HBL Creative

Before I learned to give good feedback, I had to learn to take it.

Nothing scared me more than sharing my work and opening it up for discussion. As an over-achieving perfectionist accustomed to much praise (I sound fun, don’t I?) feedback has always been fraught for me. Each and every note was like a dagger to my heart. It took a long time to learn how to approach criticism, how to receive it and most importantly how to use it to improve my writing.

I still struggle sometimes with hitting send. I still sweat while discussing notes on my scripts. But I’ve come a long way and here’s what I’ve learned:

You Need Notes

Accepting that you NEED notes is the first step to being OK about notes. And let’s be clear, OK is what we’re going for here. It’s never going to be fun.

You need notes. All writing needs beta-testing. You have no way of knowing if your vision is being communicated, understood or even enjoyed without handing those precious pages over for someone to read. Build feedback into your process, so that every time you finish your draft you know what’s coming next. Just having that knowledge will often push you to write at a higher level, but honestly, it’s more about being emotionally prepared for the criticism. The more you do it the easier it becomes.

Trust Your Reader

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT just give your script to your roommate, your therapist or your mom for notes. You may trust these folks, but they really can’t be trusted. At best their feedback is confusing and at worst it’s downright damaging.

You need to find a qualified reader for your work. That doesn’t mean you have to hire a professional script consultant (though I’m here if you need me) but find someone who writes, who knows the film industry and who shares your genre interests. That could mean joining a writers group or just fostering some friendships with a few like-minded screenwriters. Know that if you are asking writers for notes, you will be asked to return the favour (stay tuned for my post on Giving Feedback.) Also know, that if you hope to have these friendly writers read you again, you will have to take their notes with at least a modicum of grace and humility. BE STRONG. YOU CAN DO IT.

That’s where trust comes in. Handing your hard work over is an extreme act of vulnerability. You probably wouldn’t get naked in front of just anybody (I said probably) nor would you hand your newborn baby to an unwashed stranger. You’d probably choose someone in the same roughly age range as you, something with similar standards of hygiene. So too with writing. We are looking for like minds. We are looking for people you agree with on movies, writing and art.

But wait! That’s not the only reason you need trust. If you don’t trust your reader it is way too easy to dismiss their notes. “He’s an idiot” you’ll say and carry on without making any meaningful progress in your work.

Of course, sometimes you don’t get to choose your reader. Sometimes, your reader is your BOSS. “He’s an idiot,” you’ll say. Then he’ll fire you on the spot if the notes aren’t heeded. That’s s an absolute nightmare and a HUGE part of why you need to get cool with feedback sooner than later.

Help Them Help You

Prepare your reader with any relevant context they might require while reading. Tell them:

• What draft you’re on and your process. Did you outline? Or just pants it?
• What your goals are for the project. Are you planning to pitch it to a producer? Is it a sample for your portfolio?
• References. Any films or tv that inspired you or that share themes, structure or tone?
• If you have a trusted reader you can even tell them what you’re struggling with so they can focus on solutions.

Listen To The Feedback

Resist the urge to defend your work. Listen. Take Notes. Breathe.

Your reader may ask questions. Answer them. Hey, if you’re relaxed enough it may turn into a fun little brainstorm. You can ask questions too! But probably not your first few times. Those are just for surviving.

You may not be able to process the criticism until a day or two later. That’s okay. It’s why you take notes.

Oh yes, there is such a thing as bad feedback. Some notes are just plain stupid. But it does no good to argue about it. Remember this person took the time to read and think about your work. Be grateful for that.

And… even the very worst notes are worth thinking about. Writers often talk about “the note under the note.” This means that while the reader gave you one note, and you’ve dismissed her idea for whatever reason, it is still worth thinking about what stopped the reader there. Was there a lack of clarity? A plot hole? Some on-the-nose dialogue? Consider what may have made her halt and think up a solution.

Apply The Feedback

You can chuck all the notes in the dustbin.

But I’ve found the best thing is to work through the big notes first (Structure or Character problems, for example) and consider what the reader felt and suggested. If you agree a change is warranted, find YOUR best solution. Sometimes this means reworking major story elements or clarifying your theme. Other times a few minor tweaks will do the trick.

I always tackle the small stuff last. If you’re lucky, the larger changes will fix or omit the minor notes and you’ll have less rewriting to do. YAY!

Rinse and Repeat

Criticism is an inevitable part of the creative process. You can keep your writing hidden from prying eyes, but if you’re hoarding your work you’re already your harshest critic.

You can’t escape criticism, you can only delay it. Eventually, you’ll have to share your baby with another human. And that human will likely share some thoughts. Might as well be prepared.