6 Tips for Providing Constructive Feedback to Writers
Creating a culture of constructive feedback can be a game-changer for any writer looking to improve. Insights from professionals like a Founder and Chief Marketing Officer and a Global Director of Content provide valuable strategies to achieve this goal. The article begins by discussing how setting a positive tone can foster growth and wraps up with emphasizing the significance of focusing on the work, not the writer. With six expert insights in total, the piece is a treasure trove of knowledge on effective feedback.
- Foster Growth With Positive Feedback
- Start With Strengths, Then Give Constructive Criticism
- Provide Specific, Actionable Feedback
- Make Feedback Actionable and Scalable
- Use Structured Guides and Emphasize Strengths
- Focus on Work, Not the Writer
Foster Growth With Positive Feedback
I strive to provide constructive feedback that fosters growth and improvement. My process involves a careful review of the writer's work, identifying both strengths and areas for development. I offer specific examples and suggestions, focusing on the overall message, clarity, and impact.
My number one tip for giving feedback is to maintain a positive and supportive tone. By acknowledging the writer's efforts and offering constructive criticism, I aim to create a collaborative environment where writers feel encouraged to learn and grow.
Start With Strengths, Then Give Constructive Criticism
My approach to giving feedback to writers starts with the identification of their appropriate strengths and where they do well. There is an order that follows this; most are positive first. I start with the positive because it helps in creating motivation and shows them that their efforts are appreciated. I then shift toward the negative, giving constructive feedback on the types of recommendations that can be made in relation to the particular work. For instance, instead of saying, "There is some way to improve this section," I would say, "Maybe you should try and shorten long sentences in this paragraph if you really want to make your argument stronger."
I also try to provide the rationales and 'why' for that rewrite whenever the authors are told to rewrite or analyze a part. It helps to reframe the view of writers who receive such feedback in a positive light through education. My number one advice when it comes to answering the feedback is to receive it in a congruent and particular way. Tell what has worked and what can be done better, and provide specific evidence to support each claim. It also encourages practitioners to enhance and develop their writing skills and fosters confidence and collaboration.
Provide Specific, Actionable Feedback
One of the best ways to encourage improvement is to provide writers with specific, actionable feedback. Rather than leaving vague comments or marking up their work with no context, I highlight precise areas that can be improved and explain why. This approach creates a more collaborative editing process and improves the final product.
For example, instead of saying, "This section could be clearer," I ask specific questions to identify what is unclear, like, "What is 'it' referring to here?" For edits to style or tone, I often refer to the brand-voice guide to explain where that feedback came from and remind the writer of the resources at their disposal.
Constructive feedback should also highlight the writer's strengths. By praising what a writer has done well or improved from previous drafts, I reinforce the positive, show appreciation for their work, and build their confidence.
Make Feedback Actionable and Scalable
Especially with bigger content efforts, creatives might get feedback from 10 different parties—some of it conflicting. It’s impossible for them to accommodate everyone in these cases, so make your feedback stand out.
You can do so by keeping it actionable and scalable. Ask yourself: Can the writer apply my suggestion intuitively, without asking for clarification? And can it apply in the future, in some form? The best feedback I’ve gotten in my career is that which promotes long-term growth and improvement, regardless of audience, medium, or subject matter.
Most writers will remember who gave them that extended-shelf-life feedback, too, long after they stop working directly with them.
Use Structured Guides and Emphasize Strengths
As a startup with limited resources, we leveraged our coaches' expertise for content creation. This revealed a wide range of writing abilities, with some drafts requiring extensive editing. Compounding this challenge was the fact that many of our coaches, like myself, have ADHD, which often comes with some level of rejection sensitivity.
To address these challenges, I implemented a two-pronged approach. First, I created a comprehensive writing guide with step-by-step instructions in both text and video formats; clear examples and outlines; and a focused checklist. With this guidance in place up front, I was able to develop a clear, concise feedback method. Utilizing the checklist as an objective "rubric" and framing feedback against pre-established criteria resulted in immediate and dramatic improvement in first-draft quality—even from novice writers. It also reduced the impact of perceived criticism, as the feedback felt less "personal." Writers were much more receptive to feedback and were motivated to check off any boxes they didn't "earn" in the first draft.
In addition to providing a structured, detailed process for writers up front, my top tip for giving feedback is to emphasize strengths as much as possible. When writers see their mistakes as minor aspects of otherwise excellent work—and have a clear path to improvement—they're more likely to embrace the feedback, regardless of ADHD or rejection sensitivity challenges.
Focus on Work, Not the Writer
My process focuses on the core belief that, as a Content Director, I am there to help ensure growth, creativity, and high-quality, consistent messaging. My approach is rooted in empathy but guided by the notion that the writers I work with are able to understand what I am saying and take action as the end goal. My number-one tip for giving feedback is to always focus on the work rather than what you think about the writer. This has always ensured that I am able to give objective feedback that allows the writer to improve and learn for the future.
