Feedback: The Writer's Broccoli (Good for You, Even When You Don't Fancy It)
Let's be honest. Receiving feedback on your writing can feel a bit like being handed a school report while standing in your pants.
You hit "send" feeling proud, hopeful, and perhaps just a tiny bit convinced you've written the next bestseller. Then the feedback arrives and suddenly you're questioning every word you've ever put on a page.
Sound familiar?
The truth is that every writer, from complete beginner to bestselling author, has to learn how to handle feedback. It's not always easy, but it is one of the fastest ways to improve your craft.
Step 1: Don't Read It While Emotionally Attached to Your Manuscript
When feedback arrives, resist the urge to dive straight in while clutching your manuscript like a protective parent at sports day.
Instead:
Make a cuppa.
Go for a walk.
Fold some washing.
Stare dramatically out of a window.
Give yourself a little distance first. Feedback lands much better when you're calm rather than ready to defend every adjective you've ever written.
Step 2: Remember That Feedback Is About the Writing, Not You
This sounds obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to forget.
If someone says a character lacks depth, they are not saying you lack depth.
If a plot twist doesn't work, they are not suggesting you should be exiled from the writing community.
Feedback is simply information about the words on the page. Nothing more.
Step 3: Look for Patterns
One comment might be personal preference.
Three comments saying the same thing? That's a clue.
When several readers stumble over the same chapter, character, or pacing issue, it's worth paying attention. Patterns are often where the real learning happens.
Step 4: You Don't Have to Use Everything
Here's a secret many writers discover too late: feedback is guidance, not law.
You remain the author.
Good feedback helps you see what readers are experiencing. It doesn't mean you must follow every suggestion. Sometimes the underlying issue is correct, but the proposed solution isn't right for your story.
Listen carefully, then make your own decision.
Step 5: Celebrate What Works
Writers have a remarkable ability to ignore twenty positive comments and obsess over one criticism.
Try doing the opposite.
Keep a folder of encouraging feedback. Save the comments that made you smile. On the days when your confidence has packed its bags and disappeared, you'll be glad you did.
Step 6: Remember Why Feedback Matters
Every draft is a work in progress.
Feedback helps us identify blind spots, sharpen our storytelling, and ultimately create stronger novels. It's not a sign that we've failed. It's evidence that we're growing.
In fact, if you're receiving feedback, you're already doing something many aspiring writers never manage: you're putting your work out into the world.
And that's something worth celebrating.
Speaking of Feedback...
One of the things we're proudest of at the Cheshire Novel Prize is that every single entry receives feedback as part of the entry fee. We're passionate about helping writers develop their craft, not just rewarding the winners. Our 2026 competition closes for entries at midnight (UK time) on 1st July 2026, so if you're thinking of entering, you'll need to be quick. We only require the first 5,000 words of your novel plus a 500-word synopsis, making it an accessible way to get professional feedback on your work. Full details, eligibility information and entry rules can be found here on our website. The competition closes on 1st July 2026 and every entry receives feedback at no extra cost. What have you got to lose?
We can’t wait to read your work!
Kind regards
Sara