Login | Register







Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: General feedback questions to ask?
PostPosted: April 29th, 2016, 5:43 pm 
Writer
Writer

Joined: December 27th, 2014, 7:08 am
Posts: 939
I'm preparing an example of my writing for high level feedback. The deepest goal is to see what I'm doing that engages the reader and what precludes engagement. At this point I don't want editorial feedback. Not that my writing doesn't need it, but I'm looking for more broad brush opinions. The three questions I've come up with so far are:

1. What did you like about the story?
2. What did you not like about it?
3. What are the top couple "you need to improve this" things on your mind?

Are there better questions? Am I barking up the wrong tree?

_________________
Chronicler, the Domici War


Top
 Offline Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: General feedback questions to ask?
PostPosted: April 29th, 2016, 9:49 pm 
Grease Monkeys
Grease Monkeys
User avatar

Joined: November 15th, 2012, 1:44 pm
Posts: 591
Location: Somewhere in the world of imagination.
I think that's a great start! Another question that comes to my mind would be: "What did you take away from the story?". :)

_________________
Sir Iarrthoir Criost
Knight of Christ

Quote:
Chivalry: The humble, yet heroic attitude of selflessness, displayed by the performance of unselfish deeds, for unselfish reasons.


Top
 Offline Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: General feedback questions to ask?
PostPosted: May 2nd, 2016, 11:23 am 
Writer
Writer

Joined: April 8th, 2016, 5:40 pm
Posts: 14
I also like to ask if the reader still has any unanswered questions or is confused by anything at the end of the story.

_________________
Visit my blog here: http://www.nruhwald.wordpress.com


Top
 Offline Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: General feedback questions to ask?
PostPosted: May 3rd, 2016, 11:45 am 
Captain
Captain
User avatar

Joined: October 3rd, 2010, 2:17 pm
Posts: 8188
Location: Kansas City, MO
When I give high-level beta-reading comments, I give a lot of feedback on plot and character, and this is the kind of feedback I look for when I get my own writing reviewed. I want to know if my plot has any holes or took any major logic leaps, if my characters were relatable and easy to follow, and if their motivations were clear. If my story--or my characters' actions--"lose" the reader, I want to know.

*Did you notice any major holes or inconsistencies in the plot?
*Did you enjoy the characters? Were there any you had trouble "getting into"?
*Were the characters' motivations and actions clear? Did they do anything that seemed out of character, forced, or illogical to you?

_________________
Website | Twitter | Instagram
My Patrons get free books and merch!
Latest Release: Aurelius (Red Rain #3.5)


Top
 Offline Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: General feedback questions to ask?
PostPosted: May 3rd, 2016, 2:36 pm 
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: June 21st, 2011, 1:27 pm
Posts: 1408
Location: Southeast MI
Domici wrote:
I'm preparing an example of my writing for high level feedback. The deepest goal is to see what I'm doing that engages the reader and what precludes engagement. At this point I don't want editorial feedback. Not that my writing doesn't need it, but I'm looking for more broad brush opinions. The three questions I've come up with so far are:

1. What did you like about the story?
2. What did you not like about it?
3. What are the top couple "you need to improve this" things on your mind?

Are there better questions? Am I barking up the wrong tree?

First of all, a quibble about terminology: "Broad brush opinions" (other than mere personal preferences) are "editorial feedback." This level of critique is what distinguishes an "editor" from a mere "proofreader," and used to be one of the main selling points of the "traditional publishing" route. (Not that proofreading isn't editing, but it's only the (ideally) last and least intrusive stage.)

But in my experience (having had an English teacher who made us get peer review and urged critique on as high a level as possible, and then both giving and receiving critique on ideas and drafts after I graduated high school), the more open-ended a question is, the harder it is to answer it, so I would recommend giving, say, ten more-specific questions rather than four or so very general ones (though having some open-ended questions is good so that you get the answers to them if the reviewer has any). If you have any specific place that you think might not "work," for example, you might ask about that. Ms. Hansen's suggested questions are good ones.

_________________
Originally inspired to write by reading C.S. Lewis, but can be as perfectionist as Tolkien or as obscure as Charles Williams.

Author of A Year in Verse, a self-published collection of poetry: available in paperback and on Kindle; a second collection forthcoming in 2022 or 2023, God willing (betas wanted!).

Creator of the Shine Cycle, an expansive fantasy planned series, spanning over two centuries of an imagined world's history, several universes (including various alternate histories and our own future), and the stories of dozens of characters (many from our world).

Developer of Strategic Primer, a strategy/simulation game played by email; currently in a redesign phase after the ending of "the current campaign" in 2022.

Read my blog!


Top
 Offline Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: General feedback questions to ask?
PostPosted: May 9th, 2016, 1:06 am 
Captain
Captain
User avatar

Joined: October 3rd, 2010, 2:17 pm
Posts: 8188
Location: Kansas City, MO
Jon makes a good point. Usually when I send a story to beta-readers, I have an idea in my head about what my book's strong and weak points are. So while I'll ask general questions and seek their initial reaction, I'll point out a few areas I either think are great (and I want to make sure others like them too) or think are weak (and I want to know if other readers also have a problem with them). I'll ask questions like "Is this character annoying?" "Is this too dark for the age range?" etc.

_________________
Website | Twitter | Instagram
My Patrons get free books and merch!
Latest Release: Aurelius (Red Rain #3.5)


Top
 Offline Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron