If you’ve spent months or years writing your book, the final step is getting feedback on it. This can be scary. After all, the book isn’t just a bunch of words to you–it’s a part of your identity, an expression of your inner world. Reading a bad review can feel like someone’s saying you don’t deserve to write.
When you’re looking at a mountain of feedback from multiple different people, it can be difficult to find a direction. Different readers come from different backgrounds and have different values and experiences, which means they may view your work differently. This can make turning disparate feedback into real recommendations feel impossible.
One way to tackle feedback is with reader response theory, which looks at the reader’s role in interpreting literary works. The theory is rooted in the idea that literature is a performance that takes place both within and outside of the text itself. It also acknowledges that readers’ individual experiences can be influenced by their own personal issues and values. This approach contrasts with other criticisms, such as New Criticism and formalism, which imply that only the elements in a literary work are relevant.
Another way to get feedback is to ask for a beta read or manuscript assessment from a professional editor. Beta readers are typically writers and avid readers in your genre who will give you their views on your story for free. Manuscript assessments are more thorough and include feedback on character development, point of view and perspective voice, plot, settings, and more. While a manuscript assessment is more of a developmental edit than a beta read, it can help you get closer to the finish line with your book.