Self-evaluation vs. external feedback: The value of each to the novel writing process

When you’re writing a novel, there are many benefits to both evaluating your own writing and getting feedback from others. Evaluating your own writing can help you identify any potential problems with your story, such as plot holes, inconsistencies, or underdeveloped characters. It can also help you improve your writing style and make sure that your novel is as engaging as possible. However, there is often a gap between what you think you’ve put on the page and what you have actually put on the page. Seeking outside assistance can help you identify gaps that you might miss on your own.

Getting feedback from others can provide you with a new perspective on your writing and help you identify any areas that need improvement. It can also be helpful to get feedback from people who are not familiar with your work, as they may be able to identify problems that you have overlooked. Here are some specific reasons why it is important to obtain feedback from others in addition to evaluating your own novel draft:

• To identify potential problems: When you’re writing a novel, it’s easy to get so caught up in the story that you overlook potential problems. Getting feedback from others can help you to identify any plot holes, inconsistencies, or underdeveloped characters that you may have missed on your own.
• To improve your writing style: Getting feedback on your writing style can help you identify areas where you can improve. For example, you may be able to improve your clarity, conciseness, or use of imagery. An outside reader might also point out story elements that need fleshing out because the reader does not have access to parts of the vision that may not have made it to the page.
• To make sure your novel is engaging: Getting feedback on your novel can help you to make sure that it is engaging for readers. For example, you may be able to identify areas where the pacing is slow or where the characters are not relatable. An outside reader can also tell you where the story drags for them or which elements made them want to read more.

In general, both evaluating your own writing and getting feedback from others are important steps in the novel writing process. By doing both, you can improve your novel and make sure that it may one day garner a much larger audience than just you and your beta readers.

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Now that Jack has been forced to reflect on everything he has to lose, he resolves to do better. He’s determined to spend more time at home with his family and repair the relationships that have suffered over the years while he’s been so focused on work. But as Callie’s behavior becomes increasingly bizarre, Jack realizes he has a lot more room to improve than he realized – and it might be too late to save his daughter after all.

For fans of We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Push, and Baby Teeth.