As writers and creatives, we are (hopefully) constantly learning and developing. Growth and new knowledge are key aspects of the creative process. Last month, I talked about ways to build a writing community, in part because the creative process cannot and should not happen entirely in a bubble. Seeking feedback from others provides us with new insights, interpretations and critiques—all of which can make us better writers. Whether you’re experimenting with new techniques, looking to improve skills, or trying to get published, it can help a lot to get a new perspective.
While it’s no secret that feedback is an important facet of being a writer—when, how, and from where should you seek it?
When not to ask for feedback
The tricky thing about art is that you don’t want to be unduly pressured by outside opinions, but you do want to learn from the world, and people, around you. Seeking and using feedback is all about balance. There are some situations where feedback is neither healthy nor necessary.
Consider the purpose and audience of the piece. Not everything you write needs to be for everyone or even for publication. Maybe you were writing to process something deeply personal, something to share with loved ones, or writing solely for the joy of it.
So, before asking for feedback, ask yourself, what is my goal for this piece?
It’s worth taking a moment to evaluate whether you are in the right headspace for critique. Receiving feedback is vulnerable, and the wrong feedback at the wrong time can be more discouraging than helpful.
Where and how to ask for feedback
From fellow writers
Providing and receiving feedback is an art in and of itself. It takes practice to understand and communicate what feedback you need, just as it takes practice to provide it kindly and constructively.
An excellent (and free) way to get ongoing feedback is to create or join a group of peers to workshop your writing. If you take this route, ensuring everyone communicates the type of feedback they’re looking for is key. For example, maybe you’re looking for feedback on a first draft that needs some love and encouragement, or maybe this is a 10th draft and you need some sharper critique.
From publications
Many publications and journals offer feedback as an additional service to your regular submissions (like Glossy Planet!). This is an affordable way to get a little insight from editors or readers into what is and isn’t working in your submission. If you are looking for something more comprehensive, lots of these same publications provide line-by-line edits or commentary on longer pieces and packets.
If you aren’t in a place to spend money, you can also target your submissions to magazines that provide a higher rate of personalized rejections. In fact, Duotrope currently has a report for this for subscribers! Check out “The Most Personable” publication lists.
If you are looking for paid feedback option, here is a non-exhaustive list to get you started:
Examples of publications that offer feedback
| Publication | Genre | Price |
| The Masters Review | Fiction, creative nonfiction | $69 to $179, depending on number of editorial letters requested |
| CRAFT | Fiction, creative nonfiction | $99 to $249 for editorial letters from one to three editors and marginalia |
| Palette Poetry | Poetry | $59 to $149, depending on number of editorial letters requested |
| Frontier Poetry | Poetry | $59 to $149, depending on number of editorial letters requested |
| Fractured Lit | Flash fiction | $59 to $149, depending on number of editorial letters requested |
| Glossy Planet | Flash fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry | $25 for editorial comments from two separate readers and editors |
| Uncharted | Fiction | $69 to $175, depending on number of editorial letters requested |
| ONLY Poems | Poetry | $99 to $249, depending on extent of feedback requested |
| Strange Pilgrims | Fiction, creative nonfiction | Varies—we’ll update this when submissions reopen. |
| Smokelong Quarterly | Flash fiction, creative nonfiction | $30 for three senior editors’ comments, $48 for thorough feedback from one senior editor |
| Fahmidan Journal | Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry | $5 to $70, depending on extent of feedback and type/number of pieces |
| Chestnut Review | Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry | $15 for reader comments, $99 for full document markup from an editor |
| EVENT Magazine | Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry | $125 for feedback and edits from an editor |
Read more from Hayley about why you should keep those rougher-than-rough drafts. If you’re ready to submit, check out our free Lit Mag Submission Kit to polish up your cover letter and bio.
