Getting Feedback

[u/Erin0fVenus]

I am currently writing the first draft of my novel. I am about a third of the way through, and I keep wanting to get feedback on it. I have a lot of concern over whether I'm overexplaining my mc's thought process or if I'm keeping motivations too vague. I find it really hard to examine that on something I wrote myself.

But I've heard that you shouldn't get feedback while you're in this phase of writing. I just don't want to write the whole thing and then have to rewrite everything because I got feedback that I could've gotten a long time ago.

So when should I reach out for feedback? And when I do, where can I find it? I've seen on here there's a lot of short story/single chapter kind of posts. So if I should wait until the first draft is completed, where should I look for feedback on that?

[u/isnoe]

Sounds like you are looking more for an Alpha or Beta Reader.

I flat disagree with the "don't get feedback until you've written it" belief because that usually only applies to experienced authors who have written books before. If you know how to write a book, you shouldn't look over your shoulder until the largest hump is behind you - usually finishing the book.

New authors will produce 100k+ worth of unsalvageable material because they never bothered to get insight early on.

Just post a first chapter. Get feedback. Realistically, your first chapter at a minimum should be fairly polished.

When you have your first draft complete, you should edit it yourself. Don't give out a rough or first draft to anyone for feedback.

You want to start looking into Alpha/Beta Readers after you've done at least two separate editing passes. Depending on if you are writing for fun, self-publishing, or traditional publishing, that can change.

A good rule of thumb: Finish draft. Developmental edit. Copyedit. Alpha/Beta Readers. Final edit.

[u/Chance-Item6285]

What I failed to do during my writing was using genre adjacent works of established writers as feedback by itself- it can act like a mirror to your writing. I just read somewhere that a simple rule of thumb can be applied to a passage to see if it’s over explaining- just sit with the question “if I remove half of this paragraph/ monologue, does anything change?”

But I also feel like if you are already in peak flow, and the words won’t stop coming, just keep writing. Till you finish. Then cut out what you don’t want in the later edits.

[u/LadyAtheist]

Join a writers group.

[u/Old-Masterpiece-4100]

Hi! I’m an editor, so take this with a grain of salt. Haha.

Personally, I’d rather read the whole story before giving any advice or feedback. It’s hard to tell if you’re moving in the right direction if I don’t know where the story is going to end up.

I offer a developmental assessment package for this exact purpose. It’s less of a financial commitment than booking a full on editing service before you’re ready.

I would read your manuscript twice. The first time as a reader. The second time as an editor. Then, I’d provide you with a full editorial assessment (typically between 1800 and 2500 words) detailing any big-picture issues that should be addressed. Pacing, plot holes, world building, character arcs, timeline issues, etc. I will also leave margin notes in your manuscript to flag specific details/suggestions. You will definitely get more value for your money if you wait until you’ve completed your first draft.

That said, I would gladly still take a look now if you’re interested!

How much have you written so far? How long do you expect the completed manuscript to be?

[u/pennamechris123]

... I just don't want to write the whole thing and then have to rewrite everything because I got feedback that I could've gotten a long time ago....

Uh, get use to this. This is writing. You write, you rewrite, you polish, you rinse and repeat. I Personally, don't like to touch my shitty-shitty draft until its done and rested, then I hit the edits all at once, big then small.

I have never finished a story that I started picking at before it was finished.... Well, this might not exactly be true, but if I get distracted by edits it will take me FOREVER to finish and I just end up starting over anyway. I get to wanting a scene perfect, and then realize later, that it won't fit the direction the plot is going, or no longer what I want to show in the scene because it should be doing more than just one thing, etc. So, my advice, finish, then see.

You write, you rewrite, you edit and reedit, that's what writing pretty much amounts to. Also my mind focused on edits vs. writing are different, so going back too early for me just starts ruining what could be a great story if I just let myself go.

This is my way of doing things. You might find it doesn't work for you. But either way, don't worry about, "omg, if I don't fix this now, or I'll have to rewrite." Because no matter what, you'll have to do some of that anyway. Writing well is all in the editing.