The most valuable writing lesson I learned from beta readers had nothing to do with praise.

Of course it's nice to hear things like, "I loved this chapter." Every writer appreciates that. But if I'm looking to improve my work, those comments don't tell me much.

The feedback that has made me a better writer sounds more like this:
"How does she know that?"
"I'm confused."
"Why would he do that?"

When someone says, "He should do this instead," or "This scene needs to happen," they're giving me a solution. The problem is, I don't yet know what problem they're trying to solve.

Maybe the character's motivation isn't clear. Maybe the pacing is off. Maybe I've accidentally hidden an important piece of information from the reader. Three completely different problems can all lead to the same suggestion.

Questions, on the other hand, tell me where the story has broken down.
"How does she know that?" tells me I've skipped a logical step.
"I'm confused." tells me something isn't as clear as I thought it was.
"Why would he do that?" tells me I haven't made a character decision clear.

Once I understand the why, I can usually find a solution that stays true to the story I'm trying to tell.

This applies far beyond writing. Whether you're leading a team, reviewing a presentation, collaborating on a project, or giving creative feedback, identifying the problem is often far more valuable than prescribing the solution.

Sometimes the most helpful feedback isn't telling someone what they should do. It's simply asking the right question.

posted by Sandra L. Rostirolla on July, 21