How to Get FREE Feedback on Your Writing

[@daviddarlingauthor]

I have a few pages, I insert for my best readers: Here's an example: Questions I hope you can answer at the end of the novel What did you like about the main character? Is there anything that drove you nuts or you didn’t like about them? Were there any points where you got confused? If so, please jot down a reference point. Were any technical errors noticed? What character did you love and why? What character did you hate and why? What are the things that made you laugh? What made you cry or feel emotional? At what point did you get bored? What did you expect would happen at the end? Were you happy or unhappy with the resolution? Most of my readers are not editors or authors. Having a checklist for the beta reader helps with feedback, otherwise, I'd get, "Great story," or "I loved it." Thanks mom, but I need more...

[@tearstoneactual9773]

That's similar to a battery of questions I use. Some of them are chapter specific, while others are geared for the entire story/manuscript.

[@daviddarlingauthor]

@@tearstoneactual9773 Perfect. I do change things up a bit, to make it specific per novel. But that's generally the questions. I need specific answers! lol

[@MissAllWednesday]

I'm a new writer and this is very helpful! Thank you so much for sharing. 😊

[@yasruu1123]

I read your comment and liked it few days ago, and forgot to screenshot the questions as I found them so great, and today I kept rewatching most of my writing stuff in my history to find it 🤣🤣, and gladly I was finally able to find it, and thank you for the great insight and tips!! (I’m on my first draft, but have few friends to check on the few chps I’ve done)🙏🏼

[@patrickkehoe6434]

I recently found your channel because I'm writing my first book. This is exactly the information I'm looking for, how publishers view a manuscript, and how the industry works. Great tone and style my friend.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

So glad you've found my channel helpful! Wishing you all the best with your first book!

[@avery_moore_reads]

Brilliant advice! I think authors getting feedback on their work before trying to get it published is SO important, because a lot of the time there are issues with a book that are very obvious to a reader that aren't obvious to a writer at all, and if an author tries to get their novel published before fixing those issues, it can completely kill their chances.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Completely agree!

[@t0dd000]

I can't imagine people just publishing their work without a critique group and at least one editor. Do people actually do that?

[@ebx100]

This is my favorite of all your videos. I wrote a 55,000 word effort about my first 3 years of life in a country on the other side of the globe from the first half century of my life in America. I can't afford thousands of dollars for a professional editor, and for the past year nothing has happened with the project. You gave me some concrete things to try. Thanks

[@BobNewheart-yn3lc]

thank you for clarifying this crazy process.

[@Austin-r6e]

I hired a professional book or writing coach, and the feedback was very helpful. Of course, I did a lot of editing on my own. Now I'm four months into querying and I have faith my novel is ready to be read by agents.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

That's great! I'm so happy to hear you got helpful feedback and are feeling confident in your novel. Wishing you all the best with querying!

[@mccama19]

Yeah, be careful about joining a critique exchange site. I used to be a member of Scribophile and I dubbed it "the Gauntlet". The critiques some of the other writers would give were truly brutal. Those critiques inspired me to quite writing for years. What I learned from Scribophile is that writers are just people, and people can be petty, jealous, and just plain mean if they think they can get away with it. So if your writing is pretty good, you are actually More likely to get negative critiques rather than positive ones. I also learned that you need reeeeeeally thick skin if you're getting critiques from other writers.

[@InvestigatingDavidCrowley]

Such fantastic advice! Thank you! I've had to go to professionals for feedback since I only have one friend who loves books but uses Audible for 95% of their reading. However, thank you for the reminder about the online writing groups. Hopefully, those will prove to be helpful.

[@JamesStoddah]

Congratulations on hitting the 50k subs! Excellent advice once again, thank you.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thank you so much! 🎉

[@tearstoneactual9773]

So I'm a member of the Twitch Writer's Network, as well as The Write Team and InExhaustible Media. I've been an active participant on r/writing and r/self-publishing. I'm a member of a number of Facebook writing groups. I often wind up putting together helpful advice especially for new authors/writers, and of the top of my head articles which can help almost anyone. - My latest feedback partners were members of The Write Team and Twitch Writers Network, as well as a couple of friends I've known for years. I could always use more people for feedback. I also love helping other writers via feedback and/or some coaching.

[@LorraineCareyAuthor]

All great advice!! I'm always looking for feedback before publishing. Sharing this. Thank you.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thank you so much for sharing!

[@LorraineCareyAuthor]

@@AlyssaMatesic You are most welcome. I love your channel.

[@antoinetteg6542]

I love this guide list. May I copy and use it please?

[@adriang6259]

These are great ideas. Might have to start my own online group. Nobody in my circles writes and fewer read so the pool is shallow.

[@t0dd000]

There are writing groups everywhere. So many. Join them. Make connections and form a critique group.

[@ellennewth6305]

Thanks, Alyssa. Awesome advice!

[@briankilgore8808]

Helpful advice. Thank you. Absolutely. Quality trumps quantity. That’s what makes you the best, your quality.

[@jennynguyen-lam5633]

Ha! out of the dozen of people i asked for feedback only one actually gave me any form of feedback and she was pretty brutally honest. I've otherwise had to spend many thousands on paid editors

[@johannamiklos4352]

Critique circle and scribbophile are worth the effort. I quickly found excellent readers and accept the rude/incompetent as part of the journey.

[@maryhobbins]

I've received feedback from a friend and a sister. Being specific in the feedback you want is key. Unfortunately, the people I asked to look at my book simply because they were free, didn't catch my biggest mistakes, which was maintaining consistent POV. Still, much of the feedback was still helpful.

[@walteroakley9115]

Good advice. I actually met my current critique/accountability partner trough a FB writing community, as well as a number of my pool of beta-readers. Since I have many friends that are teachers, and my manuscript has a target audience of teens and 20's, I asked those teachers if they had any students that are into my genre and if they would be willing to read. They gave some great feedback. Now, I also have the advantage of having a sister who is a freelance editor... however, I waited before I sent it to her, both for $$$ and I wanted to see what "non-professionals" thought about it first before going to someone in the industry.

[@MrRosebeing]

If you're traditionally published and a publishing house sees any talent or profit in you then they will help you in any way you need. You will have editors who will refine your novel until it is saleable. If you're famous, you may get a ghost writer who will do it for you. In my opinion (again) don't rely on family, friends, writing groups (online or offline), paid "professionals" or anyone else. If you're good then put your novel out to traditional publishers and you will see how good you are. If you get a contract to write more novels your readers will let you know how good you are by how much profit you make. Most writers will not make much profit and will remain "unknowns". Write because you love to write, no other reason to do it.

[@johannamiklos4352]

The local writing group was not a good experience. I read and commented and did not get the same courtesy back. I have had excellent experiences at both CC and Scribbophile. It is easy to find writers and readers in one's own genre. Also, as another writer commented, it helps to be direct with what one is looking for. In my opinion, paid feedback by a professional is effective when the work has reached a high level of maturity.

[@TheLordsCanary]

What is CC?

[@johannamiklos4352]

@@TheLordsCanary Critique Circle

[@smokinggnu6584]

I have a small selection of online friends that have volunteered to look over my manuscript to help fix certain aspects of it. Well, they're not shy in pointing out problems, as i've learned. I have a haed time dealing with criticsm in general, but what they've pointed out, and the long explanations they give on why the thing, makes all sorts of sense. This is especially tue for the initial chapters of the manuscript, which i started writing many years ago. It's really not all that good and needed a decent tuneup.

[@t0dd000]

Form a critique group. This is incredibly easy to do. There are multiple writers groups within an hour of you. Really. Join them, get to know them, and form a critique group once you know them for a bit. Introvert? So are they. Suck it up. If you don't reach out, you aren't serious about your writing. Once you turn that group, don't let them get away with crappy feedback. Ask them pointed questions. Push them to push you. Hire an editor. Can't afford it? Try to find someone who with seriously help you, but you simply can't polish that novel without a separate editor.

[@silverknight1966]

I self published my first book. How do I get more review for that one?

[@feedthebirdies]

I’m new to your channel and have enjoyed learning how to write well and to write to be published. I’m getting ready to draft query letters for my memoir as a public high school teacher, and am looking for an agent in that genre and that is willing to work with a whistleblower. My target audience is fellow teachers from the US and Texas specifically, administrators, the Texas Education Agency, and the US Department of Education. I am hoping to get my story in the hands of the Harris/Walz team; it’s imperative and timely if we want to begin repair of what’s broken. Are you aware of any agents looking for writers like me that I might query? I’ve found a handful through my own research, but I know there’s no guarantee. Thank you in advance!

[@LeonWarczak]

Speaking about feedback... A major book event - The Literature Fest Printer's Row - is happening in Chicago, IL this upcoming weekend, September 7th & 8th. Not only do vendors with books/items to sell attend, but also indie publishers, editors, speakers, etc. Do you have any advice on how to meet & talk to people on the fly? Or how best to approach? And if instead of asking directly for feedback there - maybe I purchase a book or piece of merchandise from those I connect with the most as a show of good faith & then give them a personalized business card showing where to check out my work? Or should I take a different approach... Like .. dressing up as a wizard 🧙‍♂️..? Let me know your thoughts if you have any. If not, no worries, I'll just 'wing it.' Thank you for your time & best regards 🙏. - Leon

[@Jo28147]

Also students and graduates, particularly of literature, languages and arts. They are very well read with critical minds. It benefits all as it provides valuable constructive feedback and editing while the student(s) earn something and gain experience. Some may do it for free but it's nice for all to gain something.

[@dukeofdenver]

The only disadvantage is getting people to respond. Especially with a long manuscript. If you're not paying them cannot press a deadline. You cannot require that they even finish your book. If you have a set timeline to query, you simply can't wait for people to get back to you at their leisure

[@tiffanylamb1187]

I'm experiencing that now. One of my daughters agreed to be a beta-reader for me. I sent her the first draft, which she hasn't read. I'm editing, so I decided maybe sending her a chapter at a time would work. Nope. Finding beta readers is hard! I would pay for one if I could afford it.

[@dukeofdenver]

@@tiffanylamb1187 What's the word count and the genre? I've edited for people before. I could do both a developmental and line edit and send it back in 10 days flat for a small tip, if you're interested.

[@indyminded5473]

What advice do you have if the first book youve written is the first book of a 3 book series? How do you approach an agent when the 2nd and 3rd book isnt finished?

[@ethanos1765]

If you're a debut, agents don't care initially about a book series. They want to focus on one book at a time. Once you're agented, you can have that discussion with the agent, but make sure your first one can work as a standalone,

[@AlyssaMatesic]

I touch on querying a series in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5ObgqB4gchqa7M I hope that helps!

[@maxsinclair787]

most friends and family don't want to hurt your feelings? damn where can i make some of these friends... my friends and family have no qualms about telling me everything wrong with my writing, I'm not sure if that makes me lucky or not. I'll just assume its a good thing so i don't end up crying myself to sleep at night. they aren't that harsh

[@TheEccentricRaven]

Great tips 👍 I also advise writers to remember how important it is to swallow your pride and be humble. The best attitude to have when receiving critiques is to be thankful that your alpha/beta reader is helping you improve your writing. 👩‍💻

[@BrandonRossi-z7f]

I have just hired a freelance editor for my fantasy novel. I really want this one published, even though it is my first. She is about a fourth of the way through (or more). I am doing whatever I can to get it at that publishable level. I edited it once, and my grandmother did before then.

[@geovannymorajr.1065]

Hi five 🙌

[@larssjostrom6565]

It is easy to make the mistake mentioned in 2:05 and ask for to much, when you yourself have a lot of time, energy and dedication.

[@elizabethstump4077]

I have a long time beta who edited my fanfic working on my first book right now. I've killed my darlings, re-edited several times and I'm still at 152K words for an adult contemporary romance with erotica. I am thinking I may need to save this for a second or third book to pitch since as a first time author, getting an offer for a longer than normal length book will be harder and they will want to chop it to 90K-100K, when there is stuff necessary to be included for set up for the sequel.

[@rowan7929]

Free ones have been a huge letdown for me. Never got the feedback I need or even heard back from them. Since I pay for feedback, I have finally got much needed feedback to improve my work.

[@stebbigunn7690]

When I look for feedback, I speak to my former teatchers, I have never gotten refused by my old teatchers to read over my work and cruituqe it.

[@rowan7929]

@@stebbigunn7690 Nice. Sadly, I don't have that option.

[@grimmdanny]

Mrs. Grimm would love nothing more than to harshly criticize my writing, which is why I trust her more than anyone else to give me honest feedback.

[@iwannareadforever8185]

Does anyone else wonder why Alyssa stoped posting on Wednesdays? Did I miss an announcement or something?

[@SteveJubs]

She’s just rolling in it 💰💰💰

[@stebbigunn7690]

I could never ask family members for feedback on my English work. I am the only one with a degree in English, and they dont understand two thirds of the language i use.

[@arnoldfossman1701]

I was wondering how someone on a very limited income could get worthwhile feedback and this seems to be an arrow pointing in a good direction.