when we’re seeking feedback. This helps to both set beta readers and ourselves up for success.

We also talk about some methods and practices for providing feedback. Such as: sending a list of specific questions, clarifying what elements you want focused on [pacing, character, plot, etc.], clarifying what lens you want the beta reader to use, and stating if you want neutral feedback or corrective feedback.

We hope that you enjoy this episode where we open up about our own missteps and lessons learned through doing, and that some of our thoughts about how to approach asking for feedback, and giving it, resonate with you.

Keep creating and putting your own unique voice out there!

Into the woods,
Fable & The Verbivore

Notes:

The Verbivore references the Critical Response Process created by dance professor Liz Lerman from ASU as a method to use when receiving feedback in any type of creative project. This method was touched on briefly in Episode 37: Pixar Storytelling Pt. 1.

• https://fableandtheverbivore.com/podcast/episode-37-pixar-storytelling-part-1

Fable references the Author Answers response from writer Erica Wynters where she talks about needing cheerleader feedback at a specific time in her writing process. That episode is Episode 36: Author Answers with Erica Wynters.

• https://fableandtheverbivore.com/podcast/episode-36-author-answers-with-erica-wynters

The Verbivore references the open door writing process of author Victoria McCombs who we spoke to in Episode 39.

• https://fableandtheverbivore.com/podcast/episode-39-interview-with-victoria-mccombs

After this episode was recorded, Fable and the Verbivore came across the BAP method for identifying the level of feedback you want from your beta readers, as explained by book coach Ann Kroeker. We wish that we’d had this information to include as part of the discussion. We’ll be discussing it during our interview with Ann in early April, but here is the link to this information on her website:

• http://annkroeker.com/2015/09/21/the-writing-life-podcast-bless-assess-or-press/

Books Mentioned:

• Liz Lerman's critical response process: A method for getting useful feedback on anything you make, from dance to dessert by Liz Lerman and John Borstel

Music from: https://filmmusic.io
’Friendly day’ by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)