How Can You Effectively Communicate Editorial Feedback to Writers?
Navigating the delicate art of editorial feedback is crucial for maintaining a positive relationship between editors and writers. Drawing insights from experienced editors, we've gathered eight key strategies for delivering constructive feedback that fosters growth and creativity. From mastering respectful criticism to balancing critiques with positive reinforcement, these professionals reveal how to communicate effectively without discouraging your team.
- Master Respectful, Constructive Criticism
- Demonstrate Desired Outcomes Thoroughly
- Focus Feedback on the Piece, Not the Person
- Explain the 'Why' Behind Changes
- Encourage Writers with Constructive Belief
- Provide Specific, Example-Driven Suggestions
- Maintain Objectivity and End Positively
- Balance Critiques with Positive Reinforcement
Master Respectful, Constructive Criticism
You must be respectful and put yourself on the other side of the conversation. I was once told that I could 'tell someone off and they would thank me for it.' At first, I was insulted by that remark, but as I got older, I realized that it meant I knew how to speak to people and constructively criticize them without offending them. That is the art of mastering effective communication. To be successful in this fast-paced industry, you must clearly communicate what your needs are to the writers. Writers are super busy and working on tight deadlines with limited resources, so when we (editors) receive their articles, clearly written with all content and photos with credits up front, that makes the whole approval process much easier.
Demonstrate Desired Outcomes Thoroughly
To be a helpful and constructive editor, and ultimately to get the best out of your writers, you should go the extra mile and thoroughly demonstrate what you require. This begins with the brief you provide. Giving a thorough demonstration may feel like it involves a large time investment, but in the long run, it will save both you and the writer time because it eliminates the need for guesswork.
For example, if you have commissioned a 20-point listicle, it will likely help if you write one of these points yourself, in full. You should then explain precisely why you have included whatever material you chose. If any aspect of your writers' finished piece is not as desired, you can gently but clearly point to the specific point where they deviated from the example you set out for them.
Focus Feedback on the Piece, Not the Person
Keep your feedback about the piece, not the person. When we talk about how a sentence is formed or the depth of analysis in a paragraph, we sidestep the blame or shame that writers might feel for having gotten something 'wrong.' And when giving any feedback about constructions or wording changes, point out what is confusing and give an example of a possible solution. This gives the writer agency to craft a correction without them feeling like you're telling them what to write.
Explain the 'Why' Behind Changes
As someone who has done copy and content editing across multiple mediums, my best advice is to explain the 'why' behind your changes rather than just the 'what.' If you are not laying out the specifics of why your suggestions would improve the piece, you are doing the writer an incredible disservice. After all, the goal of an editor is to help someone become stronger in their craft, not to continue to fall into the same patterns.
Providing clear, actionable steps for revisions streamlines the editing process. This is because you are eliminating time spent on back-and-forth conversations with the writer when they are unsure of how to proceed, well into the future. They become better equipped to apply your feedback when it is fully fleshed out, and they will feel more confident in their skills.
Whether the writer has a habit of excessive jargon, repetitive word choices, or misuse of punctuation, refrain from simply making the appropriate edits and moving on with your day. 'Why'-driven critiques are the key to long-term success in content creation, as they show you care about the individual’s professional development.
Encourage Writers with Constructive Belief
I try to keep things as encouraging as possible. This is not Miranda Priestly’s era! Research has found that the compliment sandwich is not as effective as one would think. Instead, I try to communicate and keep a mindset of 'I believe this should change because of this reason, and I believe you can get there.' Encouragement gives courage.
Provide Specific, Example-Driven Suggestions
The main thing to remember while communicating editorial feedback is how important the manuscript is to the author. Think of yourself as a teacher giving feedback about a child to the parents. So, try to keep the tone encouraging, focus on giving specific suggestions for improvement rather than opinions about how good or bad it is. Providing examples always helps—if you can edit a part and show how the writer can improve it, that'll be useful.
Maintain Objectivity and End Positively
Avoid the words 'I' and 'you' when offering feedback to writers. Avoid all caps, double question marks, and double exclamation points. It's more objective and less adversarial.
Leave comments and questions that are focused on—and informed by the goal of—helping the writer better satisfy the reader's needs and expectations, align with best practices and industry standards, and achieve a better version of their first draft.
And always close any correspondence on a complimentary and upbeat note. A bit of encouragement goes a long way.
Balance Critiques with Positive Reinforcement
Anytime I'm editing a piece, I point out things the writer does well in addition to things they can improve. Sprinkling in a few positives (such as really strong points or great word choice) can help soften the blow when a piece needs extra work. I'll also end on a positive note, such as "Let's make these changes and we should be good to go!" It helps them see a little light at the end of the tunnel, especially if I'm asking for a lot of edits.
If the article is for a client, I let the writer know if a client has shifted direction or changed their mind on something. It deflects feelings of fault, which can be discouraging to writers who gave it their best.
