Purpose of Feedback
The Writing Circle is meant for helping each other grow as writers. Your feedback should be thoughtful, constructive, and encouraging, while also pointing out areas for improvement.
Think of this as a book club discussion but for each other’s writing:
First, respond as a reader – What moved you? What intrigued you?
Then, respond as a writer/critic – What worked? What didn’t work?
Feedback does not necessarily need to be an essay, but it must touch on two key areas:
Two Required Types of Feedback
- Literary Analysis – Responding to the work as a reader, engaging with its themes and impact
- Writing Review & Critique – Evaluating the craft and execution
Each group decides how in-depth critiques will be, but every writer must engage with both literary analysis and writing critique in their feedback.
Literary Analysis (Engaging with the Themes & Ideas)
Literary analysis looks at the meaning, themes, and impact of the piece. It’s about what the writing made you think and feel as a reader.
Core Questions for Any Form
These questions work across all types of writing:
- Theme & Meaning: What ideas or questions does the piece explore? What’s it really about underneath the surface?
- Emotional Impact: What did the piece make you feel? Did it evoke strong emotions? Discomfort? Joy? Unease?
- Resonance: Did the piece remind you of other works, theories, or concepts? Did it make you think differently about something?
- Ambiguity & Interpretation: Were there moments open to multiple readings? What do you think the piece is trying to say, and is that clear or intentionally ambiguous?
- Risk & Ambition: Did the writer attempt something challenging or unusual? How did that ambition pay off?
Form-Specific Considerations
Different forms require different analytical approaches. Consider these additional questions based on what you’re reading:
For Narrative Fiction (Short Stories, Flash Fiction, Novellas)
- Character Depth: Were the characters engaging? Did they feel realistic or compelling? Did they change?
- Worldbuilding & Atmosphere: How well did the piece create a sense of place or tone?
- Symbolism & Metaphor: Did the writing include interesting symbols, motifs, or deeper meanings?
- Narrative Voice: Who’s telling this story? How does the narrative perspective shape what we understand?
- Stakes: Did you care what happened? Why or why not?
For Poetry
- Sound & Rhythm: How does the poem sound when read aloud? Does the rhythm serve the meaning?
- Imagery & Sensory Detail: What images stayed with you? How does the poem engage the senses?
- Compression & Economy: How much meaning is packed into each line? Does every word earn its place?
- Form & Structure: If it uses a traditional form (sonnet, villanelle, etc.), how does that structure serve the content? If it’s free verse, how does the shape on the page create meaning?
- Emotional Register: What’s the emotional temperature of the poem? Does it shift? How?
- The Turn: Is there a moment where the poem pivots, reveals something, shifts perspective?
For Scripts/Screenplays
- Dialogue as Action: Does the dialogue reveal character and advance the plot? Can you hear distinct voices?
- Visual Storytelling: What’s being communicated through action and staging rather than words?
- Scene Structure: Does each scene have a clear purpose? Do scenes build momentum?
- Subtext: What are characters really saying underneath their words?
- Stagecraft/Cinematic Thinking: Can you imagine this being performed/filmed? What would it look like?
For Essays & Creative Nonfiction
- Argument & Structure: What’s the central claim or exploration? How does the piece build its case?
- Research & Evidence: If applicable, how well does the writer support their points?
- Personal vs. Universal: How does the piece balance specific experience with broader insight?
- Honesty & Vulnerability: Does the piece feel authentic? Does it take risks in what it reveals or claims?
- The “So What?” Factor: Why does this piece matter? What does it offer the reader beyond information?
For Experimental or Hybrid Forms
- Formal Innovation: What is the piece trying to do with form itself? How does the structure create meaning?
- Clarity vs. Obscurity: Is the difficulty intentional and productive, or is it getting in the way?
- Genre Blending: If mixing forms (poetry/essay, fiction/theory, etc.), how do the different modes speak to each other?
- Reader Experience: What does it feel like to read this? Is disorientation part of the point?
Writing Review & Critique (Evaluating the Craft)
Writing critique focuses on the technical execution or how well the piece works on a structural and stylistic level. This is where you help the writer understand what’s working mechanically and what could be strengthened.
Core Questions for Any Form
These apply across all types of writing:
- Language & Precision: Is the language precise and effective? Are there words or phrases that feel weak, clichéd, or imprecise?
- Clarity: Is the meaning clear, or are there confusing sections? (Note: intentional ambiguity is different from confusing writing)
- Consistency: Does the piece maintain a consistent voice, tone, and style? If it shifts, is that intentional?
- Economy: Does every part earn its place? Are there sections that could be cut or tightened?
- Technical Issues: Are there grammatical errors, typos, or mechanical problems that distract from the content?
Form-Specific Craft Considerations
For Narrative Fiction
- Pacing: Does the story flow smoothly? Are there sections that drag or rush?
- Structure: Is the story well-organized? Does it have a satisfying arc or shape?
- Scene vs. Summary: Is the writer showing us moments or just telling us what happened? Does the balance work?
- Dialogue: Does the dialogue feel natural? Does it serve the story (revealing character, advancing plot)?
- Point of View: Is the POV consistent and effective? Does the writer maintain distance appropriately?
- Opening & Ending: Does the beginning hook the reader? Does the ending resonate or feel abrupt/forced?
- Prose Style: Is the sentence-level writing strong? Are there passages that sing? Passages that clunk?
For Poetry
- Line Breaks: Do the line breaks create meaning, emphasis, or rhythm? Or do they feel arbitrary?
- Word Choice: Is every word considered? Are there clichés or imprecise language that could be replaced?
- Sonic Devices: How effectively does the poem use sound (alliteration, assonance, consonance, internal rhyme)?
- White Space & Visual Form: How does the poem use the page? Does the visual shape contribute to meaning?
- Abstraction vs. Concreteness: Does the poem balance specific images with larger ideas?
- Revision Opportunities: Are there lines that feel almost-there but need another pass?
For Scripts/Screenplays
- Format: Does the script follow standard formatting conventions for its medium (stage vs. screen)?
- Action Lines: Are action descriptions clear, visual, and economical? Or are they overwritten?
- Dialogue Mechanics: Are dialogue tags necessary and unobtrusive? Is there too much exposition in speech?
- Scene Descriptions: Can we visualize the space and action clearly?
- Pace on the Page: Does the script read quickly and clearly, or are there confusing staging moments?
- Producibility: Is this something that could actually be staged/filmed with reasonable resources?
For Essays & Creative Nonfiction
- Structure & Organization: Does the piece have a clear architecture? Does it build logically or associatively in productive ways?
- Transitions: Do sections connect smoothly? Are there jarring jumps in topic or tone?
- Evidence & Support: Are claims backed up effectively? Is research integrated smoothly?
- Voice: Does the writer have a distinctive voice? Is it consistent?
- Paragraph Craft: Do paragraphs have clear internal logic? Do they build ideas effectively?
- The Lede & Kicker: Does the opening draw us in? Does the ending land with impact?
For Experimental or Hybrid Forms
- Formal Coherence: Even if breaking rules, is there internal logic to how the piece works?
- Accessibility: Is the piece giving readers enough to hold onto, or is it so difficult it becomes unreadable?
- Intentionality: Can you tell what’s deliberate choice vs. what might be accident or lack of control?
- Form Serving Content: Does the experimental form actually illuminate something that traditional form couldn’t?
Levels of Feedback Depth
Each group can decide how detailed their critiques will be. Here are two general approaches:
Quick Feedback (Light Analysis)
If you’re short on time but still want to contribute meaningful feedback:
Literary Analysis Component:
- 2-3 sentences on what resonated with you thematically or emotionally
- One observation about what the piece is exploring or attempting
Writing Critique Component:
- 1-2 things that worked really well technically
- 1-2 areas where the craft could be strengthened
Total: A paragraph or two—think of this as a reader’s reaction with some craft notes rather than an in-depth review.
In-Depth Critique (Detailed Analysis)
For those who want to dig deeper into craft and structure:
Literary Analysis Component:
- A paragraph or more engaging with themes, ideas, and what the piece made you think about
- Discussion of how the piece works as literature—its ambitions, its relationship to other works, what it’s trying to do
Writing Critique Component:
- Detailed analysis of structural choices, pacing, language, and form
- Specific examples of what’s working and what could be revised
- Optional: Line-by-line or passage-level commentary on specific sections
Total: Multiple paragraphs providing substantive feedback on both meaning and craft.
Writer’s Role in Receiving Feedback
When you submit your work, help your readers help you:
- Specify what kind of feedback you want: General impressions? Deep critique? Something in between?
- Note your specific concerns: Are you worried about pacing? Clarity? Whether a risk you took worked? Tell readers what to pay attention to.
- Identify the form and intent: If you’re writing an experimental hybrid piece or deliberately breaking conventions, let readers know so they can evaluate it on its own terms.
- Indicate your revision stage: Is this a rough draft where you want big-picture feedback, or a polished piece where you want line-level notes?
Example Submission Notes:
“This is a flash fiction piece playing with second-person narration. I’m worried the ending feels too abrupt—does it land for you? I’d love both general reactions and thoughts on pacing.”
“This is a found-text experimental poem using fragments from our Brave New World discussion. I’m trying to create meaning through juxtaposition rather than narrative. Does the form serve the content, or is it just confusing?”
“This is a personal essay about [topic]. I’m looking for in-depth critique on structure—I’m not sure the sections are connecting as smoothly as they should. Also open to line-level prose notes.”
How to Give Feedback Across Different Forms
If you’re less familiar with a particular form:
DO:
- Respond honestly as a reader—what did you experience while reading?
- Ask questions about craft choices you don’t understand
- Note what landed emotionally/intellectually, even if you can’t articulate why technically
DON’T:
- Insist a piece should be in a different form (“This poem should be a story”)
- Apply narrative craft standards to non-narrative forms
- Dismiss experimental work just because it’s unfamiliar
General Tips for Effective Feedback:
- Be specific: “The dialogue felt off” is less helpful than “In the conversation on page 3, the character’s voice shifts from formal to casual in a way that felt inconsistent.”
- Balance positive and constructive: Point out what’s working before diving into what needs work. Writers need to know their strengths.
- Ask questions: “Did you intend for the ending to be ambiguous?” helps writers clarify their intentions.
- Suggest rather than prescribe: “You might consider…” is better than “You must…” The writer decides what feedback to take.
- Be honest but kind: The goal is to help the writer improve, not to tear them down. Criticism works best when delivered with respect and encouragement.
- Remember the writer’s goals: Feedback should help the writer achieve what they’re trying to do, not make them write a different piece entirely.
Final Notes
- You must engage with both literary analysis and writing critique, but the depth is up to you and your group
- Even small insights can make a big difference to a writer
- Be honest, but also be kind—the goal is to help each other grow
- Have fun with the process! Writing is an art, and feedback is a chance to explore different perspectives and learn from each other’s work
Remember: Good feedback makes the writer feel seen and understood, even when pointing out areas for improvement. The best feedback helps a writer see their own work more clearly and imagine how it could become even stronger.