# 7.3.2 Receiving feedback

Figure 9

It is important to remember that people give feedback in order to help you to improve your writing. It is not easy to take criticism. All writers find it difficult, but comments that help us to reflect on the success and flaws in our writing are invaluable.

It is very rare for writers, however experienced they may be, to get it right first time. You will see that many published novels acknowledge the help of those who have read and commented on the early drafts. Learning to be a good writer means recognising that we need to hear from others about what they think of our stories. We then need to reflect on their views and decide whether they help us to develop our work.

In assessing comments you receive from others on your work you may wish to rewrite your story. You may wish to tweak it a little or just leave it as it is. You may choose to accept some comments and reject others.

It’s important to keep a balanced attitude when receiving comments about your work. Always remember that some of it will be useful, but some of it won’t. You are the final arbiter of what you take on board and what you reject.

Remember that receiving comments from others just helps speed up the editing process. Please check the Feedback guidance PDF.

OpenLearn - Start writing fiction: characters and stories
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