# 7.3.1 Giving feedback to other writers

Figure 8

Just as you need feedback on your writing, other writers need it too. Later in Week 8, there'll be an opportunity to give feedback to any fellow writers, and you'll need to consider how to make your comments helpful.

- Make sure you are neither too enthusiastic about a piece nor too critical.
- If you think something works well, try to analyse why, but also look for its faults. Usually there will be some aspects that could be developed or enhanced.
- If you think something doesn’t work, again analyse why. Make sure you look for the parts that might be working better in the piece. Almost always there will be positive things to say alongside your critical points.
- Try to go beyond: ‘Oh, I liked this, but I didn’t like that’.
- Remember that you are trying to help the other writer to develop their work further, so being specific and analytical about why you like or dislike something is essential.
- In helping a fellow writer, in effect you are helping yourself to improve your own editorial and writing skills.
- Take a look at the Feedback guidance PDF.

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